Australian Sharpnose Shark

About the Australian Sharpnose Shark

The Australian Sharpnose Shark is a small and abundant coastal shark found in northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea. It generally lives in shallow inshore waters over soft-bottom habitats and has been recorded at depths of at least 110 m (361 ft).

Biology and Behaviour

Males mature between 43 and 60 cm (16.9–23.6 in), while females mature at around 45 to 59 cm (17.7–23.2 in).The species can reach approximately 88 cm (34.6 in) in total length. Australian sharpnose sharks can reach maturity about one year after birth and live for up to 7 years. Their fast growth and early maturity make them more resilient to growing fishing pressure than many other shark species.

Reproduction

The species is viviparous, meaning that embryos develop inside the mother’s body and are nourished through a placental connection. Females give birth to between 1 and 10 pups per litter after a gestation period of approximately 11.5 months. Litter size appears to vary with latitude, with larger litters reported in southern populations. Pups are born measuring between 22 and 28 cm (8.7–11.0 in) in total length.

Embryonic development pauses for about 7 to 8 months during pregnancy, a process known as embryonic diapause. The Australian Sharpnose Shark is currently the only shark species known to exhibit this type of developmental pause, which may help synchronize births with more favorable environmental conditions.

Conservation

This species is not usually targeted by fisheries but is sometimes caught as bycatch in gillnet fisheries targeting mackerel and barramundi along the Queensland coast. In the Northern Territory, it represented 0.5% of catches in the gillnet and longline fisheries during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is also caught as a bycatch in the Papua New Guinea prawn trawl fishery.

The Australian Sharpnose Shark is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, but further research is needed to better assess its population status. It is also listed in CITES Appendix II under the family Charcharinidae, meaning that exports require appropriate permits.

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