Barbeled Houndshark

About the Barbeled Houndshark

The Barbeled Houndshark is a species of ground shark and the only member of the family Leptochariidae.This demersal species is found in the Eastern Central and Southeast Atlantic Oceans, from Mauritania to Angola, including the Cape Verde Archipelago.

Description

The Barbeled Houndshark has an extremely slender body and horizontally oval eyes equipped with internal nictitating membranes, with a pair of tiny spiracles behind the eyes. Each nostril is preceded by a slender barbel. The mouth is long and arched, and it has 46–60 upper tooth rows and 43–54 lower tooth rows. Unusually for a shark, dental sexual dimorphism occurs, with the front teeth in males being greatly enlarged. The two dorsal fins are small and about equal in size. The first dorsal fin is positioned between the pectoral and pelvic fins, while the second one is located above the anal fin. This shark is plain light gray above and whitish below.

Biology and Behaviour

The Barbeled Houndshark can reach a maximum size of approximately 89 cm total length. Males reach sexual maturity at 55–60 cm (21.7–23.6 in) in total length, while females mature at around 52–58 cm (20.5–22.8 in). It feeds on a wide variety of bottom-dwelling and shore-associated organisms, including crustaceans, bony fish, skate and flyingfish eggs, octopus, and sponges.

Reproduction

Their reproductive cycle is viviparous, meaning embryos develop inside the mother’s body and are nourished through a placental connection. Females usually give birth to about 7 pups per litter, after a gestation period of four months. Pups measure approximately 20 cm (7.87 in) in total length at birth.

Habitat

The Barbeled Houndshark occurs along the western coast of Africa, from Mauritania to northern Angola. It inhabits shallow marine waters on the continental shelf, at depths ranging from the surface to approximately 90 m (295 ft), where water temperatures range from 20 to 27 °C (68–81 °F). It is typically found close to the bottom over muddy substrates, particularly around river mouths.

Conservation

The Barbeled Houndshark is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. This small, coastal and inshore benthic shark was historically reported as common in some parts of its range, but recent information indicates a decreasing population trend. It is caught incidentally in several types of fisheries and is retained for human consumption, where it may be sold fresh, smoked, or dried and salted.

Mauritania has established a minimum landing size of 60 cm (23.6 in) in total length, but no other known measures specifically targeting this species are currently reported.

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