original scientific paper UD C 597(jadransko morje) HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PRESENCE OF THE GREAT WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LINNAEUS, 1758), IN THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ADRIATIC SEA Alessandro DE MADDALENA Italian Great White Shark Data Bank, via V. Foppa 25, 1-20144 Milano, Italy E-maif: ademaddalena@tiscalinet.it ABSTRACT Data concerning the presence o/Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Northern and Central Adriatic. Sea, as recorded in the Italian Great: White Shark Data Bank, is presented herewith. A total of 79 cases, correspond­ing to about 83 specimens, are presented, complete with all biological details collected. Moreover; a brief analysis of the data is given. Key words: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, Adriatic Sea PRESENZA STORÍCA E ATTUALE DELLO SQUAL O BIANCO , CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LiNNAEUS, 1 758), NELL'ALTO E MEDI O ADRIATICO SINTESi Vengono esposti i dati in mérito alia presenza di Carcharodon carcharías (Linnaeus, 1758) nell'Alto e Medio Mare Adriático registrati nella Banca Dati italiana Squalo Bianco. E' riportato un totale di 79 casi, corrispondenti a circa 83 esemplari, completo di tutti i dettagli che é stalo possible rilevare. I dati vengono quindi brevemente anaiizzati. Parole chiave: Squalo bianco, Carcharodon carcharias, Mare Adriático !N7"ROD{JCTiON of this species from the Adriatic Sea have been col­lected. These data are reported here in full. Although the great white shark, Carcharodon car­charias (Linnaeus, 1758) (Fig. 1), has never been the MATERIALS AN D METHODS subject of specific studies in the Adriatic Sea, its pres­ence in these waters has been known for a long time, The search for data on white sharks from the Adriatic being recorded on many occasions by several authors. was effected by bibliographical research, location and As a result of a program of data collection called the study of materials preserved in natural history museums, "Italian Great White Shark Data Bank" ("Banca Dati collaborations with other researchers, coast guards, and Italiana Squalo Bianco") and instigated in 1996, sub-private citizens. For every case, whenever possible, the stantial information about historical and recent records following data were collected: date and location of the ANNALES • Ser. hist. nat. • 10 • 2000 • 1 (19) Aiessaridra DE MADDAl.tNA : HISTORICA l AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE O F THE CRfA T WHIT E SHARK, . .. 3-1S Fig. 1: Great white shark Carcharodon carcharías (Linnaeus,Si. 1: Beli morski volk Carcharodon carcharías (Linné1758). record, total length (TL.) in cm, mass (P) in kg and sex (S) of the specimen, type of record (sighting, capture, attack on human or boat), register number in the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), depth of the sea at record location, distance from the coast, weather, information about specimens preserved in museums and catalogue number (cat. no.) in the collections, as well as any additional details. RESULTS 326 records of Carcharodon carcharías in the Medi­terranean Sea have been collected in the Italian Great White Shark Data Bank. Of these, a total of 79 cases (77 of which are deemed reliable) are referred to the Adriatic Sea (including Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and un­known Country), corresponding to about 83 specimens (81 reliable) (Tab. 1). Only the large region encompass­ing Sicily, Egadi, Pantelleria, Pelagie, Malta and Tunisia has a larger number of records (105 specimens in total) as far as the Mediterranean is concerned. Wit h the exception of a few cases in which neither exact location nor Country is indicated ~ consequently they are indicated as occurring in the "Adriatic Sea" - the records are geographically well clustered in two zones: in the Eastern and Western Adriatic (Fig. 2). The lack of data from the Southern Adriatic supports a statement made by Bini (1967), who reported the great white shark as very rare in this zone. The Eastern Adriatic The high number of cases of great white sharks re­corded from the Eastern Adriatic during the 19 * century 1758). Drawing by Alessandro De Maddalena. Risba: Alessandro De Maddalena. and in the first half of the 20 * century indicate that a population - perhaps of substantial size - must be pre­sent in the northern part of this zone, particularly in the Gulf of Trieste and in the Kvarner. The presence of this population in the Northeastern Adriatic may be causally Fig. 2: Record location of great white sharks in the Adriatic Sea. SI. 2: Lokacije belih morskih volkov, zabeleženih v Jadranskem morju. AlessaiidfO DE MADDALENA : HISTORICAL AM D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE O f THE GREAT WHIT E SHARK, ..., 3-18 Tab. 1: Data on great white sharks registered in the Adriatic Sea. Tab. 1: Podatki o belih morskih volkovih, zabeleženih v fadranu. DATE LOCATION TL P (cm) (k g 1827 Adriatic Sea ITALY Beginning of Civitanova 600 ca. 1814 February ITALY (602) 1839 September jablanac, 14th 1868 CROATIA December Sv. Gjuraj, 460 16th 1868 Near Senj CROATIA April 1872­; July 1882 Eastern North Adriatic Sea from 146 to 530 April 16i h Pre In ka 490 1872 harbour CROATIA April 19th 1872 Grado ITALY 300 May 12i h Opuzen 95 1872 CROATIA May 12 t h Konao (Mijet) 237 1872 CROATIA June 8 t h Preluka 131 1872 harbour CROATIA June 16th Dugs Otok 146 1872 CROATIA July 25i h Cavtat 260 1872 CROATIA August Rab 130 1872 CROATIA 1873 Trieste 460 ITALY May 5 t h Ustrine (Cres) 460 1877 CROATIA May 8t h 1877 Sv. Martin (Cres) 413 CROATIA May 12th Adriatic Sea 1877 ITALY May 12th Adriatic Sea 1877 ITALY June 17th Osor -Cres­ 371 1878 CROATIA May 21st Sv. Martin 382 1879 Cres CROATIA S REMARKS Capture; jaws preserved in the Museo di Anatomía Comparata of Bologna (cat. no. A C P 114). Capture or stranding; skeleton preserved in the Museo di Anatomía Comparata, Rome (cat. no. 111-95). Capture. Preserved in the Croatian Museum Zagreb. Capture. Preserved in the Croatian Museum Zagreb. 21 specimens captured. Surely some of these individuáis are reported further. Capture Capture, 4 miles offshore Capture, 10 miles offshore Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture M Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture REFERENCES M. Zuffa (pers. cotrim.), De Maddalena {2000) Bonaparte (1839), Metaxa (1839), Vinciguerra (1885-1892), Condorelli & Perrando (1909), De Maddalena (1998-1999 -) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Marchesetti (1884) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Doderlein (1881), Graeffe (1886) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Perugia (1881), Ninni (1912) Perugia (1881), Ninni (1912) Perugia (1881), Brusina (1888), Ninni (1912) Brusina (1888) ANNALES • Ser. hist. nat. • 10 • 2000 • 1 (19) AlessancUo DE MADDAI.ENA : HISTORICA L AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRE5ENCE O F THE GREAT WHIT E SHARK 3-18 DATE june 1879 June 17th 1879 July 23rd 1879 September 21s' 1879 November 5t h 1879 1880 April 22n d 1881 October 16t h 1881 April 13th 1882 June 13t h 1883 September 26th 1883 September 14l h 1885 March 3 r d 1886 September 2nd1887 1902 May 29i h 1906 January 1908 May 19! h 1908 June 1908 October 1909 1927 LOCATIO N Kvarner CROATIA Adriatic Sea Split CROATIA Ustrine -Cres-CROATIA C rado ITALY Goifo di Trieste ITALY Rab CROATIA Rab CROATIA Sv. Martin (Cres) CROATIA Vrboska (Hvar) CROATIA Rab CROATIA Santa Croce di Trieste ITALIA Korčula CROATIA Krk CROATIA Trieste ITALY Kvarner CROATIA Medola CROATIA StadivaJ CROATIA Goifo di Trieste ITALY Kraljeviča CROATIA Rovinj CROATIA TL P {cm) (kR) 402 or 445 530 250 460 380 405 529 300 396 400 560 470 375 522 170 1400 550 ? 