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Teil C - Annex 
Sharks - Selachii 
Only few shark species regularly occur within the German EEZ. Considered estab 
lished are the school shark (Galeorhinus galeus), the spiny dogfish (Squalus acan- 
thias), the small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) and the starry smooth- 
hound (Mustelus asterias). Some shark species may occur as rare guests, including 
the nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellaris) and the common smooth-hound (Mustelus 
mustelus) and others. Their classification should always be backed up by voucher 
specimen. According to new genetic studies, the common smooth-hound does 
not occur in the North Sea and neighbouring waters of the North-East Atlantic 
(Farrell et al. 2009). 
Skates and whiptail stingrays - Rajidae and Dasyatidae 
According to the latest revision of the family of skates, the former genus Raja is 
sub-divided into several genera, e. g. Amblyraja, Dipturus, Leucoraja, Raja. The 
species Amblyraja radiata (thorny skate), Dipturus batis (common or blue skate), 
Leucoraja naevus (cuckcoo ray), Raja clavata (thornback ray) and Raja montagui 
(spotted ray) are considered established in the German EEZ. From the family of 
stingrays, Dasyatis pastinaca (common stingray) occurs. In doubt, voucher speci 
men should be frozen and submitted to experts for verification of classification. 
Nota bene: The species Dipturus batis (common or blue skate) will presumably be 
divided into two new species (Griffiths et al. 2010, Iglesias et al. 2010): Dipturus 
sp. cf. intermedia and Dipturus sp.cf. flossada. Morphological distinguishing char 
acteristics should be classified according to Iglesias et al. (2010). 
Bony fish - Osteichthyes 
Shads - Alosa spp. 
Two species of the genus Alosa occur in the German North Sea EEZ: the allis shad 
(Alosa alosa) and the twait shad (Alosa fallax). Both species are named in Annex 4 of the 
FFH Flabitats Directive and in the Red List under conservation status 1 (critically endan 
gered, Alosa alosa) and 3 (endangered, Alosa fallax) (Freyhoff 2009, Thiel et al. 2013). 
The species classification must take place solely on basis of the number of gill rakers. 
The distinguishing characteristic “number of dark spots on the sides of the body” as 
given in some identification keys is unsuitable for the correct assignation to either A fal 
lax or A. alosa. The genus Alosa is distinct from other herring fish by having a vertical 
notch in the middle of the upper jaw. 
Herring, sprat, sardine - Clupea harengus, Sprattus sprattus, Sardina pilchardus 
Juvenile individuals can be difficult to differentiate: the sardine is distinct from the her 
ring and the sprat by the existence of prominent crests on the gill covers. Sprats and 
herrings can be safely differentiated by the position of their ventral fins relative to the 
dorsal fin (Wheeler 1976). 
Sand lances or sand eels - Ammodytidae 
From the family of Ammodytidae, the following four species are considered established 
in the German EEZ: Ammodytes marinus (Raitt’s sand eel), Ammodytes tobianus (lesser 
sand eel), Hyperoplus lanceolatus (greater sand eel) and Hyperoplus immaculatus 
(Corbin’s sand eel). A magnifying glass should be used for differentiating between 
A. marinus and A. tobianus in order to examine the scales of the tail. In the event of large 
catches of sand eels, the species classification of all individuals can be very time-con 
suming. In such cases, the species classification should take place by representative 
sub-samples and subsequent extrapolation to the total catch.