Lamnidae (mackeral sharks)
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Elasmobranchii > Galeomorphii > Lamniformes
Large pelagic sharks with large teeth, conical
heads, long gill openings, and tuna-like caudal fins with strong
caudal keels. 5 species, 3 in the area.
Species found in Southern Africa
Carcharodon
carcharias (Great white shark) A huge, spindle-shaped shark with small
conspicuous black eyes, blunt conical snout, and large, triangular,
saw-edged teeth. Colour lead grey to brown or black above, lighter
on sides, abruptly white below, a black spot at rear pectoral base. |
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Isurus oxyrinchus (Shortfin mako) A large spindle-shaped shark with a sharp
snout, large black eyes, and large, narrow, hooked, smooth-edged
teeth. Colour brilliant blue above and on sides, abruptly white
below. |
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Isurus paucus (Longfin mako) |
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Lamna
nasus (Porbeagle shark) A stout, spindle-shaped shark with large black
eyes, a sharp conical snout, and small, smooth-edged, narrow cusped
teeth with side cusps. Colour dark blue-grey or grey-black above,
white below, with rear tip of 1st dorsal abruptly white. |
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Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert
and Malcolm J. Smale
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