600 ca. 1000 S REMARKS Capture. Maybe in fact: one of the two following cases. Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture Capture M Capture; preserved taxidermied in the Museo di Storia Naturaie. of Venezia {cat no. 2039). F Captsjre; preserved taxidermied in the Museo di Storia Naturaie of Trieste (without cat. no.). Possible great white shark attack on Milena Scambelli. Captured by Simeone Armanini and Simeone Franceschini. Captured by Steiio Candeia. Capture Capture. Stomach contained inedible objects. REFERENCES Graeffe (1886), Tortonese (1956), Fergusson (1996) Perugia (1881), Ninni (1912) Perugia (1881), Brusina (1888), Ninni (1912) Perugia (1881), Faber(1883), Brusirta (1888), Ninni (1912) Perugia (1881), Ninni (1912) Ninni (1912), Fergusson (1996), Mojetta etal. (1997) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888} Brusina (1888) Brusina (1888) Mizzan (1994), De Maddalena (2000) De Maddalena (2000) M. Zuffa (pers. comm.), Anonymous (1908) M. Zuffa (pers. comm.) Arrassich (1994) A. Mojetta (pers. comm.), Mojetta et a/. (1997) De Maddalena (1999) Afessandro DL MAODAi.ENA : HISTORICAL AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRE5ENCE OF THL GREAT WHIT E 5HARK, 3-1 ? DATE August 21st 1934 August 23r( J and 30th 1934 August 30{ h 1934 September 2nd193 4 September 7t h 1934 September 7t h 1934 August 24t h 1938 1940 ca. September 24^196 1 juiy 7 t h 1963 October 22m' 1963 August 16th 1966 1970 September 1971 1971 August 10th 1974 june 7ih 1978 A few days later End of September 1986 August-September 1987 LOCATIO N Susak CROATIA Rijeka CROATIA Rijeka CROATIA Kralijevica CROATIA Moschiena CROATIA Martinschizza CROATIA Koper SIOVENI A Koper SLOVENI A Opatija CROATIA Riccione ITALY Izoia SLOVENI A Dalmatia CROATIA Novigrad CROATIA tka CROATIA Opatija CROATIA Omis CROATIA Golfo di Vene2ia ITALY Caorie ITALY Western Adriatic Sea (Rimini, Pesaro) ITALY Pesaro ITALY TL P (cm) (kfO 600 ca. >700 600 >700 >2000 500 ca. 800 ca. >600 ca. 500 ca. 450 ? 600 1100 500 ca. 500 ca. 600 ca.? >600 S REMARKS Unprovoked fatal attack on swimmer Agnes Novak. ISAF no. 370. At least 2 specimens sighted. Doubtful unprovoked fatal attack on swimmer Zorica Princ (or Prinz?). [SAF no. 974. Capture Capture; pursuing school of tunas. Sightings; eating a small board of cork. Sighted by Nicola Lubrano. Attack on boat. Unprovoked fatal attack on swimmer Sabit Plan. ISAF no. 946. Unprovoked nonfatal attack on diver Manfred Gregor. ISAF no. 1220. Capture. Stomach contained 1 dolphin. Fatal attack. Unprovoked attack on diver juriniid Fatal attack on Stanislav Kiepna. Unprovoked fatal attack on a swimmer. ISAF no. 1640. Fatal attack on Rolf Schneider. Sighted by Luigi Alberotanza and Luigi Cavaleri; regurgitated a bottienose dolphin. Sighting F Repeated sightings and a possible nonfatal attack on a boat. Sighting REFERENCES Giudici & Fino (1989) Giudici & Fino (1989) Fergusson (1996) Giudici & Fino (1989) Giudici & Fino (1989) Giudici & Fino (1989) State Archives of Trieste M. Zuffa (pers. comm.) Anonymous (1961), Giudici & Fino (1989), Fergusson (1996) Ellis (1983), Fergusson (1996), Mojetta etal. (1997) Lipej (1993-1994) A. Mojetta (pers. comm.) A. Mojetta (pers. comm.) Gilioli (1989) Fergusson (1996) M. Zuffa (pers. comm.) L. Alberotanza (pers. comm.), L. Cavaleri (pers. comm.), Beltrame (1983), Albertarelli (1990), Fergusson (1996) L. Alberotanza (pers. comm.) Anonymous (1986), Gilioli (1989), Giudici & Fino (1989), Marini (1989), Martelli (1989), Fergusson (1996) Cardeilini (1987), Mojetta etal. (1 997) ANNALKS • Ser. hist. nat. • 10 • 2000 • 1 (19) AlesMiicIro DE MADDAIENA : HISTORICA L AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENC E O F TH E GREA T WHIT E SHAR K 3-18 DATE LOCATIO N TL P S REMARKS REFERENCES (cm) (kp May 1988 Numana 450 ca. Sighted by Fausto Fioretti. M . Marconi (pers. comm.) ITALY September Porto Banicata >550 Sighting or possible attack on a A. Mojetta (pers. comm.), 9t h 1988 ITALY boat-Mojetta era/. (1997) September Pesaro >500 Sighting Fergusson (1996) 1989 ITALY December Ancona 210 180 Capture Fergusson (1996) 17[h 1991 ITALY Mid-March Termoli 230 200 F 4 or 5 juveniles captured. Anonymous {1992), Fergusson 1992 ITALY ca. (1996) August 1993 Sibenik 500 F Capture Fergusson (1996) CROATI A August 1993 LoSinj Repeated sightings by Fergusson (1996) CROATI A fishermen. September Dubrovnik Sighted offshore. De Sabata eta!. (1999) 4t h 1998 CROATI A August 2 n d Mljet Sighting De Sabaia eta!. (1999) 1998 CROATI A August 27th Senigallia 500-600 1200 Sighted by Stefano Catalan!; Imansio (1998), Montefiori 1998 ITALY ca. c.a. feeding on a thresher shark (1998) carcass. September Giulianova 600 ca. Sighted by Elvio Mazzagufo; Graziosi (1999) 26l h 1999 ITALY feeding on tuna carcass. ? Foce del Po Sighting M. Zuffa (pers. comm.) ITALY ? Adriatic Sea Capture. Set of jaws preserved De Maddalena (2000) in the Museo di Storia Naturale of Trieste (without cat. no.). Before 1881 Golfo d i 490 Capture Doderlein (1881), Carus (1 893), Venezia Fergusson (1996) ITALY Before Adriatic Sea 1005 4000 Capture Anonymous (1891), Ellis & September McCosker (1991) 1891 Before 1969 Adriatic Sea Capture; stomach contained Lineaweaver II! & Backus (1969), inedible objects. C i an turco (1978) Before 1992 Northern 2 specimens captured. Anonymous (1992) Adriatic Sea ITALY linked to the fact that there were once several commer-white shark captured. These circulars also mentioned cial fisheries dedicated to catching tunas in this region. other shark species, but primarily referred to Carc/?aro-The fisheries were established in response to the mas-don carcharias. At the State Archives of Trieste, the or­sive and well-known quantity of tunas that passed along ders of payment for these rewards are available but, this part of the Adriatic. It is wefi known that tunas are unfortunately, in most cases the species for which they among the favoured prey for great white sharks. More-were issued is not listed. To obtain the monetary reward, over, the long Croatian coast - consisting of several is-fishermen must present their captured specimens to the lands, straits and small bays - seems to be a habitat con-Museo di Storia Naturale of Trieste to verify the species genial to this species. identification. From April 1872 to july 1882, 21 shark Between the years 1872 and 1905, the imperial specimens were presented to the Museo di Storia Natu-Maritime Austrian Government issued three circulars rale of Trieste; the size of these specimens ranged from offering a reward of up to 500 florins for every great 1.46 to 5.3 metres, of which 7 (33.33%) were over 4 Aäessaiwiro DC MADDAIENA : HISTORICAL AN O CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE CIE THE GREAT WHIT E SHARK, ...,3-13 Fig. 3: 3.75 m specimen preserved in the Museo di Storia Naturale of Venezia (cat. no, 2039), caught off Trieste (Italy) in 1902. (Photo: A. De Maddalena) SI. 3: 3,75 m dolgi primerek belega morskega volka v beneškem prirodoslovnem muzeju (kat. št. 2039), ujet leta 1902 v bližini Trsta. (Foto: A. De Maddalena) meters in length (Marchesetti, 1884). Among these 