Whitecheek shark
Whitecheek shark | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Subdivision: | Selachimorpha |
Order: | Carcharhiniformes |
Family: | Carcharhinidae |
Genus: | Carcharhinus |
Species: | C. dussumieri
|
Binomial name | |
Carcharhinus dussumieri (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
| |
Range of whitecheek shark | |
Synonyms[2] | |
|
The whitecheek shark or widemouth blackspot shark (Carcharhinus dussumieri) is a requiem shark of the family Carcharhinidae, found in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean between latitudes 34°N and 25°S. It can reach a length of 1 m. It feeds mainly on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. It is a viviparous species, with the female giving birth to up to four live young.
The specific name honours the French explorer and trader Jean-Jacques Dussumier (1792–1883).[citation needed]
Description
The whitecheek shark grows to a length around 100 cm (39 in). It has a slender body and long head with a rounded snout. The eyes are oval and both jaws have multiple rows of backward-pointing, serrated teeth. The pectoral fins are long, narrow, and curved and have narrow, pointed tips. The first dorsal fin is triangular, uncurved, and moderately sized, and the second dorsal fin is much smaller than the first and bears a large black patch at its apex. The whitecheek shark's dorsal (upper) surface is grey or brownish-grey, while its ventral (under) surface is pale.[2][3]
Distribution
The whitecheek shark is native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean, where it is found on continental shelves and inshore slopes around islands down to about 170 m (560 ft). Its
Behaviour
The whitecheek shark mostly feeds on fish, but also eats
It is a common species, but not well known, and it is sometimes confused with the
Status
The
References
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Carcharhinus dussumieri" in FishBase. May 2006 version.