Snaggletooth shark (Hemipristis elongata) fish species and Snaggletooth shark information

Scientific Name
Hemipristis elongata

Common Name
Snaggletooth shark

Biology
A coastal species, found inshore and offshore on the continental and insular shelves (Ref. 244). Feeds on sharks, rays and bony fishes (Ref. 244); also cephalopods (Ref. 13567). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Thought to be potentially dangerous because of its large, fearsome teeth and shallow-water habitat, but has not been recorded in an attack on people (Ref. 244). Caught regularly by inshore gillnet, bottom trawl (occasionally) and longline fisheries (Ref.58048). Regularly taken in artisanal fisheries (Ref. 13567). Utilized fresh for human consumption, liver processed for vitamins, fins used in the oriental shark fin trade, and by-products processed into fishmeal (Ref. 244). Most adults below 200 cm (Ref. 30573).

Classification

Classified By

Klunzinger, 1871

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)

Family

Weasel sharks (Hemigaleidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and southeast Africa to Philippines, north to China, south to Australia.

Range

41°N - 34°S, 12°E - 156°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

130 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 1 - 130 m (Ref. 6871)

Trophic Level

4.27 s.e. 0.59 Based on diet studies.

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

240 cm

Common Length

200 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0039 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (73 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=2)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 5213)

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd+3bd+4bd)

Snaggletooth shark (Hemipristis elongata) fish species and information / pictures of Snaggletooth shark - Hemipristis elongata

Snaggletooth shark (Hemipristis elongata) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population