Scientific name : Stegostoma fasciatum
Family : Stegostomatidae
Size : Up to 350 cm
Distribution : Red sea, Indo-Pacific
Biology : It lives alone on the reef in search of molluscs, crustaceans, small fish and sea snakes. It is an oviparous species (the female lays eggs, so the embryo grows externally to the mother’s body). The egg-laying rate is 2 to 4 eggs.
IUCN status : Endangered
Scientific name : Triaenodon obesus
Family : Carcharhinidae
Size : Up to 220 cm
Distribution : Red sea, Indian ocean, Pacific ocean
Biology : During the day, it remains sheltered in reef caves. At night it hunts for food (fish, cephalopods, crustaceans). It is a viviparous species (the embryo grows inside the female’s belly). It can give birth to several young (5 max.).
IUCN status : Least concern
Scientific name : Aetobatus narinari
Family : Myliobatidae
Size : Up to 3 m span
Distribution : Tropical and subtropical areas
Remarkable behaviour : It swims slowly but can accelerate suddenly to escape its predators.
Biology : It uses its flattened head, with shark-like sensory organs, to search the sand for food. It has powerful crushing teeth.
Scientific name : Sphyrna lewini
Family : Sphyrnidae
Size : Up to 360 cm
Distribution : Circumtropical, Indo-Pacific, Atlantic
Biology : It lives alone or in schools in search of fish, cephalopods or crustaceans on which it feeds. It is the most common hammerhead shark. It is a viviparous species (the embryo grows inside the female’s belly). It gives birth to 15 to 30 young.
IUCN status : Critically endangered
Scientific name : Pterois volitans
Family : Scorpaenidae
Size : Up to 38 cm
Depth : Up to 55 m
Distribution : Tropical Pacific, West Atlantic, Mediterranean
Morphology : The body is striped with vertical white stripes and red to dark brown stripes. The dorsal and pectoral fins consist of long, free, venomous spines.
Biology : During the day they are found in dark places. At night they come out to hunt. It is very common to observe these lionfish in shipwrecks.
IUCN red list : Least concern
Scientific name : Rhinecanthus assasi
Family : Balistidae
Size : Up to 30 cm
Depth : Up to 15 m
Distribution : Indo-Pacific
Morphology : The livery is greyish, ranging from yellow to brown. It is lighter on the belly. The lips are bordered with yellow, a horizontal line extends its lips which gives the impression of a large mouth and helps to deter possible enemies from attacking it.
Biology : They have the peculiarity of sleeping on their side and emit small buzzes when they feel in danger.
Scientific name : Carcharhinus plumbeus
Family : Carcharhinidae
Size : Up to 250 cm
Distribution : Found in tropical and temperate water
Biology : It lives alone or in schools. It frequents coral, sandy and estuarine bottoms. It is a viviparous species (the embryo grows inside the female’s belly). It can give birth to several young (14 max.). It feeds on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans.
IUCN status : Vulnerable
Scientific name : Octopus vulgaris
Family : Octopodidae (octopuses, over 150 species)
Size : Up to 130 cm wingspan
Distribution : Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic, from the British Isles to South Africa
Biology : The octopus has eight tentacles with smooth suction cups, enabling it to move along the seabed and grasp objects with precision. It is easy to spot the octopus’s lair because it leaves mounds of shells and crab shells, the remains of its last meals.
The octopus is highly intelligent, capable of using tools and imitating its fellow creatures, which is remarkable for a mollusc.
IUCN status : Least concern
Scientific name : Ginglymostoma cirratum
Family : Ginglymostomtidae
Size : Up to 450 cm
Distribution : Tropical Atlantic
Biology : It lives alone on rocky bottoms and feeds mainly at night on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. It is an ovoviviparous species (babies are born already formed. They have fed and developed in eggs that have hatched inside the female). Birth of 20 to 30 young that measure about 30 centimetres.
Scientific name : Himantura uarnak
Family : Dasyatidae
Size : Up to 200 cm
Distribution : Indo-Pacific, Red sea, Eastern Mediterranean sea
Biology : It lives alone or in schools above the bottom in search of crustaceans, bivalves or fish. It is an ovoviviparous species (babies are born already formed. They have fed and developed in eggs that have hatched inside the female).
IUCN status : Vulnerable
