| Family: |
Hemigaleidae (Weasel sharks) |
| Max. size: |
110 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 12 - 170 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Indian Ocean to Western Pacific: Australia and where records from Papua New Guinea need to be confirmed. |
| Diagnosis: |
Diagnosis: Medium-sized shark with moderately long head; dorsal fins slightly raked back, moderately or not falcate, moderately low; height of first dorsal fin 2.6-3 in head length (HL); length of first dorsal fin 2.1-2.4 times its height; caudal-fin upper lobe moderately broad, not elongate; caudal-fin ventral lobe short, preventral margin 9.3-9.8% TL; pectoral fins broad, falcate, base length 2.1-2.4 in preventral caudal margin; claspers of adults moderately short, inner length 5.4-5.6% TL, 1.8-1.8 in pelvic midpoint to first dorsal-fin insertion; teeth in 28-30/46-52 rows; precaudal vertebral centra 65-70, total vertebral centra 112-121; second dorsal fin with a conspicuous dark tip; first dorsal fin with a pale posterior margin (Ref. 56150).
Description: The two species differ in meristics, coloration, morphometrics: with Hemigaleus australiensis having a total vertebrae 137-164 (vs. 112-121); precaudal vertebrae 79-100 (vs.65-70); number of tooth rows in lower jaw 45-52 (vs. 37-43); dark-tipped second dorsal fin (vs. white-tipped); size at maturity females 60-65 cm TL (vs. 74-80 cm TL) and males 60 cm TL (vs. >79 cm TL); size at birth 26-28 cm TL (vs. 47-49 cm TL) (Ref. 56150). |
| Biology: |
A predominantly demersal species on continental and insular shelves from shallow, inshore bays down to 170 meters. Sexual maturity of males reached at about 60 cm TL; females between 60 - 65 cm TL; with young are born at about 30 cm TL (Ref. 56150). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 February 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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