| Family: |
Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks) |
| Max. size: |
100 cm TL (male/unsexed); 84.6 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 40 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: reported to occur throughout the area, from Kenya to Indonesia; north to China. Distribution west of the Indo-Malay Peninsual needs validation. |
| Diagnosis: |
A small species which is distinguished by the following characters: snout moderately long and bluntly pointed; upper anterior teeth oblique and blade-like, coarsely serrated laterally, lateral margin deeply notched and with several large and smooth basal cusplets; lower anterior teeth narrower, slightly oblique, lateral margins usually not notched and with several large basal serrae, mostly smooth; total tooth row 24-28/22-27 or 47-55; interdorsal space often without a ridge on midline, 19.0-22.4% TL; first dorsal fin is moderately tall and falcate, origin about opposite pectoral-fin free rear tip, length 14.7-16.0% TL, 1.3-1.7 times height, inner margin 2.1-2.7 in base; second dorsal fin is much smaller, broadly triangular, height 31-37% of first dorsal fin height, its origin slightly posterior to anal-fin origin; anal fin falcate, height 0.9-1.2 times second dorsal height, base 1.0-1.3 times second dorsal-fin base; body colour pale brownish to grey dorsally, whitish ventrally; second dorsal fin with a black blotch covering most of fin and often extending slightly onto upper surface of body, usually diffuse-edged and poorly defined from ground colour of fin; other fins are plain or with pale outer margins; total vertebral 146-163; monospondylous precaudal 42-48; diplospondylous precaudal 26-38; diplospondylous caudal 74-81; precaudal 71-82 (Ref. 89954). |
| Biology: |
Found on the continental and insular shelves, from the surf line and intertidal region to deeper water (Ref. 244). Feeds on small bony fishes (including sea horses), prawns, and squid (Ref. 9997). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Specimens caught with size ranging from 37.0-67.4 cm TL were found to be immature, males apparently begin to mature around 71.0 cm TL and birth size is between 32.0 and 37.0 cm TL (Ref. 89954). Often caught by shore anglers (Ref. 5485). Utilized as a food fish (Ref. 244). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 19 May 2020 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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