Rev. 4/27/19 SC

Shark Central Assigned Biologist: Sam Hoesl

Exhibit Description: Shark Central is located between Sharky’s Café and Penguin Palooza. The primary focus of the exhibit is the 4500-gallon saltwater tank that houses a variety of sharks and guitarfish. Secondary aspects include the “Weigh Station” and “Shark X-Ray” interactives, as well as several graphic displays. The aim of Shark Central is to captivate and entertain our guests by providing a unique and exciting up-close animal experience, and to educate them about sharks, shark behavior, and conservation issues currently affecting sharks and their relatives. Position Description: We invite our guests to observe and touch the live animals in the tank, and to utilize the interactive features in the exhibit space. While doing so, team members are expected to use a microphone to politely enforce touch-tank rules in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of guests and animals alike, while also engaging in a fun and informative dialogue with guests about sharks and their natural history. An Exhibits team member will always act as primary presenter, while volunteers may be asked to provide assistance on a more informal basis. Equipment and Supplies: Stored on or near the wooden shelf in the presenter’s stage area. • Microphone headset with battery pack: This allows you to better be heard by our guests.

The pack should be turned on and secured to your pocket or belt, and the headset properly worn on your head. The mute switch is for quieter one-on-one conversations, radio calls, etc. Please do not alter its settings. These should be stored in the provided plastic bin at the end of the day to protect from splashes and/or humidity overnight.

• Radio: This is for communication with 205 or other staff. It should be turned on and tuned to channel 2, and near enough to hear calls (either on the shelf or on your person).

• Water bucket, rag, and squeegee: These are for cleaning the acrylic windows, tank ledge, and interactive features. Clean water can be obtained in the Task Force supply closet.

• Hand sanitizer: Two dispensers are mounted to either side of the Shark X-Ray.

• Disinfectant wipes: These may be used to disinfect the mic, radio, and/or other equipment.

• Shark eggs: Egg cases that have been removed from the tank may be used as visual aids (subject to availability from Husbandry – please do not give these out to guests).

• Flashlight: This is available in case of a power outage.

• First aid bag and clipboard: These are for designated staff responding to first aid calls.

• Dustpan and broom: For use at opening/closing and during down-time to clean the area.

Rev. 4/27/19 SC

Rules for Guests: All guests are asked to follow these rules during their time at Shark Central.

• Use the two-finger touch. o Guests are asked to use the two-finger touch technique at any animal touch

experience throughout the aquarium. Touching gently with two fingers still allows for an enjoyable and safe guest experience while offering a minimal level of stress on the animals. It also helps to prevent pinching of the animals with a finger and thumb, and/or grabbing them with a whole hand.

• Touch the sharks only on the back, behind the eyes, and towards their tail. o Have guests keep hands out of the tank while waiting for a shark to come near,

then touch as its head passes by, only on its back, and in the direction of its tail. o A shark’s eyes and snout can be very sensitive, so in order to keep the animals

comfortable, we ask that they not be touched on or around the face. This is also to reduce the potential for any defensive biting. Similarly,

guests should avoid touching any shark with its head out of the water. o The catsharks frequently sleep sideways and upside-down, but we prefer that they

still only be touched on their backs (no “belly-rubs,” please).

• Do not grab, pick up, or move the animals. o For example, a guest may try to grab a shark by the tail, or pull a sleeping shark

closer to the tank’s edge for their child to reach. This sort of thing is prohibited for both the wellbeing of the animals and for guest safety.

• Keep any food or drink clear of the tank, and do not set items on the tank ledge. o We do not wish to risk having anything accidentally dropped or knocked into the

tank due to the potential for harm to the animals or the tank’s life support systems. o Cell phones, purses, children’s toys, etc. can be ruined by falling into the tank.

Per Husbandry’s request, waterproof cameras and phones may not be used in the tank outside of any officially sanctioned media or PR events.

Rules for Staff: Team members are expected to follow these rules for safety & animal welfare.

• Do not leave the position unattended. o Shark Central requires constant monitoring during open hours. If you need a

quick bathroom break, or anything else, please contact 205 for assistance.

• Do not use feeding tongs or any other tools to remove items from the tank. o Shark eggs should only be removed from the water by Husbandry staff.

If we do not have any to show, notify 205 so that we may request some. o If something has fallen into the tank, and it can be reached without disturbing the

animals or posing any danger to anyone, then you may remove it by hand. If you are uncertain or are uncomfortable doing so, contact 205 for assistance.