21 specimens are 11 captures recorded over the same pe­riod from the waters of Trieste, Grado (Italy), Osor, Kvarner, Split, Ustrine (Croatia) and other unspecified locations (Doderlein, 1881; Graeffe, 1886; Perugia, 1881; Faber, 1883; Ninni, 1912; Tortonese, 1956; Fer­gusson, 1996; Mojetta et al., 1997). Moreover, Brusina (1888) reports 24 specimens, ranging from 1.3 to 5.6 meters in length, caught between September 1868 and September 1887 in the Eastern Adriatic; it is certain that some of these individuals are the same as those reported by Marchesetti (1884). This measure apparently pro­duced the desired result, since from 1887 to 1902 no other records of large sharks from the Eastern Adriatic are known. But from 1902, a number of the shark capture records were made again. These include several sightings of large sharks as well as attacks on humans and even boats. According to Boulenger (1939), "there does not pass a bathing season, especially on the Liburnian and Dalmatian coasts, without an attack on a bold swimmer by one of these tigers of the sea". In the museums of Venezia and Trieste there are two large taxidermied great white shark specimens captured in the Eastern Adriatic during the early years of the 20 * century. The specimen in the Museo di Storia Naturale of Venezia (cat. no. 2039; Fig. 3) is a 3.75 m TL male caught off Trieste (Italy) in 1902 (Mizzan, 1994; De Maddalena, 2000), while that in the Museo di Storia Naturale of Trieste (without cat. no.; Fig. 4) is a 5.22 m TL female caught in Kvarner (Croatia) on May 29 * 1906 and is the largest taxidermied C. carcharías preserved in Italy (De Maddalena, 2000). In january 1908, some sharks approached a boat full of young women near Medola (Croatia). Perhaps one of Fig. 4: 5.22 m specimen preserved in the Museo di Storia Naturale of Trieste (without cat. no.), caught in Kvarner (Croatia) on May 29th 1906. (Photo: A. De Maddalena) SI. 4:5,22 m dolgi primerek v tržaškem prirodoslovnem muzeju (brez kat. št.), ujet 29. maja 7906 v Kvarnerju. (Fofo: A. De Maddalena) the sharks attacked the boat, because Milena Scarnbelli fell suddenly into the sea. A shark bit her leg, lacerating it. Ms. Scarnbelli was rescued and taken to hospital, but did not survive (M. Zuffa, pers. comm.; Anonymous, 1908). Whatever precipitated the attack, the identity of the causal species must remain highly uncertain. It seems very strange that a witness specified that the sharks, "jumped around the boat". In fact, C carcharías can breach entirely out of water, but does so relatively rarely. O n May 19* 1908, there was another capture of a shark in the Eastern Adriatic. The shark was caught near Stadival (Croatia) by fishermen Simeone Armanini and Simeone Franceschini. At the time it was identified as a shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), but subsequent ex­amination of the available evidence suggests that it was probably a young C. carcharías (M. Zuffa, pers. comm.). The differences in the teeth of these two members of the Lamniciae family are less obvious in very young speci­mens and can sometimes generate some confusion. A short time after this capture of a small great white shark, in june 1908, Stelio Candela caught a large specimen weighing 1,400 kg in the Gulf of Trieste. A conclusive photographic evidence has been preserved about this incident (Arrassich, 1994). Another, 5.5 m long great white shark was caught in October of the following year in Kraljeviča (Croatia) (A. Mojetta, pers. comm.; Mojetta eta!., 1997). In Rovinj (Croatia), nine fishing boats captured, in 1927, a large specimen of great white shark, about 6 m long and weighing some 1,000 kg. Its stomach con­tained several inedible objects. During the summer of 1934, there were a series of records of great white sharks in Croatian waters. O n Au­gust 21st 1934, the island of Susak witnessed an attack ANNALE S • Ser. hist. nat. • 10 • 2000 • 1 (19) Alessandro P E MADDALENA : HISTORCA L AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE O F THE GREAT WHIT E SHARK, 3-18 Fig. 5: 6 m specimen caught in the waters off Izola (Slovenia) on October 22"°1963. (L. Lipej's archive) St. 5: Šestmetrski beli morski volk, ujet 22. oktobra 1963 v bližini Izole. (Arhiv L. Lipeja) on a young woman, Agnes Novak, who was swimming near a tuna catching station. There was an anti-shark net, but Agnes entered the water outside this net. Eye­witnesses from a fishing boat heard the woman scream and they saw a large great white shark biting Agnes's abdomen and dragging her underwater (Giudici & Fino, 1989). This fatal attack is no. 370 in the 1SAF. In the days that followed the attack on Agnes Novak, there were many sightings of sharks. The possibility can­not be excluded that one or more of these sharks could have been responsible for the attack on Novak. Sightings of at least two sharks occurred on August 23rd and 30th near Rijeka. O n August 23, a large shark - estimated to be about 6 trs long - was seen by some soldiers to be swimming near a torpedo-factory. Possibly the same shark was sighted later that afternoon by some fishermen, where it was seen swimming towards the shore off Diga Cagno. O n August 30th, two large sharks were reported between Punta 8aro and Diga Cagno. An hour later a shark - estimated to be more than 7 meters long - was swimming towards Labin channel, when it was en­countered by some fishermen (Giudici & Fino, 1989). A few days later, on September 2, an enormous shark - reportedly measuring 7 m in length and weighing 2 i - was caught at Kraljeviča. Examination of its stom­ach contents did not indicate that it had been responsi­ble for the attack on Novak (Giudici" & Fino, 1989). A few days later yet another capture of a great white shark occurred: it was almost 5 m long and weighed 800 kg. The shark became trapped in a tuna net (MosceniOka Draga) while pursuing a school of tuna. O n the same day, only a few hours after this capture, a shark longer than 6 m was seen near Martinscica and, an hour later, probably the same shark was sighted near a fishing boat eating a small board of cork (Giudici & Fino, 1989). This series of well-documented records ends with a very doubtful incident. ISAF case no. 974 concerns a fatal attack on a swimmer, named Zortca Princ (or Prinz?), that occurred on August 30th near Rijeka, by a 6 m C carcharías. Although Fergusson (1996) included it in his list of the Mediterranean great white shark attacks, the veracity of this incident must be regarded as ques­tionable, because there is a strong possibility that it was merely a fabrication organised by a local newspaper. At the State Archives of Trieste, I found a note attest­ing the following event: at 3 o'clock in the morning of August 24th 1938, a large shark of undisclosed species but measuring about 5 m TL carried away, in the Koper waters (Slovenia), a mile off the Ospizio Marino, the net of the fishing boat "5. Giovanni" belonging to Nicola Lubrano. O n the basis of the shark's behaviour and its sheer size, it seems reasonable to infer that, it was prob­ably a C. carcharías. Again in the Koper waters, an at­tack on a boat occurred around 1940, as a result of which a fragment of a tooth oí the shark remained em­bedded in the wood of the hull (M. Zuffa, pers. comm.). From that moment, the records of great white sharks in the Eastern Adriatic become quite rare. The following incident occurred at Opatija, 21 years after the boat at­tack in the Koper waters, the record