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Shark katran: a safe inhabitant of the Black Sea. Are there dangerous sharks in the Black Sea? Message on the topic of katran herring shark

Katran is a small shark, numerous and not dangerous for humans. But a person is very dangerous for her, since this fish is one of the most popular objects of commercial and sport fishing.

Katran - a shark is small, numerous and not dangerous for humans

The Black Sea shark katran has many names. She is called:

  • sand katran;
  • southern katran;
  • nail;
  • dogfish;
  • ordinary katran;
  • spotted shark;
  • shortfin shark;
  • blunt shark.

All the abundance of these names refers to fish from the order of katranoviformes, the family of katranovy, a genus of prickly sharks.

On average, representatives of this formidable tribe reach about a meter in length. The maximum size of a caught specimen was recorded at just over one and a half meters.

The spiny shark has a streamlined body shape, which allows it to develop great speed. Males are smaller than females. On average, they reach a size of 60-90 cm. Females are larger - their size ranges from 75-105 cm. Individuals weigh no more than 10 kg.

Almost all the names of this fish contain the epithet "prickly". This is due to the fact that at the base of its dorsal fins there are sharp spikes. The first spine is shorter than the dorsal fin, the second is slightly longer than the other dorsal fin. So the sea dog is protected from numerous enemies who want to eat it.

Her skin has small placoid scales. The general color is dark gray, sometimes with small white spots. The snout has a typical shark pointed shape. Eyes relatively large, equidistant from snout tip and first gill slit.

Gallery: katran shark (25 photos)



















The most harmless shark (video)

habitats

The spiny shark lives everywhere in the continental shelf of the temperate climate zone.

The range is extensive. It can be described as follows:

  • Western Atlantic - from the island of Greenland to the coast of Argentina;
  • East Atlantic - from Iceland to South Africa;
  • Mediterranean Sea;
  • Black Sea;
  • the Pacific Ocean - in the areas of New Guinea, Japan, Korea, North China, the Bering and Okhotsk Seas;
  • South coast of Australia and New Zealand.

According to the habitat, these fish have whole line populations. Black Sea katran is the only representative of sharks that lives in the European part Russian Federation. Those sharks that swim in Far Eastern seas Russia, belong to a somewhat different, albeit related, species.

Lifestyle

These sharks, despite the excellent opportunities to swim quickly and even swiftly, prefer to stay near the bottom. Perhaps this habit is due to the fact that they live mainly on the shelf, that is, in waters with shallow depths. For example, in the Black Sea, specimens come across both in the thickness and even at the surface of the water.

These fish are capable of making large seasonal migrations. They huddle in big shoals. Moreover, flocks are divided by sex and size.

Habitats - coastal zones of the seas. However, there are times when the katran swims in the estuaries of rivers. The change in salinity of the water does not bother him.


Black Sea shark katran

food preferences

Everyone associates the image of a shark with a stupid and aggressive predator, which is enough for everything. To some extent, it is. However, there are species that feed on plankton. However, this is more of an exception than the rule.

Katrans are actively included in the food chains of the seas, since the shelf provides them with such an opportunity. They feed mainly on:

  • mackerel;
  • hake;
  • gerbil;
  • haddock;
  • flounder;
  • salmon;
  • manhadenem;
  • crabs;
  • squid;
  • octopuses;
  • shrimp;
  • anemones;
  • jellyfish;
  • algae.

In turn, this fish is a food base for more large inhabitants oceans and seas. Other sharks eat it marine mammals, especially killer whales. If individuals rise to the surface of the water, they become prey for birds. They are even caught by seagulls, which pull the shark ashore, throwing it on sharp stones. The carcass is then pecked by birds different types and sizes.

breeding conditions

Reproduction in these fish is peculiar. They are ovoviviparous. This means that eggs (caviar) are formed in them, but not laid.

Their mating is internal. It happens in the spring. In the expanded oviducts, eggs are formed, located in two thin gelatinous capsules. This process of carrying eggs inside the body of the female is somewhat similar to the pregnancy of birds or mammals. This pregnancy lasts from 18 to 22 months. Juveniles grown in the womb are usually born in spring. With each litter from 1 female, about 20 fry 22-27 cm long appear.

