Atlantic weasel shark (Paragaleus pectoralis) fish species and information / pictures of Atlantic weasel shark - Paragaleus pectoralis

Atlantic weasel shark (Paragaleus pectoralis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Paragaleus pectoralis

Common Name
Atlantic weasel shark

Biology
A very common inshore to offshore shark of the continental shelf occurring at depths of a few meters to slightly over 100 m (Ref. 244). A specialist feeder that prefers cephalopods, also feeds on small bony fishes (Ref. 244). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Utilized fresh and dried salted for human consumption, and processed into fishmeal (Ref. 244).

Classification

Classified By

Garman, 1906

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)

Family

Weasel sharks (Hemigaleidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Cape Verde and Mauritania to northern Namibia (Ref. 244, 5578); possibly extending north to Morocco. Record from the Northwest Atlantic, specifically in New England, has not been verified even after an extensive survey of the area has been conducted.

Range

30°N -

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

100 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 100 m (Ref. 5578), usually 30 - 70 m (Ref. 10730)

Trophic Level

4.32 s.e. 0.64 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

140 cm

Common Length

100.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5664 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (63 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=1)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Data deficient (DD)