Sharks And Rays

Synopsis

Maligned and misunderstood, sharks are possibly the most feared, yet the most fascinating sea creatures. Of about 350 known species of shark, only a handful are a threat to humans. In reality, it is humans who pose the greater threat, hunting and fishing some species to the verge of extinction. Diverse in appearance, they range from the tiny cookiecutter or cigar shark, to the massive whale shark. Stranger still are the rays, with names such as the banded stingaree and the Javanese cownose ray. Curiously shaped like craft from outer space, some are so highly colored they could be the creation of a whimsical painter. This book represents the most up-to-date information and thinking on our understanding of these extraordinary inhabitants of the deep - their highly developed senses and intellect, and their ecology, biology, and behavior. What is being done to protect them? In what ways are they still being exploited? Sharks and Rays highlights the advances being made in shark and ray conservation.