This method of reproduction protects juveniles from early death at the spawn stage. This increases the fertility of the species, despite the small number of individuals born per litter.

Sexual maturity occurs depending on the sex. Males become adults at the age of 11 years, reaching a length of about a meter. Females mature later - at the age of about 20 years with growth from one to one and a half meters. This fish lives for a long time, almost like a person - up to 75 years.

Shark cutting katran (video)

Application in cooking

This fish is considered commercial and is in great demand in many countries. Fishing is especially developed in Japan, China, Norway, Great Britain.

Its meat is considered nutritious. It contains 142 kcal, 20% protein, 7% fat, but there are no carbohydrates at all.

At the same time, fish meat contains: cobalt, sulfur, iodine, potassium, chromium, phosphorus. Of the biologically active substances, the product is rich in retinol, niacin, tocopherol.

In addition to meat, they also eat liver and cartilage, which are considered delicacies. In addition, there is an opinion that they contain substances that improve human health. In particular, they improve blood formation, reduce the intensity of inflammatory processes, and activate the immune system.

Katran can be salted, dried, smoked, fried, boiled. The famous soup is made from the fins of this particular shark.

A fat called squalene is rendered from the liver. It is considered the lightest of all animal fats. It contains a large number of vitamins A and D. It is used in medicine, and also used for technical purposes. Ointments are made from shark fat, which are used to treat joints.

Fins are used not only in cooking, but in medicine and even for technical purposes. For example, cartilage and shark skin are used to make tools that have abrasive properties. In addition, glue is made from fins and cartilage, and pepsin is produced from stomach tissues.

In addition to the delicious shark fin soup, smoked balyks are especially valued. palatability not inferior to the famous smoked eel.

An intermediate product of smoked salmon is salted katran meat.

For its preparation, a large carcass is cut into pieces of the desired size. They are cleaned, washed and immersed in saline for two hours. After that, the pieces are washed. They can be eaten immediately or smoked.

Stewed katran is prepared as follows. At the bottom of the saucepan a small layer is poured vegetable oil in an amount sufficient to cover the bottom with oil.

You need to remove the skin from the fish, cut the meat into cubes or thin slices (as you like), lay it on the bottom. Place a layer of onion on top, cut into circles, then again you need to lay pieces of fish, and on them - onions. If desired, you can lay a layer of grated carrots on top with a fur coat. All this must be salted, peppered, sprinkled with spices, brought to a boil and simmered over low heat for 30 minutes, without stirring. When everything is ready, you need to pour chopped greens on top. On a layer of onions you can pour Apple vinegar or lemon juice.

Fried shark is even easier to cook. Cut into slices about 0.5 kg of meat. The thinner the slices are cut, the better. However, in everything you need to know the measure. Too thin slices will burn quickly and will not leave the desired taste. For this amount of fish, you need to cook half a lemon, unrefined sunflower oil, spices if desired, salt, pepper, flour.

In many countries of Europe and Asia, ceviche is prepared from shark meat. For this dish you need half a kilogram fresh fillet fish, about 300 g sliced bell pepper, 100 grams of chopped cilantro, salt and pepper to taste, freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon.

The fillet should be cut into small cubes, and then poured with lemon juice.

The fish is marinated for at least a day. At the same time, you need to keep the marinade with meat in a dark, cool place. After that, marinated fish pieces are mixed with pepper, cilantro, onion and spices. That's all - the dish is ready.

Gourmets appreciate another dish of katran meat. It's shark steak or shish kebab. They are distinguished by their special meatiness and aroma. To prepare such a dish, you need to take 3 tbsp. l. a mixture of finely chopped bell peppers, 2 boneless shark meat steaks, 1 tbsp. l. butter and sunflower or olive oil, 2 tbsp. l. cognac.

Melt in a frying pan butter, add vegetable to it and fry the steaks for 5 minutes on each side, sprinkling with salt when turning over. Put the fried pieces in a deep warm plate, cover it with foil. While the fish is cooling slightly, you need to prepare the sauce. To do this, you need to warm up the cognac with melted shark fat. Pour this mixture over the dish in a bowl.

