Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Squaliformes (Sleeper and dogfish sharks) >
Squalidae (Dogfish sharks)
Etymology: Squalus: Genus name from Latin 'squalus' meaning shark (Ref. 6885, 27436); albifrons: Name from Latin 'albi' for white and 'frons' for brow, referring to the white upper ocular margin in most specimens where denticles have been shed.
More on authors: Last, White & Stevens.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 131 - 450 m (Ref. 58440). Tropical
Western Pacific: eastern Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 74.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 58440); 86.0 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This large species belonging to the 'highfin megalops group' has the following set of characters: abdomen depth 10.4-12.6% TL; pre-vent length 46.9-48.1% TL, 2.0-2.2 times dorsal caudal margin; pre-second dorsal length 3.7-4.3 times the pectoral-fin anterior margin, 2.5-2.8 times dorsal caudal margin; head width 1.0-1.4 times abdomen width; preoral length 2.9-3.1 times horizontal prenarial length, 8.4-9.1% TL; head length 4.3-4.9 times its eye length; mouth width 3.3-4.1 times length of upper labial furrow; interorbital width 1.5-1.7 times the horizontal preorbital length; fifth gill slit height 2.1-2.5% TL; strongly bifurcated anterior nasal flap; first dorsal fin upright, upper posterior margin directed posteroventrally, greatest concavity about midway between free rear tip and fin apex; posterior margin of second dorsal fin deeply concave; second dorsal-fin spine with a broad base; pectoral fin of adult not falcate, anterior margin long, 14.2-15.8% TL; dorsal surface dark, sharply demarcated from paler ventral surface on side of head; dorsal fins are dark with obvious darker tips; first dorsal-fin spine distinctly paler than the base of soft portion of dorsal fin; caudal fin with broad white posterior margin, caudal bar absent; flank denticles weakly tricuspid; monospondylous centra 44-46, precaudal centra 89-93, total centra 116-122 (Ref. 58440).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).
Last, P.R., W.T. White and J.D. Stevens, 2007. New species of Squalus of the 'highfin megalops group' from the Australasian region. p. 39-53. In P.R. Last, W.T. White and J.J. Pogonoski Descriptions of new dogfishes of the genus Squalus (Squaloidea:Squalidae). CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper No. 014. 130 p. (Ref. 58440)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of potential interest
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 13 - 21.4, mean 19 °C (based on 34 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00347 (0.00165 - 0.00730), b=3.09 (2.92 - 3.26), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.3 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (54 of 100).
