Blind shark

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Blind shark
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous–Recent[1]
Off Nelson Bay, New South Wales

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Subdivision: Selachimorpha
Order: Orectolobiformes
Family: Brachaeluridae
Genus: Brachaelurus
Species:
B. waddi
Binomial name
Brachaelurus waddi
(
J. G. Schneider
, 1801)
Range of the blind shark
Synonyms

Chiloscyllium furvum Macleay, 1881
Chiloscyllium fuscum Parker & Haswell, 1897
Chiloscyllium modestum Günther, 1872
Squalus waddi Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801

The blind shark (Brachaelurus waddi) is one of two

tidal pools
where it may be trapped by the receding tide, and can survive for an extended period out of water.

Least Concern
.

Taxonomy and phylogeny

German

Johann Gottlob Schneider originally described the blind shark as Squalus waddi, in their 1801 Systema Ichthyologiae. However, there is uncertainty over whether their account was referring to this species or the brownbanded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum), as it was based on a painting by John Latham that could not be located by subsequent authors. In 1907, James Douglas Ogilby coined the genus Brachaelurus for this species, from the Greek brachys meaning "short", and ailouros meaning "cat".[3] In 1973, Leonard Compagno placed it and the bluegrey carpetshark in their own family.[4] This shark may also be referred to as the brown catshark or dusky dogfish.[5]

Various

epoch (5.3–2.6 Ma) deposits from Chile and Peru. A number of other Brachaelurus species are also known from the fossil record.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The blind shark favors rocky habitats.

The range of the blind shark is restricted to the eastern coast of

tidal pools barely deep enough to cover its body, to a depth of 73 m (240 ft), though it has been recorded as deep as 140 m (460 ft).[4][5] Preferred habitats are rocky areas and adjacent seagrass beds; juveniles are common in high-energy surge zones.[2] In Nelson Bay, this shark has been observed lying in the open atop sponges.[7]

Description

The blind shark has a stocky body and a wide, somewhat flattened head with a blunt snout. The small, oval eyes are situated high on the head and have strong ridges underneath; the oval spiracles are positioned behind and below and have obvious raised rims. The nostrils are placed almost at the tip of the snout and have long, tapering barbels in front and well-developed skin flaps and grooves around the incurrent openings. A pair of obvious grooves connect the nostrils to the small, almost transverse mouth. There are 32–34 upper tooth rows and 21–29 lower tooth rows; each tooth has an upright, awl-shaped central cusp and a pair of lateral cusplets. The five pairs of gill slits are small, with the fifth pair close to the fourth.[4][8]

The

dermal denticles are large, giving the skin a rough texture.[4][8] This species is light to dark brown above, often with white flecks, and lighter below. Juveniles also have dark bands over the body and tail, which fade with age.[9] The blind shark can reach a length of 0.9–1.2 m (3.0–3.9 ft), though most are much smaller.[4]

Biology and ecology

Contrary to its

bony fishes. Prey items are captured via suction.[2][4]

Illustration of a blind shark fetus, with the yolk sac not yet completely absorbed.

The blind shark is

tapeworm in the genus Carpobothrium.[11]

Human interactions

The blind shark is basically harmless to humans, though it can bite if provoked and is difficult to remove, owing to its strong jaws and powerful suction.

Sydney Aquarium having successfully maintained a breeding colony.[10]

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).[2]

See also

  • List of prehistoric cartilaginous fish

References

  1. ^ a b Williams, G.S. (1999). A Listing of Fossil Sharks and Rays of the World. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  2. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41732A68610784.en
    . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  3. ^ Ogilby, J.D. (25 August 1908). "On new genera and species of fishes". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 21: 1–26.
  4. ^
    ISBN 92-5-104543-7
    .
  5. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2010). "Brachaelurus waddi" in FishBase. January 2010 version.
  6. ^ Goto, T. (2001). "Comparative Anatomy, Phylogeny and Cladistic Classification of the Order Orectolobiformes (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii)". Memoirs of the Graduate School of Fisheries Science, Hokkaido University 48 (1): 1–101.
  7. ^ a b Murch, A. Blind Shark - Brachaelurus waddi information. Elasmodiver.com. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  8. ^
    ISBN 0-674-03411-2
    .
  9. ^
    ISBN 0-930118-18-9
    .
  10. ^ a b c Michael, S.W. "Sharks at Home". Aquarium Fish Magazine March 2004: pp. 20–29.
  11. ^ Caira, J.N., K. Jensen and C.J. Healy (1999). "On the phylogenetic relationships among tetraphyllidean, lecanicephalidean and diphyllidean tapeworm genera". Systematic Parasitology 42: 77–151.
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