Thus, a small spiny shark is a source of pleasant taste sensations, as well as useful substances used in cooking, medicine and technical processes.

Katran fish, or prickly shark, as it is also called, is a representative of the family of prickly sharks (Squalidae). This fish has sharp spines in front of each of the dorsal fins, which is its hallmark. There are large spots on the dark gray back, as well as on the sides of the katran. white color, which is why this fish is also called the spotted white shark. The skin of the katran is covered with dense small scales, vaguely resembling sandpaper; teeth - small, multi-row, single-apex.

In the waters of the Black Sea, the spiny shark is found off the coast in spring and summer periods, occasionally appears in the Sea of ​​Azov. But in general, this species is one of the most common in the World Ocean: the katran can be found in the North and White Seas in the north the globe and in the ocean near New Zealand and Chile in the south.

As a rule, the length of the prickly Black Sea shark is within 160 cm and weighs 16 kg. Occasionally there are katrans up to 2 m long. The life expectancy of this fish is about 25 years. Katran is a schooling fish. Mating of males and females occurs in late winter - early spring. Those quatrains that have reached 10-12 years old are considered sexually mature. The duration of pregnancy is almost two years. The spiny Black Sea shark is a representative of viviparous fish, females of this species, on average, give birth to 14 sharks. The katran cubs are born fully formed, about 25 cm long and weighing 40-50 g. In the first year they grow by only 10 cm.

Katran fish - typical predator, massively eating small fish species - anchovy, sprat and larger whiting and horse mackerel. In search of food, the spiny shark makes long migrations, migrating in the autumn for accumulations of anchovy and horse mackerel along eastern shores Black Sea. This fish also performs diurnal migrations, sinking to the bottom during the light season and rising to the surface at night. Katran, like other sharks, has a developed sense of smell and does not feel pain.

In the fishing industry, the spiny shark is an important object - the annual production of the katran in the oceans reaches 30 thousand tons.

For fishermen who trade in the Black Sea, katran fish is one of the traditional objects of fishing. The spiny shark is harvested using nets and baited hooks. Katran meat contains almost 12% fat, it has a pleasant taste and delicate texture. Especially tasty smoked katran. Fish sticks are made from the fillet of this fish. The liver of a spiny shark is a quarter total weight fish body, and the fat content in the liver reaches 75%, which allows the fish to swim perfectly without the presence of a swim bladder. Liver fat is rich in vitamins A and D, it is used to make medical preparations and used for technical purposes. Also in medicine, cartilage of a spiny shark is used, and its skin is used as an abrasive material in the processing of precious woods and felt. Craftsmen make an original and impressive souvenir from the jaw of a katran, fins and cartilage are used to make glue, and pepsin is extracted from the stomach of a fish.

Fishermen-lovers of katran fish are attracted, first of all, by their large size and incredible resistance when fishing. To successfully catch a spiny shark, you must use a nylon cord or a strong fishing line with a load at the end of the tackle and large hooks on the leashes. Fish (merlang, horse mackerel, etc.) are used as bait. The most successful period for catching katran from boats on the high seas is spring and autumn.

katran shark or more common name - ordinary prickly shark katran, as well as a sea dog is found in many seas.

Although it should be noted that she has a kind of preference in choosing places to stay. Not being a heat-loving representative of the shark family, the katran feels great in cool sea water, and therefore, warm seas she likes less.

True, in Black sea katranu I like to live, probably because in the local waters there is a unique marine fauna and flora. It is not in her rules to move far from the coast; she prefers coastal waters. In shallow water, this "fish" swims infrequently, it likes life at depths of 100 to 200 meters in the kingdom of semi-darkness.

If considered on photo of a katran shark, you can see that she is a bit like an ordinary representative of sturgeon breeds, however, a predatory breed is given out by a cigar-shaped body, a shark's mouth and a very unfriendly look of her empty black eyes resembling glass balls.

A feature of this representative of the shark genus is the absence of gill covers, the absence of an anal fin and prickly spikes, which are located on the fin from the back. Such a device is a kind of protection.

