| Family: |
Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks) |
| Max. size: |
121 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 100 m |
| Distribution: |
Indian Ocean: from at least the Persian Gulf to India. Complete distributional range is unknown. |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 113-129. This small species is distinguished by the following characters: snout relatively long and narrowly rounded to almost pointed; upper anterior teeth are oblique and blade-like, coarsely serrated, with lateral margin deeply notched and with several large and serrated basal cusplets; lower anterior teeth are narrower, slightly oblique, lateral margins notched and usually without large basal serrae, finely serrated; total tooth row counts 27-29/24-30, or 52-59; interdorsal space often without a ridge, 17.9-20.8% TL; first dorsal fin relatively low and not falcate, origin over middle of pectoral-fin inner margin, length 14.3-16.2% TL, 1.4-1.6 times height, inner margin 2.2-2.5 in base; second dorsal fin is much smaller, broadly triangular, height 32-37% of first dorsal-fin height, origin about opposite anal fin origin; anal fin is slightly falcate, height 1.0-1.2 times second dorsal-fin height, base 0.9-1.1 times second dorsal fin base; body colour pale brownish dorsally, whitish ventrally; second dorsal fin with a black blotch on upper third of fin, not extending onto upper surface of body and very well defined from ground colour, while other fins mostly plain; total vertebral counts 123-138; monospondylous precaudal counts 42-48; diplospondylous precaudal counts 20; diplospondylous caudal counts 59-70; precaudal counts 62-68 (Ref. 89954). |
| Biology: |
A common but little-known shark found on the continental and insular inshore areas (Ref. 9997). Feeds mainly on fishes but also on cephalopods, and crustaceans (Ref. 6871). Viviparous (Ref. 50449), with a yolk-sac placenta; gives birth to litters of 1-4 (usually 2) pups (Ref. 58048). Pregnant females (79-100.7 cm TL) that were caught contained 2-5 late-term embryos between 32-38.7 cm TL, thus birth size is presumed to be around 37-39 cm TL. From more than 1000 market specimens (in Kuwait, Qatar and Abu Dhabi), size of males and females range from 36-85 cm TL and 36-100.7 cm TL, respectively, with males reaching maturity between 63-80 cm TL (Ref. 89954). Taken in artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries and marketed for human consumption (Ref. 244). Fins also utilized (Ref. 6871). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 07 August 2018 (A2d+3d) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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