Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated. Tropical; 26°N - 3°S, 113°W - 76°W (Ref. 114953)
Eastern Central Pacfic: Baja California (Mexico) to Ecuador; including the Galapagos Is.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 110.0 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 260 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9254)
Inhabit rocky and coral reefs (Ref. 12951); on soft and sandy bottoms. Feeds mainly on mantis shrimps and fishes (Ref. 114953). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Litters of 1-5 pups; gestation period 10-11 months (Ref. 114953); Caught rarely by the gillnet fisheries operating in shelf waters. Utilized for its meat (Ref.58048).
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). Brood consists of 1-3 neonates and grow to about 40 cm DW in spring-summer (Ref. 38396).
Compagno, L.J.V., 1999. Checklist of living elasmobranchs. p. 471-498. In W.C. Hamlett (ed.) Sharks, skates, and rays: the biology of elasmobranch fishes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Maryland. (Ref. 35766)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 23.1 - 28.5, mean 27 °C (based on 40 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5039 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00468 (0.00195 - 0.01123), b=3.12 (2.92 - 3.32), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.37 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=1-3).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 4.25 [0.50, 62.97] mg/100g; Iron = 0.352 [0.028, 3.714] mg/100g; Protein = 22.4 [20.0, 24.7] %; Omega3 = 0.0681 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 41.8 [8.1, 218.8] μg/100g; VitaminA = 14.9 [1.2, 155.3] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.592 [0.036, 6.796] mg/100g (wet weight);
