16: ALOPIIDAE (THRESHER SHARKS)
,
N
16.2 Alopias superciliosus: 161 em immature female (Algoa Bay). N,T & d as in 2.1.
16.1 Alopias pelagicus
Nakamura, 1935
Smalltooth thresher
Kleintand-sambokhaai
Alopias pelagicus Nakamura, 1935: 2, Figs. 1,5,6 (Formosa); Bass et
aI., 1975: 34*.
Teeth 2~~;~;0; small, markedly oblique with distinct dentic1es on the
side. Precaudal vertebrae 126.
Ovoviviparous; 2 pups per litter; attains 3.3 m. One
specimen from Durban; also northwest Indian Ocean and
Formosa.
16.2 Alopias superciliosus
(Lowe, 1840)
Bigeye thresher
Grootoog-sambokhaai
Alopecias superciliosus Lowe, 1840: 39 (Madeira). Alopias superciliosus: Bass et aI., 1975: 38*; Gruber & Compagno, 1981: 617*.
12-12
Deep grooves from above eyes to over gill slits. Teeth about 11-11'
Precaudal vertebrae 98-106.
0-0<>
<>
0- OJ)
d
Ovoviviparous; 2 pups per litter, born at 100-130 cm;
attains 4.5 m. Two specimens from eastern Cape (probably
quite common there), 1 from Natal; occurs widely in warm
oceanic waters.
16.3 Alopias vulpinus
(Bonnaterre, 1788)
Thintail thresher
Fynstert-sambokhaai
Squalus vulpinus Bonnaterre, 1788: 9, Fig. 349, PI. 85 (Mediterranean).
Alopias vulpinus: Smith, SFSA No. 22*; Bass et aI., 1975: 35*; Compagno,
1981: 2*.
Teeth about ;!~;~;~; upright, without dentic1es. Precaudal vertebrae
112.
Two pups per litter, born at 115 cm. Attains 5.5 m; one
caught off Cape Point was 5 m long and weighed 345 kg.
Throughout our region, more common in the southern
parts although many records could have been A. superciliosus; ranges widely in warm-temperate seas.
16.3 Alopias vulpinus: 348 em female (off Port Alfred). T = teeth from 376 em female (Natal).
102