• Do not move the animals in the tank. o We prefer to let the animals decide for themselves where to go; however, if a

guest with a disability is having difficulty reaching the animals, you may request assistance from 205, thus allowing you to maintain focus on the tank as a whole.

Rev. 4/27/19 SC

Residents of the Tank

Striped Catshark (Poroderma africanum)

• In the tank: six total, both sexes. • Can grow up to a little over 3 feet long. • Found along the coast of South Africa. • Diet includes crustaceans, cephalopods,

and small bony fishes. • Similar to catfish, they have whisker-like

barbels on their snout to help sense prey. • Being primarily nocturnal, they have

reflective surfaces on their retinae that give them good night vision, just like cats.

• Can often be found in groups, especially during the summer. • Will frequently be seen sleeping sideways or upside-down in the tank. • For reasons that are unclear, some of our striped catsharks will occasionally “tail walk,”

holding their snouts above the water line and sometimes “spitting” water over the edge of the tank (feel free to caution guests about this).

• Oviparous, they lay the “mermaid’s purse” type of egg that is often found in the tank. • IUCN Red List status – Near Threatened. • Also known as the pyjama shark or pyjama catshark.

Leopard Catshark (Poroderma pantherinum)

• In the tank: one female (“Dot”). • Can grow up to a little under 3 feet long. • Found in the southeast Atlantic ocean

along the coast of South Africa, from Saldhana to Natal.

• Diet includes octopus, bony fishes, crustaceans, and worms.

• Similar to catfish, they have whisker-like barbels on their snout to help sense prey.

• Nocturnal, with excellent night vision, much like their striped cousins above.

• Will frequently be seen sleeping sideways or upside-down in the tank. • Oviparous, they lay the “mermaid’s purse” type of egg that is often found in the tank. • IUCN Red List status – insufficient data to assess.

Rev. 4/27/19 SC

Port Jackson Shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)

• In the tank: two females (the larger one is “PJ” and the smaller one is “Sheila”), and one much smaller male (“Irwin”).

• Can grow up to 5 feet in length. • Found in the western Pacific, around

southern Australia. • Diet includes urchins, molluscs,

crustaceans, and small fishes. • Small, pointed front teeth combined with

broad, flat back teeth help them to grab and then crush hard-shelled prey.

• Nocturnal, often hiding in caves and rocky gullies during the day. • Possesses a tough cartilaginous “horn” at the front of each dorsal fin which acts as a

defense against predation. • They can eat and breathe simultaneously (unusual among sharks) by using their enlarged

first gill to pump water over the other four, thus freeing up their mouth for other tasks. • Oviparous, typically laying 10-12 pairs of corkscrew-shaped eggs from August to

September, which the mother will wedge into rock crevices with her mouth while the egg is still soft. These eggs are sometimes seen in our tank.

• IUCN Red List status – least concern. • Also known as the Port Jackson horn shark.

Japanese Bullhead Shark (Heterodontus japonicus)

• In the tank: three males (from largest to smallest: “Fuji,” “Sake,” and “Wasabi”) and one small female (“Kyoto”).

• Can grow up to nearly 4 feet long. • Found in rocky areas, reefs, and kelp beds

along the shorelines of Japan, Korea, northern China, and Taiwan.

• Diet includes crustaceans, molluscs, small fishes, and urchins.

• As with other bullhead or horn shark species, it possesses a tough cartilaginous “horn” at the front of each dorsal fin which acts as a defense against predation.

• Oviparous, laying corkscrew-shaped eggs which the mother will pick up in her mouth and attempt to wedge in between rocks/coral/etc.

• IUCN Red List status – Least Concern; however, this shark’s inshore habitat and primary food sources may be threatened by the proliferation of areas of reduced marine algae density (known as coralline flats, or “isoyake” in Japan) caused by pollution, increased water temperatures, and sedimentation.

Rev. 4/27/19 SC

Shovelnose Guitarfish (Rhinobatus productus)

• In the tank: one male (“Jimi”) and one larger female (“Hendrix”).

• Can grow up to 4 feet in length. • Found on sandy or muddy bottoms in

bays, seagrass beds, and near rocky reefs in the eastern Pacific, from northern California southward to the gulf, and possibly to parts of Mexico.