The tail resembles a paddle. However, signs that can be seen visually are present in all fellow tribesmen of this detachment. Usually sharks of this species do not grow more than 1.5 meters, and their weight rarely reaches 12-15 kg, although you may be lucky and then you will be able to meet an individual quite large sizes- 2 meters with a mass of 20 kg.

The nature of the katran has deprived the color palette and therefore its color is not too bright, the usual gray color, sometimes it casts a blue or steel metallic tint. Light-colored spots can be recognized on the back and sides.

Like everyone else, in a katran, teeth that have become unusable are periodically replaced with new sharp teeth. Experts have calculated that for the entire life of a shark there are up to 1 thousand teeth in the mouth of this predator. This ability can be envied - so that this fish does not eat for lunch, it is not afraid that it will have to insert dentures to grind solid food.

The skeleton of this representative is cartilaginous. It helps to make a katran oscillatory movements body and move quickly. Good speed is to be thanked for by its fins. In addition, the fins serve to keep the position of the body of the fish in a vertical or horizontal position. But the tail has its own task - to provide steering.

Character and lifestyle

A special role in orientation in boundless sea ​​waters serves as an organ - the lateral line. Thereby unique body able to feel any, even the slightest fluctuation of water.

The auls should say thanks to the sense of smell for the pits - nasal openings that go straight into the throat. capable of catching at a decent distance a special substance that the victim secretes when frightened.

The appearance of the shark speaks for itself. already at first glance it is clear that this is a mobile fish capable of developing good speed and chase the prey until it reaches the prey.

Surely many people are interested in the question: "Is the prickly danger to humans?". Here it is necessary to immediately dispel all doubts and give an unambiguous answer that katran never attacks a person.

In this respect, the dog shark is no more dangerous than the perch or zander, which, like the katran, has prickly spikes on its back. So the katran shark, which lives in the Black Sea, and in any other sea basin, does not pose a danger to humans.

Of course, if you try to stroke with unprotected hands black sea katran shark, then there is a high chance of a crash. Moreover, the injection site can become inflamed. Although there are probably few daredevils to touch the shark with their hands.

It is also not recommended to check whether the shark's teeth are sharp or not - getting hurt is a trifling matter. And of course, you should not stroke the sea dog “against the coat”, because, firstly, she will not like it, and, secondly, the scales are a small, but very sharp covering of the body.

Interesting fact: The dried skin of this shark, which resembles emery, is used for wood processing - they grind and polish the wooden surface.

If we consider the katran, from the point of view of the danger to the inhabitants of the sea, then it should be noted that the inhabitants sea ​​coasts have long been noticed that every year there are fewer and fewer dolphins, and the merit of this, including this representative of the shark family.

Although this statement is hard to believe, because the shark is almost the size of a dolphin and therefore the katran will not hunt such prey alone, except perhaps in a flock. Man has long noticed that katrans huge liver, which contains a very useful fish fat.

For information: Shark liver contains 10 times more vitamin A than cod liver. In addition, the meat is incredibly tender and, after careful processing, can be a gourmet delicacy on the table.

Shark food katran

This type of shark loves to feast on small species of fish - anchovy, herring. Although for lunch he prefers larger fish, for example, horse mackerel or mackerel. BUT sea ​​shellfish, squid and crustaceans to the table of the spiny shark are usually served for dinner.

Seriously, the main prey of this species of sharks are schooling fish, which are also called pelagic - living in the water column. Fishermen use this observation in their fishing - they know that it is easiest to catch a katran where there are huge schools of herring or mackerel.

Reproduction and lifespan

spiny shark is a representative of the ovoviviparous breed of sharks. The female carries eggs in special capsules located in the oviduct for almost two years. Young sharks are born in the amount of 15 to 20 and in size they are not more than a quarter of a meter.

Shark cubs grow quickly, and the offspring born by a katran are immediately adapted to lead predatory image life, which is no different from the parental way of life.

By the age of 12, teenage sharks become sexually mature, which means they are able to continue the race. It is interesting that katrans are monogamous, that is, they have a constant companion in life, with whom this fish builds family relationships. Life expectancy by fish standards is long - a quarter of a century or more, so this type of shark can be called a long-liver.


