Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Triakidae (Houndsharks) > Triakinae
Etymology: Scylliogaleus: Etymology not explained, presumably a combination of Scyllium and galeus, i.e., a “galeid” shark with “nostrils as in Scyllium” (=Scyliorhinus, Scyliorhinidae) (See ETYFish); quecketti: In honor of London-born conchologist John Frederick Whitlie Quekett (1849-1913), Curator, Durban Museum (South Africa), who provided holotype [Boulenger consistently misspelled Quekett’s name as “Queckett”] (See ETYFish).
Eponymy: John Frederick Whitlie Quekett (1849–1913) was born in London, but emigrated to Natal (1871) and was appointed to organise the collection of the Natal Society (1886). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Subtropical; 27°S - 33°S
Western Indian Ocean: Natal and northeastern Cape in South Africa.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 89.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 244); 102.0 cm TL (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A blunt-nosed houndshark with large, fused nasal flaps, and small, blunt, pebble-like teeth; 2nd dorsal fin as large as 1st (Ref. 5578). Grey above, cream below; newborn with white rear edges on dorsal, anal and caudal fins (Ref. 5578).
Occurs from the surf line to close offshore (Ref. 5578). Feeds mainly on crustaceans (including lobsters), also squid (Ref. 244). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Caught by rock and surf anglers (Ref. 5578).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Viviparous, placental (Ref. 50449). With 2 to 4 young in a litter (Ref. 244, 5578). Size at birth about 34 cm (Ref. 244). Gestation period is 9 to 10 months (Ref. 244). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).
Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 244)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00245 (0.00114 - 0.00526), b=3.13 (2.95 - 3.31), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.5 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=2).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High vulnerability (61 of 100).