dated September 24t!l 1961. In the early afternoon of that day, student Sabit Plan was attacked by a large shark, which was subsequently identified as C. carcharías by Fergusson (1996). The young man was 100 m offshore when at­tacked. A boat was deployed to rescue him, but he had lost an arm and both legs so that - by the time it reached him - he was already dead (Anonymous, 1961; Giudici & fino, 1989). This case is no. 946 in the ISAF. O n October 22 ^ 1963, a large shade measuring 6 m TL was caught near Izola (Slovenia) (Figs. 5 and 6). It ap­proached a fishing boat while fishermen were turning in their nets and was killed with 23 rifle shots. According to the local newspapers, its stomach contained a dolphin, weighing about 200 kg (L. Lipej, pers. comm.; lipej, 1993-1994). The source reports photographic evidence of this capture. A series of five attacks occurred in the Croatian waters between 1966 and 1974 (Dalmatia, August 1 6t h 1966; Novigrad, 1970; Ika, Sepember 1971; Opatija, 1971; Ornis, August 10th 1974). Afterward, for many years, there were no other records of great white sharks in the Eastern Adriatic. More recently, four cases occurred in the Croatian waters. In August 1993, there 17 Alejandr o DE MAOOALfN'A: HISTORíCAl AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE OF THE GREA T WHIT E SHARK, 8 Fig, 6:6 m specimen caught in the waters off Izola (Slovenia) on October 22nd 1963. (L. Lipej's archive)SI. 6: Šestmetrski beli morski volk, ujet 22. oktobra 7963 v bližini Izole. (Arhiv L. Lipeja) was a capture of a 5-m specimen at Sibenik, followed by some sightings by fishermen at l.osinj {Fergusson, 1996; Mojeita et a!., 1997). !n the summer of 1998, there was a sighting of a great white shark at Dubrovnik (on September 4th), and another at Mijet on August 2ncí {De Sabata eta!., 1999). The Western Adriatic Records of great white sharks from the Western Adriatic have never been as frequent as those from along the eastern coast. This may be because the greater uniformity of the eastern coast of Italy does not favour this species approaching the shore. Histórica! evidence for the presence of C. carcharías on this side of the Adriatic is provided by a set of jaws preserved in the Museo di Anatomía Comparata of Bologna (cat. no. AC P 114; Fig. 7) from a specimen caught in 1827 at an un­known locality in the Western Adriatic which, upon capture, was exhibited at the Bologna fish market (M. 2uffa, pers. comm.; De Maddalena, 2000). Early in February 1839, a very large great white shark was captured or stranded (the various sources dif­fer on this point) in Civitanova, reported to be over 6 m long and weighing 1,814 kg. Shipped to Rome, the specimen was preserved at the University (Bonaparte, 1839; Meíaxá, 1839; Vinciguerra, 1885-1892; Condo­relli & Ferrando, 1909). Not long ago, in the Museo Cívico di Zoología of Rome, the skin of this large shark was again preserved, but it has since then been lost or destroyed. The Museo di Anatomía Comparata of Rome keeps the cranium, jaws and the vertebral column of this large shark. From an analysis of the largest vertebra, ! calculated a TL of 6.02 m, making this the largest verified specimen preserved in an Italian museum (De Maddalena, 1998-1999). Among the undated cases, but probably referable to the 19^ century, is a 4.9 m specimen caught in Golfo di Venezia some time before 1881 (Doderlein, 18S1;Carus, 1893; Fergusson, 1996). The following documented case occurred much later than the Golfo di Venezía specimen. O n Ju ly 7t h 1963 (and not in 1961 as erroneously reported in til is, 1983), in Riccione, spearfishing diver Manfred Gregor was the victim of an unprovoked non-fatal attack by a C. car­charías about 4.5 rn long (Fergusson, 1996; Mojetta et a!., 1997). This incident constitutes case no. 1220 of the ISAF. ANNALE S • Ser. hist. nat. • 10 • 2000 • 1 (19) Alessandro DE MADDAIENA : HISTORICAL AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE OF THE GREAT WHIT E SI 1ARK 3-18 Fig. 7: Set of jaws preserved in the Museo di Anatomia Comparata of Bologna (cat. no. AC P 114), from a specimen caught in 1827 in the Adriatic. (Photo: A. De Maddalena) SI. 7: Čeljust belega morskega volka, ujetega leta 1827 v Jadranu, v zbirki bolonjskega muzeja komparativne anatomije. (Foto: A. De Maddalena) A well documented case occurred on June 7 t h 1978 in the Golfo di Venezia. Luigi Alberotanza and Luigi Cava­leri, two researchers of the Centro Nazionale delle Ricer­che (C.N.R.), were on the research platform "Acqua alta", located 13 km off Lido, in waters 16 m deep. They were returning from a dive to clean the legs of the platform when they saw two dark fins on the surface. Imagining it was a shark, they waited in hopes of seeing it better. Alberotanza tried to attract it by throwing a large steak in the water. Suddenly, the fins disappeared. Some mo­ments later, while the men headed inside the platform to take off their wetsuits, the platform was shaken by a po­werful bump. The men saw clearly a great white shark swimming close to the platform. They estimated the shark's length based on the known distance between the legs of the platform: it was about 5 m long. Luigi Cavaleri took even some photos of the shark. The shark disappe­ared, but the remains of a bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821), were found near the plat­form. Examination of the dolphin remains indicated that they were regurgitated by the shark, perhaps following its collision with the platform (L. Alberotanza, pers. comm.; Luigi Cavaleri, pers. comm.; Beltrame, 1983; Albertarelli, 1990). In Fergusson (1996) this incident is erroneously dated and located as happening in July 1977 in the Ve­nice Lagoon. Possibly the same specimen was sighted a few days later, near Caorle (L. Alberotanza, pers. comm.). Late in September 1986, between Rimini and Pesaro, several sightings of a large great white shark occurred (Cilioli, 1989; Giudici & Fino, 1989; Marini, 1989; Martelli, 1989; Fergusson, 1996). This specimen was described as being about 6 m long, but some estimates ranged as much as 8-9 m. It may also be the same indi­vidual that had attacked the fishermen's boat and - pos­sibly the same incident - snatched from the hand of a fisherman a whole crate of pilchards (Anonymous, 1986). This shark was first sighted on September 20th by the captain of the hydrofoil covering the Rimini-Yugo­slavia route. O n September 23rct, the shark was sighted off Rimini near the oil-platform "Antonella". O n another occasion, it was seen 13 miles off Pesaro, near the oil-platform "Basil". It seems that Roberto Bartomioli photo­graphed and Marco Benelli filmed this shark but, to my knowledge, the pictures of this animal were never re­produced. Many anglers tried to capture the shark: Gabriele Bartoletti and Stefano Dragoni, on two separate occasions, succeeded in getting the shark swallow the bait, but they could not catch it. Several eyewitnesses described the shark as having a white coloration; per­haps they mistook a pale grey for white or possibly it was an albino specimen. Dubbed "Willy" by the fisher­men of Rimini, this shark was resighted and recognized (based on characteristics unknown to me) during the period from 1986 to 1989. It seems that the shark was seen near Pesaro between August and September 1986, and resighted during the same period of the following year (Cardellini, 1987; Mojetta et al., 1997). In Septem­ber 1989, there was a sighting, near