Hard-nosed shark
| Hard-nosed shark | ||||||||||||
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Hard-nosed shark ( Carcharhinus macloti ) |
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| Carcharhinus macloti | ||||||||||||
| ( Müller & Henle , 1839) |
The hard-nosed shark ( Carcharhinus macloti ) is a species of the genus Carcharhinus within the Requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae). The distribution area of this species extends along the coasts of the Indo-Pacific, where it can be found both off East Africa, South and Southeast Asia and Australia.
Appearance and characteristics
The hard-nosed shark is a relatively small and slender shark with a maximum length of around 110 centimeters, with an average length of around 70 to 75 centimeters. It has a gray to gray-brown back coloration without any noticeable markings and a white belly. The front edge of the 2nd dorsal fin and the caudal fin can be darker in color, the rear ends of the pectoral fins and the lower caudal lobe can be lighter.
It has an anal fin and two dorsal fins . The first dorsal fin is comparatively low and above the free end of the pectoral fins. There is no interdorsal ridge . The second dorsal fin is also low and has a long free end. The pectoral fins are relatively small and tapered to a sickle shape and pointed. The snout is pointed and noticeably hard on top (eponymous), the eyes are comparatively large. Like all species of the genus, the animals have five gill slits and no injection hole .
Way of life
The hard-nosed shark lives near the coast in the area of the continental shelf and on island bases at depths of up to 170 m. It has a predatory diet , with mainly small bony fish and various squids and crustaceans belonging to its food spectrum. The shark forms groups, known as schools, and often socialises with other sharks such as the Australian blacktip shark ( Carcharhinus tilstoni ) and the spotted tooth shark ( Carcharhinus sorrah ).
Like other species of the genus, it is viviparous and forms a yolk sac placenta ( placental viviparous ). The young sharks are born after a gestation period of about 12 months and are about 45 centimeters in size, the animals reach sexual maturity at 70 to 75 cm.
distribution
The distribution area of the hard nosed shark stretches along the coasts of the Indo-Pacific . It occurs off the coasts of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, as well as on the Asian coast from India , Pakistan and Sri Lanka to Burma , Vietnam and China to New Guinea and the west coast of Australia off Queensland and Western Australia .
Web links
- Species portrait on hai.ch
- Hard-nosed shark on Fishbase.org (English)
- Carcharhinus macloti inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: Simpfendorfer, CA & Stevens, J. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003), 2003. Retrieved December 4, 2013.