The depth of the sea is fraught with many mysteries and dangers. Scientists still have not revealed all the secrets that are hidden under the water column. Little-studied underwater inhabitants, widely famous fish, marvelous underwater plants - all this can be found at the bottom of rivers, lakes, seas and oceans.

It's no secret that the water lives not fewer predators than on dry land. Piranhas, sharks, poisonous jellyfish represent real threat for human life. But sometimes there are exceptions, for example, the katran shark.

Description

This representative underwater world belong to the order of catranoid, the family of dog (or prickly) sharks. In comparison with its relatives, the katran shark is small, its body does not exceed 120-125 cm in length, and its weight is also relatively small, about 11-12 kg. None of the relatives of the spiny shark lives in the Black Sea, except for the katran.

In appearance, this is a medium-sized predator, very similar to its relatives. Elongated body, most often gray in color. The bottom and belly of the fish are white. The dorsal fin is triangular, there is no anal fin, the lateral fins are even, straight and of medium length. hallmark katran sharks are considered to be the presence of a third nictitating eyelid- a kind of eye membrane.

The scales of this subspecies are strong and dense, similar to bone tissue. The fins are sharp. Like everyone else, shark teeth are arranged in several rows, they are very sharp. Throughout life there is a constant change of teeth: old ones fall out, new ones grow. The shark has sharp spines covered with a toxic slimy substance, however, the venom is not fatal.

The spiny shark has an excellent sense of smell that helps her to hunt. There are no gill covers, the forehead is convex, the eyes are round and black. You can call this species a long-liver, lives for about 25 years. Fast and nimble fish. Males are larger than females.

The katran shark never attacks a person. A person can only get hurt on the sharp scales of a fish. The fish itself is practically incapable of experiencing pain.

Habitat

The spiny shark is found in many seas, it prefers moderate climate zone. It is found in the Western Atlantic, Angola, Argentina, in the Mediterranean Sea. Has been seen in Japan. This is not a heat-loving fish, so they feel much better in a cool sea than in a warm one. But she likes life in the Black Sea, as there is a unique flora and fauna. It does not move far from the coast, but it also avoids shallow water. Optimal depth for spiny shark 100-200 meters deep. Prefers to lead a secluded lifestyle. Often migrates in search of food, mainly for schools of fish that are hunted.

The most great depth, which dog sharks are able to sink to, is 1649 m. There is evidence that the katran was caught from just such a depth.

Nutrition

Like any predator, representatives of this species prefer to eat fish. There is plenty of food on the sea and ocean floor, so Favorite delicacy for katran are:

  • Black Sea anchovy. This is a small fish about 10-12 cm long. Refers to European anchovies. The hamsa katran is of particular interest in the autumn season, when the hamsa is the most well-fed.
  • Black Sea sprat.
  • Whiting. Representative of the cod family, a small fish. The fish prefers to stray in flocks, it is for this species that the katran often migrates.
  • Horse mackerel. Belongs to the perch family. About 30 cm long. Loved by the spiny shark, which is a competitor to humans when catching horse mackerel.
  • Gobies. Ray-finned fish of the Perciformes family. The spiny shark eats small fish when the main components of the daily diet are not enough to saturate.
  • Herring. Belongs to the herring family. This fish is actively harvested by a person, katrans love herring for its subcutaneous fat.
  • Clams. Katrans do not experience special pleasure when eating mollusks. They eat when there is nothing else to eat.
  • crustaceans. They eat like necessary measure not to die of hunger.

Shark katran is able to hunt even a dolphin. Dolphins are eaten mainly by females.

reproduction

Sexual maturity in males and females occurs at different ages. Females are ready for spawning at the age of 17 years, while their body length is 125 cm. Sometimes puberty it is able to come a couple of years earlier, that is, at the age of 13-14 years, with a body length of 110-115 cm, the female is ready for spawning.

The male reaches sexual maturity at the age of 13-14, the length of his body is 110-120 cm. The mating season usually begins in spring, in April or May.