Pesaro, of a large shark, estimated to be 5 m long and supported by pho­tographic evidence (Fergusson, 1996). In the opinion of Notarbartolo di Sciara (1986), "Willy" was a basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765), but this seems highly improbable, considering that the species was recognized as C. carcharias by many eyewitnesses. Moreover, if the reported attack on a fishing boat actu­ally occurred, this hypothesis can be excluded. Not far from Pesaro, in May 1988, 28 miles offshore 100° from Numana, Fausto Fioretti sighted from his boat a great white shark that he estimated to be 4.5 m long, in water 85-90 m deep. This occurred during a fishing tournament, so possibly the shark was attracted by the activity (M. Marconi, pers. comm.). Fioretti took some photos of this shark (Fig. 8). Alessandro DE MADDALENA : HISTORICAL AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE O F THE GREAT WHIT E SHARK 3-18 Fig. 8: Specimen sighted off the shore of Numana (Italy) in May 1988, estimated to be about 4.5 m long. (Photo: Fausto Fioretti) SI. 8: Primerek, dolg približno 4,5 m, opažen maja leta 1988 v bližini Numane (Italija). (Foto: Fausto Fioretti) In 1988, there was a documented record, dated September 9, of an encounter that occurred near Porto Barricata, but it is not clear whether it was a simple sighting or an attack on a boat (A. Mojetta, pers. comm.; Mojetta etal., 1997). Over the years 1991-1992, captures of some young specimens were recorded, unfortunately with very few details. On e specimen, captured in Ancona on Decem­ber 17th 1991, was 2.1 m long (Fergusson, 1996), and 4 or 5 young specimens - of which one was a female measuring 2.3 m and weighing about 200 kg - were captured in Termoli, in Mid-March 1992 (Anonymous, 1992; Fergusson, 1996). A very well documented case, one which Italian mass-media gave great publicity, occurred in 1998, on August 27t h at 3 p.m., some 22 miles off Senigallia, in waters 72 m deep. A great white shark specimen, esti­mated 5-6 m long, came alongside the boat of Stefano Catalani. The angler had caught a thresher shark, Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788), which was subse­quently fixed to the side of the hull. The shark circled the boat for about ten minutes, then bit the sack contain­ing the bait and finally took a piece of the thresher shark carcass. Frightened, Catalani surrendered the carcass, but the great white shark remained close to the boat. After having filmed the shark for about half an hour, Catalani decided to leave (Imarisio, 1998; Montefiori, 1998). Another recent well documented case involves an encounter offshore from Giulianova. It was September 1999, and the angler Elvio Mazzagufo was fishing for tunas in waters 250 m deep. A C. carcharías, estimated ANNALES • Ser. hist. nat. • 10 • 2000 • 1 (19) Alessandro DE MADDALENA : HISTORICAL AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE O F THE GREAT WHIT E SHARK, .... 3-18 to be 6 m long, approached the boat and started to eat one of the hooked tunas. Whe n the tuna was hauled on to the boat, the shark bit the vessel's hull. Contrary to that reported by the press, no such attack occurred. The shark was even photographed (Fig. 9) (Graziosi, 1999). Lastly, it must be mentioned that a sighting of a great white shark occurred on an unknown date near the mouth of the Po that is verified by photographic evi­dence (M. Zuffa, pers. comm.). In addition to the records described above, in the interests of completeness, it is of some interest to report that in some Italian natural history museums there are additional specimens of which the capture location is unknown, but for which is easy to hypothesise that in some cases they may be from the Adriatic. Among these could be the 7 specimens preserved in the museums of Venezia, Padova, Modena, Ferrara, Reggio-Emilia, which are mostly referable to the 19th century (De Mad­dalena, 2000). DISCUSSION During the 19th century and the first half of the 20t h , a population of great white shark perhaps of consider­able size was present in the Eastern North Adriatic Sea in Kvarner (Croatia) and in the Gulf of Trieste (Italy), but has with the passing of time decreased significantly. Surely it must be the hunting of this species that has contributed to this decrease, although a more important factor may be an impoverishment - caused by an exces­sive exploitation by fisheries - of the species on which C. carcharías preys. Another possible factor could be the increasing pollution caused by human activities suffered by the Adriatic. In my opinion, the great white shark must be at this time considered sporadic in the Northern and Central Adriatic. For 69 specimens (85.18% of all reliable specimens recorded), the months of encounters are indicated. Most great white shark specimens (51 or 73.91%) have been reported from May to September, with a peak in August-September (28 or 40.58%). Obviously it must be taken into account that in the summer months, due to the in­creasing frequentation of Adriatic coasts by humans, there are more possibilities of encounters between men and sharks. But, strangely, only 3 specimens have been recorded from the region during the month of July. Fig. 9: Specimen sighted off the shore of Giulianova (Italy) on September 26,h 1999, estimated to be about 6 m long. (Photo: Elvio Mazzagufo) SI. 9: Primerek, dolg kakih 6 m, opažen 26. septembra 1999 v bližini Giulianove (Italija). (Foto: Elvio Mazzagufo) Alessandro DE MADDALENA : HISTORICAL AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE O F THE GREAT WHIT E SHAR K 3-18 O n the matter of size, there are some interesting cases of very large great white shark specimens reported from the Adriatic, particularly of the enormous 1,005 cm TL great white shark caught before 1891 in an unspeci­fied location (Anonymous, 1891; Ellis & McCosker, 1991), and other 11 specimens 6-7 m in length. Of the latter, in some cases length was merely estimated at the time of sighting, but in others the sharks were probably even measured. Unfortunately, there is no way of verify­ing or refuting the reported lengths of very large sharks like these, because it is unknown how these measure­ments were taken. The only verified case is that of the 6.02 m specimen caught near Civitanova in 1839 (De Maddalena, 1998-1999). Moreover in Lipej (1993-1994) it was possible to examine a photo of the 6 m TL speci­men caught in Izola in 1963 (Figs. 5 and 6); the shark's length can be compared to the dimensions of the hu­mans photographed next it. There is also a photograph of the specimen, estimated to be 6 m long, sighted in September 1999 off Giulianova (Graziosi, 1999); un­fortunately there are no objects visible near the shark that could be used to confirm its length (Fig. 9). There are 11 records of young specimens of great white sharks under 3 m in length, from the Adriatic. The smallest of these, caught in May 1872 off Opuzen, measured 95 cm (Brusina, 1888). The number of cases in which great white shark stomach contents were reported, or in which the shark was observed during predation, are few. There are 2 cases of predation on dolphins (in 1 case the species was Tursiops truncatus; in the other, the species is not mentioned), 1 case of a specimen observed pursuing a school of tunas, and another of a shark feeding on a dead tuna (species not mentioned), 1 case of a great white shark feeding on a dead thresher, Alopias vulpinus, and 3 cases of