• Diet includes crabs, worms, clams, and small fishes, usually hunting at night.

• Being guitarfishes, they are a type of ray, just like other Batoids (including our shark rays). This makes them closer cousins to the stingrays in Stingray Hideaway than to the sharks in Shark Central. Sharks and rays together are classed as Elasmobranchs.

• Ovoviviparous, with litters of up to 28 pups after a gestation period of 11-12 months. • IUCN Red List status – near threatened.

Rev. 4/27/19 SC

Additional Fun Facts About Sharks

• There are at least 440 known extant shark species, ranging from the tiny dwarf lantern shark (grows to 7-8 inches max), up to the massive whale shark (grows up to 40 feet).

o The whale shark is the biggest around today, but it eats only tiny zooplankton! o The biggest shark ever was likely the prehistoric Megalodon, reaching estimated

lengths of 40-65feet (up to three times larger than the biggest great whites).

• The title for the longest-lived vertebrate animal is currently held by the mysterious Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), which has been determined via radiocarbon dating to be able to live for least 300-400 years!

• Sharks are cartilaginous fishes, so their skeletal structure is made of cartilage instead of

bone. They are related to other such fishes, such as stingrays, chimaera, and guitarfish. o Since cartilage doesn’t fossilize easily, complete fossil sharks are rare. Some

extinct sharks are known only from teeth and other small parts, which may be compared to extant sharks to infer more details (e.g., comparisons to the great white shark allow paleontologists to infer information about the Megalodon).

o As shark teeth fossilize, they tend to turn dark brown or black in color. These fossil teeth can often be found in the sand along the beach!

• Sharks have extra senses to help them maneuver and hunt (as seen on the Shark X-Ray). o They can detect and respond almost instantaneously to slight movements in the

water around them with their lateral line, which is a pressure-sensitive organ that runs along each side of their body (all fishes have this sense).

o Small electroreceptive organs in their snout (the “ampullae of Lorenzini”) allow them to detect the tiny electrical impulses produced by the muscle action and nerve impulses of living things. They may even be able to sense your heartbeat through your fingers when your hand is in the tank!

• Sharks have a lot of teeth in multiple rows, and they’re constantly losing them and growing in new ones. Some sharks go through as many as 30,000 teeth in their lifetime!

• Sharks are not nearly as dangerous to humans as many think. Sharks may kill up to six people in U.S. waters per year, and up to a dozen worldwide, but that number is very low compared to most other causes of death (including odd things like falling icicles, toppled vending machines, lightning strike, and selfie-related accidents, among others)!

• A shark that is turned upside-down may go into a very relaxed, near-catatonic state called

“tonic immobility.” While this phenomenon is not fully understood, it is something that biologists can take advantage of to aid with research on – and care for – sharks and shark rays. Sharks are typically able to snap themselves out of this “trance” after a short time.

Rev. 4/27/19 SC

Frequently Asked Questions

These are some questions that we often get asked at Shark Central. As long as you’re accurate and honest, you may answer in your own words. Feel free to have some fun with it!

Q. “Do the sharks bite?” A. They can bite, of course, but they would still need a reason to do so! Sharks don’t see

fingers (or humans in general) as food, but they will defend themselves if scared or threatened, as any animal would. Our sharks are used to gentle touches on their backs, so as long as you’re doing that and not upsetting them, you have nothing to fear!

Q. “Is that (cat)shark dead?” A. It may look strange, but it’s really just taking a nap! The catsharks often sleep sideways

and upside-down, but as long as their mouth and gills are still going, they’re all right! • This is a good opportunity to talk about tonic immobility (see previous page).

Q. “Don’t sharks always have to keep swimming to stay alive?” A. Some sharks (e.g, blacktip reef sharks) are known as “obligate swimmers,” and must

constantly swim to push water over their gills, but this is not true of all sharks. Many can use their mouth or spiracles to pump water over their gills while resting on the bottom. Most sharks do need to keep swimming forward in order to maintain lift, like an airplane in the sky, but there are even exceptions to this, such as our air-gulping sand tiger sharks.

Q. “Why is that shark (or guitarfish) sticking its head out of the water?” A. We honestly don’t know exactly why, but some of the catsharks and the guitarfish will

occasionally poke their heads up above the water level. There are several ideas as to why they may do this, including that they are feeling agitated for some reason and are simply reacting to some stressor (e.g., mating attempt, nearby chasing/splashing, disoriented after waking from a nap, etc.). The catsharks often “tail-walk” during these episodes, looking as if they’re dancing, and may spit water over the edges of the tank. Please be sure to remind guests not to touch any animals which have their head out of the water.

