Shark & Ray

Interaction with enrichment objects depends on color and increases after feeding in some elasmobranchs but not others

Environmental enrichment is important for the long-term wellbeing of captive organisms and is an understudied topic in aquatic taxa, particularly ectothermic organisms such as elasmobranchs. This study examines how individual elasmobranchs use environmental enrichment objects before and after feeding. The...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Shark & Ray

Citation: Smith, A. B., Landesman, J., Williamson, L. et al. 2025. Interaction with enrichment objects depends on color and increases after feeding in some elasmobranchs but not others. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106829.

An adaptable, user-friendly score sheet to monitor welfare in experimental fish

Fish are increasingly used as experimental animals across research fields. Currently, around a quarter of all experimental animals used are fish. Less than 20% of these are standard model species. Welfare assessments for experimental fish are in their infancy compared...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish, Salmon, Shark & Ray, Tilapia, Trout, Zebrafish

Citation: Flueck-Giraud, M., Schmidt-Posthaus, H., Bergadano, A. et al. 2025. An adaptable, user-friendly score sheet to monitor welfare in experimental fish. Laboratory Animals 59(2), 226–241.

A new research tool for use in sharks and rays: Relevance of reproductive hormone levels in the skin of small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) (2025)

The present study marks a significant step forward in validating the use of skin biopsies for measuring reproductive steroid hormones in sharks. Given the conservation concerns surrounding many chondrichthyan species and the growing emphasis on adhering to the 3R principles...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Fish, Shark & Ray

Citation: Carbajal, A., Lobato, I. G., Agustí, C. et al. 2025. A new research tool for use in sharks and rays: Relevance of reproductive hormone levels in the skin of small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) (2025). Animals 15(5), 762.

Laboratory-based measures of temperature preference and metabolic thermal sensitivity provide insight into the habitat utilisation of juvenile California horn shark (Heterodontus francisci) and leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata)

Laboratory-based studies examining fish physiological and behavioural responses to temperature can provide important insight into species-specific habitat preferences and utilisation, and are especially useful in examining vulnerable life stages that are difficult to study in the wild. This study couples...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Shark & Ray

Citation: Skelton, Z. R., Prinzing, T. S., Hastings, P. A. et al. 2023. Laboratory-based measures of temperature preference and metabolic thermal sensitivity provide insight into the habitat utilisation of juvenile California horn shark (Heterodontus francisci) and leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata). Journal of Fish Biology 102(4), 829–843.

Euthanasia complications in non-domestic species

There are very few studies describing euthanasia complications in non-domestic species. The goal of this study was to survey veterinarians to determine what complications may commonly occur during the euthanasia of non-domestic species. An online survey was sent to seven...

Year Published: 2022Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Amphibian, Bird, Fish, Marine Mammal, Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal, Other Bird, Other Fish, Parrot, Reptile, Shark & Ray

Citation: Hepps Keeney, C., Harrison, T. M. 2022. Euthanasia complications in non-domestic species. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 3(4), 616–623.

Fish intelligence, sentience and ethics

Fish are one of the most highly utilised vertebrate taxa by humans; they are harvested from wild stocks as part of global fishing industries, grown under intensive aquaculture conditions, are the most common pet and are widely used for scientific...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish, Salmon, Shark & Ray, Tilapia, Trout, Zebrafish

Citation: Brown, C. 2015. Fish intelligence, sentience and ethics. Animal Cognition 18(1), 1–17.

Smart sharks: A review of chondrichthyan cognition

450 million years of evolution have given chondrichthyans (sharks, rays and allies) ample time to adapt perfectly to their respective everyday life challenges and cognitive abilities have played an important part in that process. The diversity of niches that sharks...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Fish, Shark & Ray

Citation: Brown, C., Schluessel, V. 2023. Smart sharks: A review of chondrichthyan cognition. Animal Cognition 26(1), 175–188.

Social buffering of the stress response: Insights from fishes

Social buffering of stress refers to the effect of a social partner in reducing the cortisol or corticosterone response to a stressor. It has been well studied in mammals, particularly those that form pair bonds. Recent studies on fishes suggest...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish, Salmon, Shark & Ray, Tilapia, Trout, Zebrafish

Citation: Gilmour, K. M., Bard, B. 2022. Social buffering of the stress response: Insights from fishes. Biology Letters 18(10), 20220332.

Physical enrichment research for captive fish: Time to focus on the DETAILS

Growing research effort has shown that physical enrichment (PE) can improve fish welfare and research validity. However, the inclusion of PE does not always result in positive effects and conflicting findings have highlighted the many nuances involved. Effects are known...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish, Shark & Ray

Citation: Jones, N. A. R., Webster, M. M., Salvanes, A. G. V. 2021. Physical enrichment research for captive fish: Time to focus on the DETAILS. Journal of Fish Biology 99(3), 704-725.

Goal-oriented behavioural and environmental enrichment in aquarium species

Environmental enrichment is a common tool used in zoo and aquarium settings to provide mental and physical stimulation to animals under human care. This paper aims to present a primary approach to goal-oriented environmental and behavioural enrichment following a simplified...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Amphibian, Cephalopod, Crustacean, Fish, Frog & Toad, Invertebrate, Other Fish, Reptile, Salamander, Shark & Ray, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Monreal-Pawlowsky, T., Vaicekauskaitė , R., Palencia Membrive, G. et al. 2021. Goal-oriented behavioural and environmental enrichment in aquarium species. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 9(4), 273-280.