Spookfish, numbfish, stingarees, fiddler rays and cookie-cutter sharks are just some of the 322 shark, ray and chimaerid species illustrated in the latest edition of Sharks and Rays of Australia, a definitive reference by Peter Last and John Stevens of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's (CSIRO) Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship.
Australia's sharks, rays and chimaerids, collectively known as chondrichthyans, are just as intriguing as their names suggest. Their eclectic colours, shapes and patterns reflect environments ranging from remote estuaries to ocean depths. Their new descriptions, and their portraits by watercolourist Roger Swainston, will help to guide the identification and conservation of these diverse species.
The first edition of Sharks and Rays of Australia was produced in 1994. Since then, 29 species have been discovered in Australian seas and more than 100 species have been named and formally described.
As well as documenting these advances, the new edition includes updated species classifications and descriptions, distribution maps, line illustrations by Georgina Davis, family keys and outlines of chondrichthyan biology and interactions with humans.
The book catalogues a rich seam of Australia's marine biodiversity, providing an indispensable compendium for scientists and a baseline reference for the fishing industry.
"More than a quarter of the world's chondrichthyan fauna is found in Australian seas, and many of the species that live on the continental slope have only been discovered in the past three decades," said Dr Last, who is the director of the Australian National Fish Collection at CSIRO in Hobart.
"In the same period, growth in the trade of shark fins has fuelled increasing demand for shark and ray products, driving significant increases in shark take by commercial fisheries worldwide," he said.
Dr Stevens said sharks and rays live at the top of the food chain and play an important role in marine ecosystems. "But many do not reach sexual maturity until ten to twelve years old, so the number of young they produce is closely linked to the size of the adult population.
"There is growing concern about the sustainability of stocks throughout the world, and several species are listed by national and international bodies as endangered," he said.