This type of fish prefers to mate at a depth of about 40 meters. The female fry bears more than 20 months, it is considered to be an ovoviviparous shark. Fertilization of the female is internal.

By autumn, pregnant females rise 10-20 meters up, keeping closer to the shore. One female is able to give birth to about 10-12 fry.

Fry are born about 28-30 cm long, vaguely resemble their parents. In the first days of life, the fry feed through the yolk sac, which stores a supply of nutrients.

shark and man

Despite the fact that this species is marine and ocean fish not dangerous for a person, a katran sometimes confuses a person with all his plans. She is able to damage fishermen:

  • gnaws through fishing tackle;
  • eats commercial fish;

However, it should be remembered that the spiny shark is not an ornamental fish, it is a predator and is capable of becoming aggressive. Curious tourists are not recommended to take fish in their hands - there is a chance to get hurt by its spikes and infect. Poison is not lethal, but the pain after the injury is very noticeable.

Shark meat has a specific ammonia smell. Katran is a few of the sharks that has this bad smell is absent. Established industrial capture. In the regions of England, China, Norway, a prickly shark is caught on an industrial scale.

In the 30s of the last century, canned food was actively produced from the meat of the spiny shark. They were called "Smoked Eel" and were very popular. Today, katran is also used in medicine. Balyks are prepared from meat, which are somewhat reminiscent of smoked sturgeon. The liver of the spiny katran shark is used in the manufacture of medicines, it is extremely rich in vitamin A and D.

On the banks Atlantic Ocean The dog shark has been designated a vulnerable species. Due to the fact that the female bears fry for a long time, the population does not have time to grow and uncontrolled capture of this species can lead to the disappearance of the shark katran.

Exotic lovers tried to breed this species at home. This is possible if the proper space and maintenance of the fish is provided. You will need a large aquarium, where there will be plenty of space. These fish love space, move a lot. With a lack of free space, with a sedentary lifestyle, the fish will die.

The katran shark, or the Black Sea shark, belongs to the cartilaginous fish of the Katran-like order. The species was first described in 1758 scientist Karl Linnaeus. The name is translated from Greek as a thorn or thorn, and fishermen often call the individual a short-finned spiny shark. This species is one of the most common, and can be found in the waters of most oceans and seas around the world. The animal is of particular interest to the food industry and sport fishing.


The katran shark, or the Black Sea shark, belongs to the cartilaginous fish of the Katran-like order.

General information

Such a streamlined body shape helps the shark move in the water very quickly, ahead of many representatives of reservoirs. The entire shark is covered with small scales, which usually have grey colour, smoothly turning into white closer to the belly. However, you can often find individuals whose sides are covered with small white spots of irregular shape. It is this species that is called spotted.

The head of the animal is flattened from above and below, and the snout is pointed. The eyes are small, oval and hardly noticeable when they are closed, which helps the individual to be less vulnerable to possible enemies. In the mouth of each individual there are several rows of small and extremely sharp teeth that resemble fangs in shape.

One of the features is the rapid replacement of teeth when they are lost or worn down. When all the teeth are worn down, new ones quickly appear in their place. This allows the predator to be always ready to hunt prey and tear it into small pieces for ease of consumption. In the mouth of each individual, there are at least a hundred teeth.

There are spikes in front of the back and front fins located on the back. In the first, the spike is high and almost reaches the height of the fin, in the second it is less pronounced, and its length is not more than 3 cm. One of the features of this species, which makes it possible to distinguish it from others, will be the absence of an anal fin, which other similar fish have.

For the speed of movement in water, the tail of the katran is very important, which acts as a balancer and rudder when swimming. It is worth noting that the shark moves simply with lightning speed, leaving the victim no chance of salvation.

Places of distribution

The katran fish is widespread in many water bodies. You can meet her in the oceans, the Indian and pacific ocean, as well as in water bodies of Australia, Japan and Argentina. If we talk about the territory of Russia, you can meet the katran shark in the Black Sea, where it feels quite comfortable.

