Shark Katran: a safe inhabitant of the Black Sea

In our minds firmly asserted that sharks are dangerous predators and ruthless killers. However, this description does not apply to the shark katran, which lives in the Black Sea and does not attack tourists.

The shark katran belongs to the detachment of cathorn-birch family of spiny (canine) sharks. It has a large area of distribution in different seas of the World Ocean, in particular, in the Black Sea. The shark tries to avoid too warm or too cold water. Usually the catran is kept at a depth of 100-200 meters and near the coast, it rises to the surface only at night. As a rule, the fish does not make too long migrations. In the autumn, the migration of katran into the areas of mass congestion of horse mackerel and anchovy begins.

Shark katran, also known as the prickly shark, is a small predator and the only shark of the Black Sea. It does not differ in size, its length varies from 70 to 125 centimeters. Rarely are there individuals of the size of two meters. The weight of the predator is on average 10-12 kilograms. Katran has a well-developed sense of smell, while the shark practically does not feel pain.

The Black Sea shark katran has the same external data as the rest of its detachment: a light color on the belly, a dark color on the back and sides, a slender spindle-shaped body structure, a conical head with a sickle-shaped mouth. A distinctive external feature of prickly sharks is the absence of the anal fin and the blinking eye membrane - the "third century".

Katran is a shark that does not pose a serious threat to people's lives on the Black Sea coast. The only danger for a person is the possibility of injuring the spiny fins of a fish. Special plakoid scales, which cover the skin of a shark, are close in composition to the teeth and bones. So, shark scales consist of leather plates that are adjacent to each other and form sharpened peaks. The shark has sharp and poisoned thorns, covered with mucus, but the poison of katran is far from deadly. Katran has small and multi-row sharp teeth, which are renewed throughout life. They gradually drop out and are replaced by new ones.

Shark katran is a large predator of the Black Sea. The main food of young katrana is small fish, fry and shrimp. For adults, the favorite food is herring, cod, horse mackerel, as well as squids and even octopuses. Life expectancy of katrana is quite long - 25 years. Hunts a prickly shark in small flocks, following the accumulations of fish.

Shark katran is a viviparous fish, females produce about 14 sharks, which appear fully formed and ready for independent existence. Their mass is 40-50 grams. By one year, sharks grow to 35 centimeters. Complete puberty is achieved by the age of 13-17.

Shark katran often creates trouble for fishermen, eating their catch and destroying tackle, but does not attack on vacationers. A sea dog is a valuable commercial fish and a useful food. Meat, liver and cartilage of fish contain a large number of valuable substances for the body, contributing to its recovery. In its meat, which has a pleasant taste and a gentle consistency, contains about 12% fat. The liver of fish, from which the medical fat, possessing vitamins A and D. is of special value