British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Glossary - Nursehound - definition

Translation:

Nursehounds can be found in the waters surrounding the UK. The Nursehound is a large catshark. They are typically 140 cm in length, but can reach 160 cm and have large spots all over their bodies. The Nursehound's head is flat and wide with distinctive nasal flaps. They are also known by other names, such as 'Greater Spotted Catshark'; 'Bull Huss'; 'Greater Spotted Dogfish' and 'Rough Hound Shark'.

Nursehounds like to stay close to the sea floor near to the rocks, like these behind me, for shelter and where there is plenty of algae. They are 'nocturnal', which means they are more active at night. Nursehounds eat shrimp, small fish, sometimes other sharks and octopuses. During the day they hide in crevices, sometimes with other sharks. When the females lay eggs, each one is wrapped in a black leathery case with hooks at the corners, which catch and tangle in the seaweed to hold the egg in place - this stops the eggs being carried away and lost in the current.