19: ODONTASPIDIDAE (RAGGED-TOOTH SHARKS)
Family No. 19: ODONTASPIDIDAE
by A.J.Bass and L.J.V. Campagna
Ragged-tooth sharks
Skeurtandhaaie
Two dorsal fins, without spines. First dorsal axil in front
of pelvic origin. Pectoral origin behind last gill slit. Anal fin
present. No nictitans. Upper precaudal pit present. Teeth
long, lanceolate; 1 or more basal dentic1es on each side of
main cusp. Eye small, vertical diameter of orbit less than
half as long as first gill slit. Two genera with 3 or 4 species; 2
species in our area.
KEY TO GENERA
la Second D subequal to 1st D; most teeth with
1 basal denticle on each side ... ............ .. ....... ..... .. Eugomphodus
Ib Second D markedly smaller than 1st D; most teeth
with 2 or more basal denticles on each side .... ...... ....... Odontaspis
Genus Eugomphodus Gill, 1861
One species.
19.1 Eugomphodus taurus
(Rafinesque, 1810)
PLATE 2
Spotted ragged-tooth
Spikkel-skeurtandhaai
Carcharias taurus Rafinesque, 1810: 10, PI. 44, Fig. 1 (Sicily); Smith,
SFSA No. 25*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 23*. (?)Carcharias tricuspidatus:
Smith, SFSA No. 24*. Odontaspis taurus: Bass et aI., 1975: 12*; van der
Elst, 1981: 52*; Compagno, 1981: 2*.
No bump on upper edge of C. Spiracles minute. Precaudal vertebrae 9197.
Pale brown or grey, paler below; fins plain, body with
dark spots which fade in adults. Embryos oviphagous; 2
pups per litter, born at 100 cm; mature at 220 cm (males)
and 240 cm (females); attains almost 3.0 m. Teeth grasping
not cutting so must swallow prey whole; feeds on fish; not
usually dangerous but occasionally bites bathers; aggressive
N
19.1 Euqomphodus taurus: 103 em immature male (Algoa Bay). N & T as in 2.1.
104
towards skindivers with speared fish. Tropical Atlantic and
Indo-West Pacific oceans; absent from Madagascar. Common in shallow water; mating occurs off Natal, but the
young are born in eastern Cape waters. Gilmore et al.
(1983) have published an excellent paper on the reproduction of this species. The ovary and oviducal gland produce 6
different types of egg capsules during the 9-12 month gestation period. After their own yolk supply is used up, the
19.1 Eugomphodus taurus: jaws of large specimen.
embryos begin feeding on other eggs in the uterus. At about
10 cm, the embryos begin to feed on their smaller unborn
siblings as well as the eggs. During the last 2 or 3 months of
the gestation period, the single remaining embryo in each
uterus feeds on enlarged yolk capsules containing 7-23 unfertilised ova.
Family No. 19: ODONTASPIDIDAE
by A.J.Bass and L.J.V. Campagna
Ragged-tooth sharks
Skeurtandhaaie
Two dorsal fins, without spines. First dorsal axil in front
of pelvic origin. Pectoral origin behind last gill slit. Anal fin
present. No nictitans. Upper precaudal pit present. Teeth
long, lanceolate; 1 or more basal dentic1es on each side of
main cusp. Eye small, vertical diameter of orbit less than
half as long as first gill slit. Two genera with 3 or 4 species; 2
species in our area.
KEY TO GENERA
la Second D subequal to 1st D; most teeth with
1 basal denticle on each side ... ............ .. ....... ..... .. Eugomphodus
Ib Second D markedly smaller than 1st D; most teeth
with 2 or more basal denticles on each side .... ...... ....... Odontaspis
Genus Eugomphodus Gill, 1861
One species.
19.1 Eugomphodus taurus
(Rafinesque, 1810)
PLATE 2
Spotted ragged-tooth
Spikkel-skeurtandhaai
Carcharias taurus Rafinesque, 1810: 10, PI. 44, Fig. 1 (Sicily); Smith,
SFSA No. 25*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 23*. (?)Carcharias tricuspidatus:
Smith, SFSA No. 24*. Odontaspis taurus: Bass et aI., 1975: 12*; van der
Elst, 1981: 52*; Compagno, 1981: 2*.
No bump on upper edge of C. Spiracles minute. Precaudal vertebrae 9197.
Pale brown or grey, paler below; fins plain, body with
dark spots which fade in adults. Embryos oviphagous; 2
pups per litter, born at 100 cm; mature at 220 cm (males)
and 240 cm (females); attains almost 3.0 m. Teeth grasping
not cutting so must swallow prey whole; feeds on fish; not
usually dangerous but occasionally bites bathers; aggressive
N
19.1 Euqomphodus taurus: 103 em immature male (Algoa Bay). N & T as in 2.1.
104
towards skindivers with speared fish. Tropical Atlantic and
Indo-West Pacific oceans; absent from Madagascar. Common in shallow water; mating occurs off Natal, but the
young are born in eastern Cape waters. Gilmore et al.
(1983) have published an excellent paper on the reproduction of this species. The ovary and oviducal gland produce 6
different types of egg capsules during the 9-12 month gestation period. After their own yolk supply is used up, the
19.1 Eugomphodus taurus: jaws of large specimen.
embryos begin feeding on other eggs in the uterus. At about
10 cm, the embryos begin to feed on their smaller unborn
siblings as well as the eggs. During the last 2 or 3 months of
the gestation period, the single remaining embryo in each
uterus feeds on enlarged yolk capsules containing 7-23 unfertilised ova.