sharks that had eaten inedible items (in 1 case, the kinds of objects is not mentioned, in another it was a small board of cork, and in another the items were a raincoat, 2 or 3 coats, and an auto­mobile number-plate). In the Adriatic, the great white shark probably has the same diet as observed in the rest of the Mediterranean - and similar that noticed else­where in the world - being based on cetaceans, tunas, marine turtles, sharks, and swordfishes (Fergusson, 1996; De Maddalena, 1999). Regarding the attacks on humans in the Adriatic, there are 9 reliable records (excluding 4 doubtful cases): 7 along the Croatian coast, 1 in Slovenian waters, and 1 in Italian waters. The attacks occurred against swimmers (3), clivers doing underwater spearfishing (2), and a boat (1). The number of fatal attacks from the Adriatic is 6, of which none was reported as provoked. All attacks oc­curred in the 20th century, the most recent of which is dated 1974. CONCLUSIONS It is very important to continue collecting new and historical data on the occurrence of great white sharks in the Adriatic. This will, in time, permit filling the gaps in our knowledge of this species in general, and in the Adriatic in particular. Everyone who wishes to communicate to the author records of great white sharks not represented in this work, from Adriatic and, more generally, from the Mediterranean Sea, can contact him at the address listed in the byline of this work. Whenever possible, please report the following: date, time, location of the encoun­ter, depth of the sea, distance from the coast, weather, activity of observer at the time of the encounter, total length (in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the tip of the upper lobe of caudal fin), mass, sex, stomach contents and behaviour of the specimen, presence of other species in the immediate area, comments, photo­graphs, names of all eyewitnesses, your name and con­tact address. It is very important, if at all possible, to re­tain teeth, vertebrae, samples of skin, and any embryos. Please also specify whether or not you authorize the publication of your data and pictures. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Very special thanks to Rick Martin, who very kindly edited the English text of this work, and to Lovrenc Li­pej, who offered the opportunity to prepare this work. The most important help in the collection of the data was given firstly by Marco Zuffa and Tiziano Storai, then by Angelo Mojetta, Luigi Alberotanza, Luigi Cavaleri, Mario Marconi, Ernesto Capanna, Sergio Dolce, Nicola Bressi, Luca Mizzan, Antonio Quaglia, Daniela Minelli, the library of the Hydrobiological Station of Milano and the State Archives of Trieste. A particular thank goes to Alessandra Baldi, Chiara Serino and Joao Pedro Correia. Atessandro DE MADDALENA : HISTORICAL AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE OF THE GREAT WHIT E SHARK, ..., 3-18 ZGODOVINSKA IN NEDAVNA POJAVLJANJA BELEGA MORSKEGA VOLKA CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LiNNI;, 1758) V SEVERNEM IN SREDNJEM JADRANU Alessandro DE MADDALENA Italian Great White Shark Data Bank, via V. Toppa 25, 1-20144 Milano, Italy E-mail: ademaddalena@tiscalinet.it POVZETEK V 19. stoletju in v prvi polovici 20. stoletja se je v Kvamerju (Hrvaška} in Tržaškem zalivu pojavljala populacija belih morskih volkov precejšnje velikosti', ki pa se je sčasoma občutno zmanjšala. Ta upad lahko brez dvoma pripišemo lovu na to vrsto, še bolj pa ribiški industriji in njenemu pretiranemu izkoriščanju vrst, s katerimi se beli morski volk hrani. Nadaljnji možni dejavnik bi lahko bilo naraščajoče onesnaževanje zaradi vseh mogočih človekovih dejavnosti na Jadranu. Sicer pa avtor članka meni, da je treba na belega morskega volka gledati kot na sporadično vrsto v severnem in srednjem Jadranu. Za 69 osebkov (85,18% vseh zanesljivo opaženih) so podani meseci, v katerih so bili zabeleženi. Na/več (51 ali 73,91%) jih je bilo opaženih med majem in septembrom, z vrhuncem v avgustu in septembru (28 aH 40,58%). Seveda pa je treba upoštevati dejstvo, da je v poletnih mesecih, ko je na jadranskih obalah precej več obiskovalcev kot sicer, možnosti za srečanje z. morskimi psi neprimerno večje. Pa vendar so bili v mesecu juliju v tem območju zabeleženi samo trije beli morski volkovi. O pojavljanju zelo velikih belih morskih volkov obstaja nekaj zelo zanimivih poročil, posebno o orjaškem 1005 cm dolgem osebku, ujetem pred letom 1891 na nespecificirani lokaciji (Anonymous, 1891; Ellis & McCosker, 1991), in še 11 osebkih, dolgih od 6 do 7 m. Kar zadeva slednje, je bila dolžina nekaterih izmed njih ocenjena v času, ko so bili opaženi, medtem ko so bili drugi verjetno celo izmerjeni. Zal pa ni načina, da bi preverili ali zavrnili podatke o dolžinah teh zelo velikih morskih volkov; saj ni znano, kako so bile meritve opravljene. Edini preverjeni primer je 602 cm dolgi osebek, ujet leta 1839 blizu Civitanove (De Maddalena, 1998-1999). Kar zadeva podatke L. Lipeja (1993-1994), pa si je mogoče natančno ogledati fotografijo 6-metrskega osebka, ujetega leta 1963 v Izoli (SI. 5 in 6); dolžino tega volka lahko namreč primerjamo z dimenzijo ljudi, fotografiranih ob njem. Obstaja tudi fotografija osebka, opaženega oktobra 1999 v bližini Giulianove (Graziosi, 1999); dolg naj bi bil 6 m, vendar pa v bližini tega volka niso vidni nobeni predmeti, ki bi jih lahko uporabili za potrditev njegove dolžine (SL 9). Iz Jadrana obstaja 5 zapisov o mladih osebkih, krajših od 3 metrov; najmanjši med njimi, ujet maja 1872 blizu Opuzna, je meril 95 cm (Brusina, 1888). Število primerov, v katerih so poročali o vsebini volčjih želodcev ali pa je bil volk opazovan med plenjenjem, so zelo redki. Obstajata 2 primera, ko sta morska volka uplenila delfina (v enem primeru veliko pltskavko, v drugem pa vrsta ni omenjena), potem imamo 1 primer, ko je morski volk zasledoval jato tun, 1 primer, ko se je osebek hranil z mrtvo tuno (vrsta tune ni omenjena), 1 primer, ko se je beli morski volk hranil z morsko lisico AJopias vulpinus, in 3 primere, ko so morski volkovi trgali neužitne predmete (v J primeru predmet ni omenjen, v drugem je šlo za plutovinasto tablo, v tretjem pa za dežni plašč, dva ali 3 zimske plašče in avtomobilsko registrsko tablico). V Jadranu se veliki morski volk najbrž prehranjuje bolj ali manj enako kot njegovi vrstniki drugod v Sredozemlju -in tudi drugod po svetu - in sicer predvsem s kiti, lunami, morskimi želvami, morskimi psi in mečaricami (Fergusson, 7996; Oe Maddalena, 1999; De Maddalena, 2000). Kar zadeva napade na ljudi v jadranskem morju, imamo 9 zanesljivih poroči! (neupoštevaje 4 dvomljive primere): 7 iz hrvaškega obalnega morja, 1 iz slovenskega in 1 iz italijanskega. V 3 primerih so beli morski volkovi napadli kopalce, v 2 podvodne ribiče in v 1 primeru čoln z ljudmi. Šest napadov v Jadranskem morju je bilo pogubnih, pa čeprav poročila govorijo, da ti niso bili izzvani. Vsi so se zgodili v 20. stoletju, zadnji leta 1974. Ključne besede: beli morski voik, Carcharodon carcharias, jadransko morje Alessandto CiL MADDALENA : HISTORICAL AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE O F THE GREA T WHIT E SHARK 3-18 REFERENCES AlbertareHi, M. (1990): Spaventatevs ma con caima. Natura Oggi, 8, Agosto 1990. Milano, De Agostíni-Riz­zoíi Periodici, 30-41. Anonymous (1891): Great white shark in the Mediterra­nean. Mediterranean Naturalist, 1(4). 