Loxodon macrorhinus (Sliteye shark )

Müller & Henle, 1839

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) >.Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Galeomorphii > Carcharhiniformes > Carcharhinidae

Loxodon macrorhinus (Sliteye shark ) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A small, very slim, grey to brownish shark with a long narrow snout, big eyes with rear notches, short labial furrows, small smooth-edged oblique-cusped teeth, small low 2nd dorsal fin behind larger anal fin, interdorsal ridge absent or rudimentary. Underside white, fins with inconspicuous light rear edges and black margin on 1st dorsal and caudal.

Size

To 95 cm TL.

Range

East coast, northern Natal and Mozambique; Indian Ocean and Western Pacific.

Habitat

Tropics, inshore in moderately shallow, clear water at 7 to 80 m, near the bottom or surface.

Biology

Bears 2 to 4 young. Feeds mainly on small bony fish, shrimp, and cuttlefish.

Human Impact

Caught by anglers.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale