Beds Of Sea Grasses Sharks And Rays

Usually shallower than 15m but recorded down to 91m.

Beds of sea grasses sharks and rays. They are unusual in that they stun or kill their prey by emitting electric shocks from their pectoral fins. Hallers round stingray is found from Humboldt Bay in northern California to Panama in Central America but it is most common between southern California and Baja California. Similar Sharks and Rays.

Seagrass beds are vital protective habitat for fish and shellfish. Found in shallow sandy bays on reef rubble around seagrass beds and on rocky reefs. They live off Australias east coast from Byron Bay to the central Queensland coast snoozing unseen under rocky reef ledges by day.

When factors such as heat waves destroy seagrasses sharks become critical for ecosystem health. At night they forage around reefs and seagrass beds which puts them in the path of prawn trawlers. Highest point of reef stoutly branching coral.

In the deeper seagrass meadows the Wide-body Pipefish is most abundant and the Bridled Toothbrush and Pygmy leatherjackets are also common. The loss of sharks and rays has degraded biodiversity and declined coral reefs and seagrass beds. Collins et al 2007.

These rare and unobtrusive blue-grey sharks grow to less than one metre and their longevity is unknown. Brewer et al 1995. Oceana released a report in July 2008 Predators as Prey.

Beds of sea grasses sharks and rays. Found on rocky reefs and seagrass beds marbled electric rays bury themselves in the sand to ambush their prey at night. Females give birth.