76. Anonymous (1908): Fanciulla straziata da un pesce­cane. La Domenica de! Corriere, 2 Agosto. Milano, Corriere del la Sera. Anonymous (1961): Uno squalo ha divorato un giovane studente che faceva !í bag no ad Abbazia (Opatija). il Piccolo, 26 Novembre. Trieste. Anonymous (1986): Strappa le sardine dalle maní dei pescatori Willy, Squaio bianco gigante in Adriático. Corriere deila Sera, 22 Setiembre. Milano, RCS, Anonymous (1992): Raro Squalo bianco pescato ín Adriático. Corriere deila Sera, 19 Marzo. Milano, RCS. Arrasskh, F. (1994): Trieste in cento cartoline. Roma, Edízioni La Cartolina. Beltrame, M. (1983): Lo squalo in casa nostra. Natura Oggí 3, Luglio 1983. Milano, De Agostini-Rizzoli Peri­odic!, 52-61. Bíni, G. (1967): Atlante dei Pesci deüe coste Italiane ­vol. 1 - Leptocardi, Ciclostomi, Seíaci. Roma, Mondo Sommerso. Bonaparte, C. (1839): iconografía deila Fauna Italica per le quattro Classi degü Anima!i Vertebrat.i - Tomo III. Pesci. Roma, Tipografía Salviuccí. Brusina, S. (1888): Morski psi Sredozemnoga i Crljenog mora, Glasnik hrvatskoga naravoslovnoga druítva. Zagreb, pp. 167-230. Canestrini, G . (1874): Fauna d'ltalia - Parte Terza - Pe­sci. Milano, Vailardi. Cardeüini, S. (1987): Si é rifatto vivo Will y lo squalo bi­anco deila riviera. Resto de! Caríino, 25 Agosto. Carus, j. V. (1893): Prodromus faunae mediterraneae il. Plagiostomi - Selachoidei. Stuttgart. CondorelJi, M. & C. G. Perrando (1909): Notizie sul Carcharodon carcharías L., catturato nelle acque di Augusta e consíderazioni medico-legali sui rest i umani trovati ne! tubo digerente. Bollettino deila Societá Zo­ologica italiana, 1909. Roma, Societá Zoologica Italiana, 164-183. De Maddalena, A. (1998 -1999): !I piü grande esem­plare Italiano di squalo bianco, Carcharodon carcharías (Linnaeus, 1758) individuate neí repertí conservati presso i! Museo di Anatomía Comparata delí'LJníversitá "La Sapienza" di Roma. Museologia Scientifíca, 15(2). Firenze, Associazione Nazionaie Musei Scientifici, 195­ 198. De Maddalena, A. (1999): Records of the Great White Shark in the Mediterranean Sea. Milano, private publi­cation. De Maddalena, A. (2000): Repertí di Squaio Bianco, Carcharodon carcharías (Linnaeus, 1758), conservati net Musei Italian!. Annafi del Museo Cívico di Storia Natu­rale "G. Doria". Genova, Museo di Storia Naturafe "G. Doria". In press. De Sabata, E., Meloni, M., Miliant, M. & S. Nava (1999): Bianchi di casa nostra. Pesca in Mare, 3. Firen­ze, EDAI, 92-99. Doderlein, P. (1881): Manuaie Ittioíogíco del Mediter­ráneo. Partí 1-2. Palermo. Ellis, R. (1983): The book of Sharks. London, Robert Hafe. Ellis, R. & J. L McCosker (1991): Great White Shark. Stanford, Stanford University Press. Faber, G. L. (1883): Fisheries of the Adriatic and the Fish of thereof. London, Bernard Quaritch. Fergusson, I. K. (1996): Distribution and Autecology of the White Shark in the Eastern North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In Klimley, A. P. & Aínléy, D. G. (eds.): Great White Sharks: The Biology of Car­charodon carcharías. San Diego, Academic Press, 321­ 345. Gianturco, C. (1978): Lo Squalo. Torino, Societá Editrice Internszionale. Gilioli, S. (1989): Caccia al killer. Sette, 7. Milano, RCS, 50-61. Giudici, A. & F. Fino (1989): Squali del Mediterráneo. Roma, Atlantis. Graeffe, E. (1886): Carcharodon rondeleti, in Uebersicht der Seethierfauna des Golfes von Triest, etc. Arb. Zool. Inst. Univ. Wien, Zool. St. Trieste, 7. 446. Graziosi, G. (1999): Squalo bianco attacca pescherec­cio. Corriere delta Sera, 27 Settembre. Milano, RCS, 19. Imarisio, M. (1998): Non date la caccia alio squalo. Corriere del la Sera, 30 Agosto. Milano, RCS, 16. Lawley, R, (1881): Studi comparativi sui Pesci fossíií coi viventi dei Generi Carcharodon, Oxyrhina e Galeocer­do. Pisa, Nistri. Lrneaweaver III, T. H. & R. H. Backus (1969): The Natu­ral History of Sharks. London, Andre Deutsch Ltd. Lipej, L (1993-1994): Se o izolskem belem morskem voiku. Proteus, 56. 208-209. Marchesetti, C. (1884): La pesca íungo !e coste Orien­tals deil'Adria. Atti del Museo Cívico di Storia Naturale di Trieste, 1884. Trieste, Museo Cívico di Storia Natu­raíe di Trieste. Marini, F. (1989): Pochi secondi lunghi un'efernitá. Pes­ca ín mare, 4. Firenze, EDAi, 78-79. Marte!)!, F. (1989): Caccia alia morte bianca. Pesca ín mare, 4. Firenze, EDA!, 80-83. Metaxá, L. (1839): Smisurato pesce del peso di 4000 libre. Annaií deila Societá Medico-Chirurgica Metaxá, 1839. Societá Medico-Chirurgíca Metaxá, 35-38. Atesandro DE MADDALENA : HISTORICAL AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE O F THE GREA T WHIT E SHARK 3-T8 ZGODOVINSKA IN NEDAVNA POJAVLJANJA BELEGA MORSKEGA VOLKA CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LiNNE, 1758) V SEVERNEM iN SREDNJEM JADRANU Alessandro DE MADDALENA Italian Great White Shark Data Bank, via V. Foppa 25, 1-20144 Miiano, Italy E-mail: ademadeialena@ti$calinet.it POVZETEK V 19. stoletju in v prvi polovici 20. stoletja se je v Kvarnerju (Hrvaška) in Tržaškem zalivu pojavljala populacija belih morskih volkov precejšnje velikosti ki pa se je sčasoma občutno zmanjšala. Ta upad lahko brez dvoma pripišemo lovu na to vrsto, še bolj pa ribiški industriji in njenemu pretiranemu izkoriščanju vrst, s katerimi se beli morski volk hrani. Nadaljnji možni dejavnik bi lahko bilo naraščajoče onesnaževanje zaradi vseh mogočih človekovih dejavnosti na Jadranu. Sicer pa avtor članka meni, da je treba na belega morskega volka gledati kot na sporadično vrsto v severnem in srednjem Jadranu. Za 69 osebkov (85,18% vseh zanesljivo opaženih) so podani meseci, v katerih so bili zabeleženi. Največ (51 ali 73,91%) jih je bilo opaženih med majem in septembrom, z vrhuncem v avgustu in septembru (28 ali 40,58%). Seveda pa je treba upoštevati dejstvo, da je v poletnih mesecih, ko je na jadranskih obalah precej več obiskovalcev kot sicer, možnosti za srečanje z morskimi psi neprimerno večje. Pa vendar so bili v mesecu juliju v tem območju zabeleženi samo trije beli morski volkovi. O pojavljanju zelo velikih belih morskih volkov obstaja nekaj zelo zanimivih poročilposebno o orjaškem 1005 cm dolgem osebku, ujetem pred letom 1891 na nespecificirani lokaciji (Anonymous, 1891; Ellis & McCosker, 1991), in še 11 osebkih, dolgih od 6 do / m. Kar zadeva slednje, je bila dolžina nekaterih izmed njih ocenjena v času, ko so bili opaženi, medtem ko so bili drugi verjetno celo izmerjeni. Žal pa ni načina, da bi preverili ali zavrnili podatke o dolžinah teh zelo velikih morskih volkov, saj ni znano, kako so bile meritve opravljene. Edini preverjeni primer je 602 cm dolgi osebek, ujet leta 1839 blizu Civitanove (De Maddalena, 1998-1999). Kar zadeva podatke L. Lipe j a (1993-1994), pa si je mogoče natančno ogledati fotografijo 6-metrskega osebka, ujetega leta 1963 v Izoli (SI. 5 in 6); dolžino tega volka lahko namreč primerjamo z dimenzijo ljudi, fotografiranih ob njem. Obstaja tudi fotografija osebka, opaženega oktobra 1999 v bližini Ciulianove (Craziosi, 1999); dolg naj bi bil 6 m, vendar pa v bližini tega volka niso vidni nobeni predmeti, ki bi jih lahko uporabili za potrditev njegove dolžine (SI. 9). Iz Jadrana obstaja 5 zapisov o mladih osebkih, krajših od 3 metrov; najmanjši med njimi, ujet maja 1872 blizu Opuzna, je meri! 95 cm (Brusina, 1888). Število primerov, v katerih so poročali o vsebini volčjih želodcev ali pa je bil volk opazovan med plenjenjem, so zelo redki. Obstajata 2 primera, ko sta morska volka uplenila delfina (v enem primeru veliko pliskavko, v drugem pa vrsta ni omenjena), potem