Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 250 - ? m (Ref. 114953). Tropical; 2°S - 35°S, 111°E - 155°E (Ref. 114953)
Indo-West Pacific: northern Australia and south coast of New Guinea (Refs. 9819, 114953). Also in the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 37.5, range 35 - 40 cm
Max length : 94.0 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 114953); max. published weight: 7.4 kg (Ref. 114953)
A benthic species. Found on coastal to offshore on continental shelf in open sandy, muddy and silty habitat, including estuaries and intertidal zones. Mainly feeds on bony fishes (Ref. 114953). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Maturity size 35-42 cm WD (males) and 44-46 cm WD (females); hatch size 22-25 cm DW. Produces litters of 1-6 pups (Ref. 114953). Caught by shrimp trawlers.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures (Ref. 50449). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).
Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens, 1994. Sharks and rays of Australia. CSIRO, Australia. 513 p. (Ref. 6871)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.6 - 28.7, mean 27.7 °C (based on 360 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00776 (0.00351 - 0.01718), b=3.09 (2.89 - 3.29), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec assumed to be <10).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100).