The Bering and Okhotsk Seas are also rich in this type of cartilaginous fish. There have been cases when an individual was found near California. An interesting feature fish is considered to be able to migrate over very long distances. This was confirmed by tagging one shark, which was subsequently released at the same location and caught at a distance approximately 7 years later.

As a rule, the katran does not sail far into the open sea, but with insufficient food, it is able to forget about caution and swim quite far. Prefers an individual to live closer to the bottom, and in some cases you can meet flocks of katrans. If the temperature of the water near the bottom falls sharply, individuals rise closer to the surface.

It is noted that the species does not tolerate high and low temperatures water. It is for this reason that it cannot be found in the cold waters of Antarctica and the hot climate of tropical waters. If the upper layers of the reservoir are very hot, individuals can descend to a depth of more than 100 meters, where comfortable temperature. There are also a large number small fish, which also does not tolerate high temperatures.

Nutrition of the Black Sea shark

The shortfin spiny shark is not among the most dangerous marine predators, but its diet is quite varied . As a rule, she prefers small fish:

  • Salmon, flounder, mackerel and other medium-sized representatives sea ​​depths become good food for the katran.
  • An individual prefers to hunt for those representatives who live in packs.
  • A feature of the nutrition of individuals is that they do not swallow the prey whole, but prefer to grind it before eating.
  • With a lack of small fish, the shark eats shrimp, jellyfish and crabs.

Despite the awesome appearance and more than a hundred teeth, animals often become prey themselves large birds. Especially often they are caught by seagulls, raised above the surface of the water, carried to the shore to be smashed against stones and pecked.

It is noted that in the reservoirs where the katrans live, the number of dolphins decreases every year. Scientists have concluded that sea dogs hunt dolphins in packs, because they cannot cope with such a prey alone.

Reproduction of the short-finned predator

The life expectancy of each individual in a natural reservoir is about 25 years. It can be attributed to long-livers. Quite late comes the period of puberty in the katran. As a rule, an individual reaches 10-12 years before reproducing offspring:

  • The duration of bearing babies is almost 24 months.
  • After that, from the eggs that the female carries in the oviduct, cubs up to 25 cm long are born.
  • From 15 to 20 individuals appear at a time.
  • After birth, they are immediately ready to lead a lifestyle that is familiar to their parents.
  • For the birth of offspring, the female chooses a place where the depth is shallow in order to provide future offspring with easy prey in the form of fry and other small representatives.
  • When babies grow up a little and begin to demand more big booty, the female takes them to the depth.
  • After 10-12 years, all life cycle repeats.

An interesting feature of this variety of cartilaginous fish is that they choose a couple for themselves for life and try to spend it with a partner. This is a rare trait for such individuals.


The life expectancy of each individual of the katran in the conditions of a natural reservoir is about 25 years.

Cartilaginous fish and man

For amateurs and professional fishermen, the katran often becomes a real problem, as it damages the nets and destroys the catch. In the middle of 1950, Japan even established a reward for those fishermen who can catch this predator.

Currently, fish is considered valuable for the food and pharmaceutical industries. It has been established that there is many times more valuable fat in the liver of the katran than in the liver of cod and other fish. That is why the shark is appreciated. Its meat also has unique taste and beneficial properties for the human body.

Meat is especially valued in Norway, where it is actively consumed, and they also prefer to use katran eggs in cooking, which, according to scientists, contain several times more protein than chicken. However, not in all countries the use of products from spiny sharks is so common.

In most countries, its meat is served under the guise of other, more common fish. In addition to valuable fat, it contains many vitamins., for example, a large amount of retinol. This makes the product even more valuable.


Currently, katran fish is considered valuable for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

The cartilage of individuals, from which chondroprotective preparations are made for the treatment of various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, also becomes useful for humans. The fins and heads are also prized as they secrete a sticky substance used to make glue.

The catch of the Black Sea shark is not large-scale, but at present the individual is included in the list of vulnerable animals, which in the coming years may completely disappear or greatly reduce their numbers. This is due to the fact that the period of bearing cubs is quite long, and their number decreases every year.

For humans, the Black Sea shark is not dangerous. For many centuries, not a single case has been known when these animals attacked a person, although in the Black Sea they quite often intersect with people.

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