imamo J prime/; ko je morski volk zasledoval jato tun, 1 primer, ko se je osebek hranil z mrtvo tuno (vrsta tune ni omenjena), I primer, ko se je beli morski volk hranil z morsko lisico Alopias vulpinus, in 3 primere, ko so morski volkovi trgali neužitne predmete (v 1 primeru predmet ni omenjen, v drugem je šlo za plutovinasto tablo, v tretjem pa za dežni plašč, dva aH 3 zimske plašče in avtomobilsko registrsko tablico). V Jadranu se veliki morski volk najbrž prehranjuje bolj aH manj enako kot njegovi vrstniki drugod v Sredozemlju -in tudi drugod po svetu - in sicer predvsem s kiti, tunami, morskimi želvami, morskimi psi in mečaricami (Fergusson, 1996; De Maddalena, 1999; De Maddalena, 2000). Kar zadeva napade na ljudi v jadranskem morju, imamo 9 zanesljivih poročil (neupoštevaje 4 dvomljive primere): 7 iz hrvaškega obalnega morja, J iz slovenskega in 1 iz italijanskega. V 3 primerih so beli morski volkovi napadli kopalcev 2 podvodne ribiče in v 1 primeru čoln z ljudmi. Šest napadov v Jadranskem morju je bilo pogubnih, pa čeprav poročila govorijo, da ti niso bili izzvani. Vsi so se zgodili v 20. stoletju, zadnji leta 1974. Ključne besede: beli morski volk, Carcharodon carcharias, jadransko morje Alessandro DE MA O DAE. EN A: HISTORICAL AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE O f THE GREA T WHIT E SHARK, .... 3-18 REFERENCES Albertarefii, M . (1990): Spaventatevi ma con calma. Natura Oggi, 8, Agosto 1990. Milano, De Agostini-Riz­zoíi Periodic!, 30-41. Anonymous (1891): Great white shark in the Mediterra­nean. Mediterranean Naturalist, 1(4). 76. Anonymous (1908): Fanciuüa straziata da un pesce­cane. La Domenica del Corriere, 2 Agosto. Milano, Corriere della Sera. Anonymous (1961): Uno squalo ha divorato un giovane studente che faceva il bagno ad Abbazia (Opatija). l! Piccolo, 26 Novembre. Trieste. Anonymous (1986): Strappa le sardine dalle mani dei pescatori WiISy, Squalo bianco gigante in Adriático. Corriere deila Sera, 22 Settembre. Milano, RCS. Anonymous (1992): Raro Squalo bianco pescato in Adriático. Corriere deila Sera, 19 Marzo. Milano, RCS. Arrassich, F. (1994): Trieste in cento cartoÜne. Roma, Edizioni La Cartofina. Beítrame, M. (1983): Lo squalo in casa nostra. Natura Oggs 3, Lugíio 1983. Milano, De Agostini-Rizzoli Peri­odic!, 52-61. Bini, G . (1967): Atlante dei Pesci delle coste Italiane ­vol. 1 - Leptocardi, Gclostomi, Selaci. Roma, Mondo Sornmerso, Bonaparte, C. {1839): iconografía deila Fauna itálica per le quattro Class i degii Animal i Vertebrati - Tomo III. Pesci. Roma, Tipografía Salviucci. Brusina, S. (1888): Morski psi Sredozemnoga i Crfjenog mora. Glasnik hrvatskoga naravoslovnoga dru/tva. Zagreb, pp. 167-230. Canestrini, C . (1874): Fauna d'ltalia - Parte Terza - Pe­sci. Milano, Vailardí. Carde!(ini, S. (1987): Si é rífatto vivo WiIJy lo squalo bi­anco della ri viera. Resto del Cari i no, 25 Agosto. Cams, J. V. (1893): Prodromus faunae mediterraneae !I. Plagiostomi - Setachoidei. Stuttgart. CondoreIIi, M. & G . C . Perrando (1909): Notizie sul Carcharodon carcharías L., catturato neile acque di Augusta e consíderazioni medico-legaii suí resti umani trovatí neí tubo digereníe. Bolíettino deüa Societá Zo­ológica Italiana, 1909. Roma, Societá Zoologtca Italiana, 164-183. De Maddalena, A. (1998 -1999): II piü grande esem­plare italiano di squaio bianco, Carcharodon carcharías (Linnaeus, 1758) individúalo nei repertt conservati presso il Museo di Anatomía Comparata dell'Universitá "La Sapienza" di Roma. Museologia Scientifica, 15(2). Firenze, Associazione Nazionaie Musei Scientific!, 195­ 198. De Maddalena, A. (1999): Records of the Great White Shark in the Mediterranean Sea. Milano, private publi­cation. De Maddalena, A. (2000): Reperti di Squalo Bianco, Carcharodon carcharías (Linnaeus, 1758), conservati nei Musei Italiani. Annaii del Museo Cívico di Storia Natu­rale !,G. Doria". Genova, Museo di Storia Naturale "G. Doria". In press. De Sabata, E., Metoni, M., Miliani, M. & S. Nava (1999): Bianchi di casa nostra. Pesca in Mare, 3. Firen­ze, ED Al, 92-99. Doderlein, P. (1881): Manuale Itiiologico del Mediter­ráneo. Parti 1-2. Palermo. Ellis, R. (1983): The book of Sharks. London, Robert Hale. Ellis, R. & J. E. McCosker (1991): Great White Shark. Stanford, Stanford University Press. Faber, G . I . (1883): Fisheries of the Adriatic and the Fish of thereof. London, Bernard Quaritch. Fergusson, L K. (1996): Distribution and Autecology of the White Shark in the Eastern North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In Klimley, A. P. & Aintéy, D. G. (eds.): Great White Sharks: The Biology of Car­charodon carchadas. San Diego, Academic Press, 321­ 345. Gianturco, C. (1978): Lo Squalo. Torino, Societá Editrice Internazionale. Gilioli, S. (1989): Caccia al killer. Sette, 7. Milano, RCS, 50-61. Giudici, A. & F. Fino (1989): Squali del Mediterráneo. Roma, Atlantis. Graeffe, E. (1886): Carcharodon rondeieti, in Uebersicht der Seethierfauna des Goífes von Triest, etc. Arb. Zool. Inst. Univ. Wien, Zool. St. Trieste, 7. 446. Graziosi, G. (1999): Squalo bianco attacca pescherec­cio. Corriere della Sera, 27 Settembre. Milano, RCS, 19. Imarisio, M. (1998): Non date la caccia alio squalo. Corriere deila Sera, 30 Agosto. Milano, RCS, 16. Lawley, R. (1881): Studi comparativi sui Pesci fossili coi viventi dei Generi Carcharodon, Oxyrhina e Galeocer­do. Pisa, Nistri. Lineaweaver III, T. H. & R. H. Backus (1969): The Natu­ral History of Sharks. London, André Deutsch Ltd. Lipej, L. (1993-1994): Se o izolskem belem morskem voiku. Proteus, 56. 208-209. Marchesetti, C. (1884): La pesca fungo le coste Orien­tal! dell'Adria. Atti del Museo Cívico di Storia Naturale di Trieste, 1884. Trieste, Museo Civico di Storia Natu­rale di Trieste. Mari ni, F. (1989): Pochi secondi lunghi un'eternita. Pes­ca in mare, 4. Firenze, EDA!, 78-79. Martelii, F. (1989): Caccia alia morte bianca. Pesca in mare, 4. Firenze, EDA!, 80-83. Metaxá, L. (1839): Smísurato peace del peso di 4000 libre. Annali deüa Societá Medico-Chirurgica Metaxá, 1839. Societá Medico-Chirurgica Metaxá, 35-38. Aiessandro DE MADDALENA : HISTORICAL AN D CONTEMPORAR Y PRESENCE O F THE GREA T WHIT E SHARK. ... 3-18 Mizzan, L. (1994): I Leptocardi, Ciclostomi e Selaci ciefle colíezioni deí Museo Cívico di Storia Natúrale di Venezia - 1) Leptocardia, Agnatha, Cnathostomata ­Chondrichthyes (esclusi Rajiformes). Boüettino del Museo Cívico di Storia Naturale di Venezia, 45. Ve­nezia, Museo Cívico di Storia Naturale "Fontego deí Tur­chi", 123-137. Mojetta, A v Storai, T. & M. Zuffa (1997): Segnalazioní di squalo bianco {Carcharodon carcharías) in acque ítaliane. Quaderni della Cívica Stazione idrobiologica di Milano, 22. Milano, Cívica Stazione idrobiologica, 23­ 38. Montefiori, S. (1998): Squalo all'attacco, paura nelle Marche. Corriere della Sera, 29 Agosto. Milano, RCS, 14. Ninni, E. (1912): Catalogo dei Pesci del Mare Adriático. Venezia, Bertotti. Notarbartoio di Sciara, G. (1986): Sullo Squalo bianco al largo della costa marchigiana. Aqua, 8. Milano, Edízíoni dei Cormorano, 6. Perugia, A. (1881): Elenco dei Pesci deil'Adriatico. Mi­lano, Hoepíi. Tortonese, E. (1956): Fauna d'italia vol. II - Leptocardia, Cicíostomata, Selachii. Bologna, Caíderiní. Vinciguerra, D. (1885-1892): Guida del Museo di Zo­ología della R. Universita di Roma - Fauna lócale - Specíe animaii della provincia di Roma esistenti nella nuova coílezione. Parte III - Pesci. Roma, Istituto di Zo­ología della Reale Universita di Roma.