Q. “What do these sharks eat?” A. Our animals are fed high-quality, restaurant-grade seafood (e.g., fish, squid, and shrimp),

the same as what we might eat ourselves! It arrives frozen, and is then thawed and supplemented with additional vitamins and nutrients to ensure a healthy, nutritious diet.

Q. “How much food do these sharks eat?” A. The animals in the Shark Central tank receive just two feeds per week, 2-3 days apart,

and that’s plenty of food to fuel their relatively slow, ectothermic (i.e., “cold-blooded”) metabolism. Sharks are not the voracious eating machines that a lot of folks expect them to be, so the “Appetite Award” around here actually goes to the penguins instead!

Q. “What is the water temperature in the tank?” A. These sharks tend to prefer cooler waters, so the tank is kept at a little under 60° F.

Rev. 4/27/19 SC

Conservation Messaging

Sharks are often viewed as scary dangerous monsters by the general public, in large part due to the fanciful portrayals seen in movies and television shows. The truth of the matter is quite different, though! The relative danger that sharks present to humans is typically blown way out of proportion, as is the size of their appetite. Part of the goal of the Shark Central exhibit is to allow our guests to experience sharks as they actually are, instead of how they are represented in popular media, and thus hopefully to enable them to come to a better understanding of the role that sharks play in the oceans and the reasons for protecting them. Here are a few topics to consider including in your presentation at Shark Central:

• Shark finning and bycatch. o It’s estimated that up to around 100 million sharks are killed by people each

year, which can be averaged out to around 11,000 sharks every hour! o A large part of this can be attributed to shark finning, which is the process of

catching sharks to harvest their fins for shark fin soup (a popular and pricey item in some parts of the world). The fins are cut off, after which the sharks are thrown back into the water where they invariably bleed or starve to death. This is often done to thousands of sharks at a time.

o Sharks can also become accidentally trapped in fishing nets that are set out to catch other types of fish. This accidental capture, known as “bycatch,” can be harmful to not only sharks, but a variety of other animals as well. For this reason, “turtle safe” and “dolphin safe” fishing nets, which allow heavier animals to escape through special openings, are being used more frequently.

• Sharks as apex predators.

o Sharks play an important role in ocean ecosystems. Most sharks scavenge and prey mostly on the sick, dying, and injured fishes and other animals, thus helping to promote the health of various fish populations. They also act as a natural population control, in a way similar to land-based predators.

• Exaggeration of shark danger. o Hollywood and news outlets often play up the perceived menace of sharks,

contributing to a negative and harmful stereotype of sharks as vicious monsters deserving of hatred and scorn; however, as long as you are not actively trying to get bitten by a shark, then you are statistically far more likely to be bitten by a dog, cat, pig, cow, horse, or even another human. In fact, people have far more reason to fear mosquito bites than shark bites!

• Products made from sharks.

o Sharks are sometimes caught and killed to make various products, including leather from their skin, shark cartilage “medicines” and supplements of dubious efficacy, and even just gruesome souvenirs.

Rev. 4/27/19 SC

Common Issues and Concerns Sometimes, things don’t quite go as smoothly as we would like. Here are a number of situations which may arise from time to time, and some suggestions for how to deal with them. Remember, if you are ever uncertain or uncomfortable about something, call the 205!

• The sharks are doing an awful lot of splashing/thrashing/chasing/etc.!

Sometimes the sharks seem to have extra energy to burn, and may swim very fast, chasing and/or biting each other, splashing water out of the tank, or any combination of the above. This may coincide with feeding days, but it may also involve breeding behavior, which for sharks can include biting and thrashing (ah, romance…♥). Shark activity may also increase due to higher-than-normal water temperature (this will require the attention of Husbandry and/or Engineering staff, and may also result in the temporary closure of the tank from any touching). If the sharks begin to chase and splash a lot, or otherwise get overly frisky, you are empowered to call for a “time out” from touching if you feel it is warranted. Politely ask the guests to keep their hands out of the water, and let them know that you will be giving the sharks some time to settle down. Once they are calm, you may allow guests to resume touching. It may only take a few minutes, but it can take longer. If at any time you feel like there is something wrong, and/or if the sharks are exhibiting a prolonged period of hyperactivity, then inform 205.

