Preliminary Observations on the Ability to Adapt To Salinity Changes in Nursehound Scyliorhinus Stellaris (Linnaeus, 1758) and Small Spotted Catsharks Scyliorhinus Canicula

Nursehound Scyliorhinus stellaris and small spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula are frequently hosted in public aquaria and their husbandry is improving. The reproduction of this species in captive conditions is not difficult and juveniles are easily maintained in laboratory or in thematic tanks showed to the public. Data on juveniles are easily acquired in order to understand different aspects of their natural life and physiology. In two stages, during 2006 and 2010, six S. stellaris and three S. canicula juveniles were tested at different salinity levels under controlled conditions in order to understand their responses in terms of respiration rate to this stress. In fact this is a benthic species living at constant water quality parameters at approximately 70-100 meters deep.