Blackspot Shark

About the Blackspot Shark

The Carcharhinus Sealei, also known as the Blackspot Shark, is a small species of requiem shark in the family Carcharhinidae found in the tropical Indo-West Pacific Ocean.

Biology and Description:

The Blackspot shark is a relatively slender species with a streamlined appearance, growing to a length around 95 cm. The snout is fairly long, pointed or slightly rounded at the tip. The eyes are large oval, and set horizontally, and are protected by a nictitating membrane on the lower side. The flaps of skin beside the nostrils are triangular, and the furrows on the upper lip are short. It usually has 12 tooth rows occur on either side of both top and bottom jaws, but the number can vary from 11 to 13. The first dorsal fin is long, narrow, and curved and has a short rear tip. The second dorsal fin is relatively large. The pectoral fins are falcate, long and narrow, and tapes to a blunt point. The caudal fin is about one-fifth of the total length of the shark. The body colour is brownish or silvery grey on the dorsal surface and pale grey on the ventral surface, with an inconspicuous pale stripe running along the flank. This species feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and squid, and is not dangerous to man. Maturity is reached at about 68 to 75 cm TL. the maximum length is 100 cm TL in males and 84.6 cm TL. The reproductive mode of this species is viviparous and its gestation period is about 9 months and one or two pups grow in the uterus. At first, the embryos are sustained by a yolk sac, but later a placenta develops.  

Habitat:

The Blackspot shark is native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where it is found on the continental shelves and shallow water around islands from the surf line to depths of about 40 m. it is not usually found in estuaries and may be intolerant of low-salinity water. In the western Pacific Ocean, it is found along the coasts of Thailand, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, New Guinea, and northern and western Australia.

Conservation:

The Blackspot shark is a common catch in artisanal fisheries and small-scale commercial fisheries, as well as by recreational anglers. Detailed species composition data from fisheries throughout its range are required in order to assess the actual level of exploitation.

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