• The Shark Central tank has been closed from touching. What now?

If we are forced to close off the tank from touching (typically for reasons related to animal welfare), then we will place stanchions around the tank to keep guests at a distance while still allowing them to view the animals. We will still need to staff the area, however, so you may be asked to be in position to inform guests about the closure, to ensure that they do not pass the stanchion line, and to continue to give the same level of guest experience that you would otherwise provide (sharing information about the animals, answering questions, etc.).

• The floor in Shark Central has gotten really wet from splashing.

If the floor becomes wet enough to present a possible safety hazard, call 205 or Task Force (201) on channel 2 to request a mop. You may mop the floor yourself if you have a break in the flow of guests, or 205 or Task Force can take care of it while you continue to focus on the guests. There will always be a couple of tall, brightly colored “wet floor” signs in the area, which should be placed so that one is easily visible at either end of the room.

• The Shark X-Ray and/or Weigh Station isn’t working properly.

The Weigh Station, which is meant to compare a guest’s weight to that of various kinds

of sharks, may sometimes display an erroneous result, or the display may jump up and down wildly without ever settling on a number. The Shark X-Ray, meanwhile, may have occasional issues with light bulbs burning out or buttons not working properly. If the electronic interactive features are malfunctioning, then Engineering staff will need to be made aware in order to effect repairs. The best bet is to contact 205 about the issue, and they will pass the message along.

Rev. 4/27/19 SC

• It’s a busy day, and it’s starting to get really crowded around the tank!

On busier days, large crowds can form in Shark Central, and it may be more difficult to keep an eye on things, and to make sure that everyone is able to hear your rules and presentation. If you feel like you could use some assistance in dealing with a crowded exhibit, please don’t hesitate to contact 205. They may be able to send a second person over to assist (keep in mind that this might not be immediately possible, however, depending on the day’s staffing). If a second is available to help at Shark Central, they should be positioned on the opposite side of the tank from the primary presenter (i.e., on the side closer to the Shark X-Ray). This will give them a vantage point different from the presenter, allowing for them to monitor guest behavior which may otherwise go unseen. They can also help with rules and guest questions, though the second should take care not to talk over the main presenter, if possible.

• I have a difficult guest who is refusing to follow the touch tank rules/bothering other guests/making me feel uncomfortable/etc.

All guests are required to follow our rules and policies while visiting the Newport

Aquarium. This is implicit in their purchase of an admission ticket, and failure to adhere to our guest policies can result in them being asked to leave the aquarium without refund. Our touch tank rules are in place for the wellbeing and safety of both the animals and the guests alike. Our guest policy also asks that no one behave in such a manner as to interfere with the enjoyment of other guests, nor present a threat to the safety of guests or team members.

You may feel free to politely yet firmly ask a guest to leave the exhibit area if they have demonstrated an inability or unwillingness to follow the rules. If you find yourself dealing with an unruly guest who simply will not comply with your directions, or who seems threatening, please call the 205 immediately. 205 will be able to involve managers and our on-site law enforcement officer if necessary, and they will arrive to address the difficult guest on your behalf. You should never feel obligated to handle unruly guests on your own.

• An alarm is going off!

This could be one of a few things. If it is the fire alarm, you should follow standard evacuation procedures as outlined in the emergency flip chart. The nearest emergency exit is the set of double doors to the left of the Weigh Station, which leads directly into the upper level of the parking garage. This is the only truly wheelchair-accessible emergency exit. You may also hear emergency exit door alarms in Shark Central or Penguin Palooza. The Shark Central door alarm can be disabled with your ID badge, but you should call 205 for the Penguin Palooza door. There is also an alarm that is triggered by opening the plastic cover on the fire alarm switch. This can be turned off by ensuring that the cover is securely closed.

• A shark just jumped out of the tank! Whaaaat?!

This is not a common occurrence, but there is a chance of it happening. If a shark jumps out of the tank, remain calm and call Husbandry on channel 1 immediately. You should also ask guests to remain still and keep clear of the shark. If you cannot get in touch with Husbandry, then you may use a fleece or towel to carefully wrap the shark, then pick it up and put it back in the tank. Be aware that it may thrash, and you should take care to not put your fingers into its mouth or gills. Inform Husbandry and 205 of what happened as soon as you are able.