Shark Skeleton
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A 1.8m long skeleton was hauled up on a bottom set line from a depth of approximately 150 m in the Tathra Canyons off Tathra New South Wales in 2003.
![Shark skeleton](https://media.australian.museum/media/dd/images/Shark_skeleton.width-1600.66f3b17.jpg)
© D. Stephens
The images were taken by D. Stephens and sent to the Australian Museum by DPI Fisheries Officer, Ian Merrington. It shows the skull and vertebral column of a shark, most likely a member of the family Lamnidae* or possibly Carcharhinidae. This family Lamnidae includes the White Shark, Shortfin Mako and Porbeagle Shark. Carcharhinidae includes the Whaler Sharks and Tiger Shark.
![Shark skull](https://media.australian.museum/media/dd/images/Shark_skull.width-1600.4719d21.jpg)
© D. Stephens
Unlike the skeleton of bony fishes, the elasmobranchs have skeletons made of cartilage, not bone.
![Tail region of a shark skeleton](https://media.australian.museum/media/dd/images/Tail_region_of_a_shark_skeleton.width-1600.3b23ee9.jpg)
© D. Stephens
References:
Helfman, G.S., Collette, B.B. & D.E. Facey. 1997. The Diversity of Fishes. Blackwell Science. Pp. 528.
* Thank you to Dr John Stevens CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research, Hobart, for his help identifying the skeleton.