w14:paraId="22A0A9B4" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">The Tope Shark is an elegant, medium-sized shark belonging to the family Triakidae. Its body is slender and highly hydrodynamic, which makes it an exceptional swimmer. Its most defining feature is its long, pointed snout, which appears somewhat translucent at the tip. It possesses large eyes with horizontal pupils, and the dorsal colouration is typically grey, ranging toward lead or olive hues, while the underside is stark white. Unlike its smoother relatives, the Tope Shark has small and sharp triangular teeth.

w14:paraId="089B23C7" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Common Names Across the Mediterranean

w14:paraId="42B84469" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Italy: Cagnesca or Verderone

w14:paraId="3225560C" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Spain: Cazón

w14:paraId="5D62E565" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">France: Requin-hâ or Cagnot

w14:paraId="36074822" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Turkey: Camgöz balığı

w14:paraId="5066FE2B" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Malta: Galeott

w14:paraId="1A318BD8" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">North Africa (Tunisia/Morocco): Galeo or Kalb bhar

w14:paraId="79CE973C" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Adriatic Coast (Croatia): Pas butor

w14:paraId="058CDABA" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Greece: Galeos

w14:paraId="07AFC3DA" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Habitat

w14:paraId="7CF93119" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">This is a highly migratory species that primarily inhabits the continental shelf. While it can occasionally be found in shallower areas, it prefers depths between 50 and 500 metres. It is known to cover vast distances, travelling thousands of kilometres to follow food sources or reach breeding grounds.

w14:paraId="7EDD810B" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Size

w14:paraId="12AC71AB" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">The length typically ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 metres. However, it can reach a maximum length of 2 metres and weigh over 45 kilograms. Females generally grow larger and heavier than males.

w14:paraId="7C916B88" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Diet

w14:paraId="71D74C5F" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">As an opportunistic and rapid hunter, the Tope Shark feeds primarily on bottom-dwelling or midwater fish such as hake, sardines, mackerel, and flatfish. It also has a strong preference for cephalopods like squid and cuttlefish and will occasionally consume various crustaceans.

w14:paraId="6B99BE0A" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Reproduction

w14:paraId="041C6445" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">The Tope Shark exhibits aplacental viviparity, in which eggs hatch in the uterus, and embryos are nourished by a yolk sac. The gestation period is remarkably long, lasting approximately one full year. A single female can give birth to a litter of 20 to 50 pups, which each measure about 30 to 35 centimetres at birth. These pups are very slender and flexible because they have cartilage rather than bones, which allows them to remain folded within the elastic uterus until birth.

w14:paraId="503F6E6D" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Fisheries & Economic Value

w14:paraId="2C7C30C1" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Historically, this was a highly valued commercial species prized for its meat and fins. It is caught using longlines, gillnets, and trawls. However, decades of intensive fishing have driven the species to the brink of extinction in the Mediterranean.

w14:paraId="336717D5" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">Significant Research Findings

w14:paraId="150A174E" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="002A6F5F" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="002A6F5F" w:rsidP="002A6F5F">The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the Tope Shark as Critically Endangered, which is the final stage before extinction in the wild. Scientific research has identified the slow reproductive cycle as the primary reason for this population collapse. Females do not give birth every year, and they typically follow a three-year reproductive cycle. This means the population recovers far too slowly to withstand modern fishing pressure. Furthermore, research using satellite tags has shown that these sharks migrate from Northern Europe into the Mediterranean, underscoring the urgent need for international cooperation to protect the remaining individuals.

w14:paraId="3C9DA2F3" w14:textId="77777777" w:rsidR="006018FB" w:rsidRPr="002A6F5F" w:rsidRDefault="006018FB">

This is a highly migratory species that primarily inhabits the continental shelf. While it can occasionally be found in shallower areas, it prefers depths between 50 and 500 metres. It is known to cover vast distances, travelling thousands of kilometres to follow food sources or reach breeding grounds.

Triakidae

. Its body is slender and highly hydrodynamic, which makes it an exceptional swimmer. Its most defining feature is its long, pointed snout, which appears somewhat translucent at the tip. It possesses large eyes with horizontal pupils, and the dorsal colouration is typically grey, ranging toward lead or olive hues, while the underside is stark white. Unlike its smoother relatives, the Tope Shark has small and sharp triangular teeth.

The length typically ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 metres. However, it can reach a maximum length of 2 metres and weigh over 45 kilograms. Females generally grow larger and heavier than males.

As an opportunistic and rapid hunter, the Tope Shark feeds primarily on bottom-dwelling or midwater fish such as hake, sardines, mackerel, and flatfish. It also has a strong preference for cephalopods like squid and cuttlefish and will occasionally consume various crustaceans.

The Tope Shark exhibits

aplacental

viviparity, in which eggs hatch in the uterus, and embryos are nourished by a yolk sac. The gestation period is remarkably long, lasting approximately one full year. A single female can give birth to a litter of 20 to 50 pups, which each measure about 30 to 35 centimetres at birth. These pups are very slender and flexible because they have cartilage rather than bones, which allows them to remain folded within the elastic uterus until birth.

Fisheries & Economic Value

Historically, this was a highly valued commercial species prized for its meat and fins. It is caught using longlines, gillnets, and trawls. However, decades of intensive fishing have driven the species to the brink of extinction in the Mediterranean.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the Tope Shark as Critically Endangered, which is the final stage before extinction in the wild. Scientific research has identified the slow reproductive cycle as the primary reason for this population collapse. Females do not give birth every year, and they typically follow a three-year reproductive cycle. This means the population recovers far too slowly to withstand modern fishing pressure. Furthermore, research using satellite tags has shown that these sharks migrate from Northern Europe into the Mediterranean, underscoring the urgent need for international cooperation to protect the remaining individuals.