Winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii) fish species and information / pictures of Winghead shark - Eusphyra blochii

Winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii) fish species information

Scientific Name
Eusphyra blochii

Common Name
Winghead shark

Biology
Found in shallow water on continental and insular shelves. Enters estuaries. Feeds mainly on small teleost fishes but also takes crustaceans and cephalopods. Viviparous , with 6 to 25 pups in a litter. Has a remarkable wing-shaped head which is nearly or quite half of its body length, the function of which is uncertain, maybe for maneuvering or for increasing the surface area of some of the sense organs. Probably harmless to people. Caught commonly, but in low numbers, by inshore gillnet fisheries. Particularly common in catches off Kalimantan. Probably a common fisheries species where it occurs. Meat utilized for human consumption; liver is a source of vitamin oil. Offal probably utilized for fishmeal. Reported to reach 30

Classification

Classified By
Cuvier, 1816
Class
Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)
Order
Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)
Family
Hammerhead / bonnethead / scoophead sharks (Sphyrnidae)

Distribution

Region
Indo-West Pacific
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf to the Philippines, north to China, south to Australia.
Range
31°N - 20°S, 47°E - 154°E

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
Unknown m
Depth To - meters
Unknown m
Zone
benthopelagic
Environment
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; amphidromous
Trophic Level
4.15 s.e. 0.67 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
186 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 1.0020 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 (60 of 100)
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=6)
Threat To Humans
Harmless (Ref. 13562)
IUCN Red List Status
Near Threatened (NT)