Bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus) fish species and Bigeye thresher information

Scientific Name
Alopias superciliosus

Common Name
Bigeye thresher

Biology
Occurs in coastal waters over continental shelves, sometimes close inshore in shallow waters, and on the high seas far from land (Ref. 247, 43278, 58302). Oceanic, pelagic and near bottom at 1->500 m (Ref. 58302). Depth range to at least 500 m (Ref. 247). Feeds on pelagic fishes (lancetfishes, herring, mackerel and small billfishes (Ref. 43278)) and bottom fishes (hake (Ref. 43278)) and squids (Ref. 247). Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother (Ref. 43278, 50449). Stuns its prey with its long caudal fin (Ref. 247). Utilized for human consumption, liver oil for vitamins, skin for leather, and fins for shark-fin soup (Ref. 247). Marketed fresh and may be broiled, baked or grilled, but unsuitable for steaming, boiling or frying; meat may be salted and dried (Ref. 9987). Also Ref. 33743.

Classification

Classified By

Lowe, 1841

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Mackerel sharks (Lamniformes)

Family

Thresher sharks (Alopiidae)

Distribution

Region

Circumtropical. Western Atlantic

Distribution

Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: New York, USA southward to Bahamas and Cuba; Panama (Ref. 6871) to Uruguay (Ref. 58839). Eastern Atlantic: Portugal to Angola, including the Mediterranean. Indo-Pacific: Arabian Sea, Madagascar, South Africa, southern Japan, Taiwan, northern Viet Nam (Ref. 13570), New Caledonia, northwestern coast of Australia, New Zealand and north and south of the Hawaiian Islands Eastern Pacific: southern California (USA), Costa Rica and Panama (Ref. 9253), Galapagos Islands Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139).

Range

46°N - 40°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

500 m

Zone

pelagic-oceanic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 500 m (Ref. 9253), usually 0 - 100 m (Ref. 43278)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.75 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

488 cm

Common Length

350 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (79 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=2-4)

Threat To Humans

Harmless (Ref. 247)

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd)

Bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus) fish species and information / pictures of Bigeye thresher - Alopias superciliosus

Bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population