Bull shark
9.9 Carcharhinus /eucas
(Valenciennes, 1839)
PLATE 2
Bulhaai
Carcharias (Prionodon) leucas Valenciennes, in Muller & Henle, 1839:
42 (Antilles). Eulamia lamia: Smith (1949 only), SFSA No. 9*. Carcharhinus vanrooyeni Smith, 1958: 12, pis. (Zululand); 1961: 565, No. 9a*.
Carcharhinus leucas: Bass et aI., 1973: 37*; van der Elst, 1981: 35*; Garrick, 1982: 81 *.
No interdorsal ridge. Juveniles with dusky tips to fins, adults plain.
13-2-13
Teeth 12-2-12' Upper teeth with broad, strongly serrated cusps. Short
blunt snout; stocky body. Precaudal vertebrae 112-123.
In our area litters contain 10-12 pups, born at 60-70 cm;
mature at 2.3 m; attains 3 m. Often feeds on relatively large
prey, and a proven maneater. An inshore warm-water
shark known from all major oceans; the young often going
into rivers, sometimes many kilometres from the sea. In
Natal adults occur in shallow inshore waters, often in the
surf; a 2.9 m, 196 kg female was caught at Fish River mouth
in December 1983.
N
9.9 Carcharhinus leucas: 166 em male (Natal). N & T as in 2.1 .
N
9.10 Carcharhinus limbatus: 115 em male (Natal). N & T as in 2.1.
9: CARCHARHINJDAE (REQUIEM SHARKS)
9.10 Carcharhinus limbatus
(MUlier & Henle, 1839)
PLATE 2
Blacktip shark
Swarttiphaai
Carcharias (Prionodon) limbatus Miiller & Henle, 1839: 49, PI. 19
(West Indies). Eulamia limbata: Smith, SFSA No. 5*. Carcharinus limbatus: Smith, 1953: 40, No.5. Carcharhinus limbatlis: Bass et aI., 1973:
46*; van der Elst, 1981: 36*; Garrick, 1982: 28*.
No interdorsal ridge. Juveniles often plain or, like adults, with all fins
(except possibly the anal) black-tipped; these markings not clearly
15-2 or 3-15
.
demarcated except for those onV. Teeth
15-1-15' Upper teeth With
narrow, erect cusps on broad bases. Precaudal vertebrae 94-102.
In our area usually 8 pups per litter, born in summer at 6065 cm; males mature at 160-180 cm, females at 190 cm;
attains 2.5 m. An active hunter in midwater; nervous but
sometimes aggressive toward spearfishermen. Widely distributed throughout tropical seas; found around Madagascar and offshore islands and along the coast to Natal and, in
summer, the eastern and southern Cape coasts. Often taken
by shore anglers.
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73
9.9 Carcharhinus /eucas
(Valenciennes, 1839)
PLATE 2
Bulhaai
Carcharias (Prionodon) leucas Valenciennes, in Muller & Henle, 1839:
42 (Antilles). Eulamia lamia: Smith (1949 only), SFSA No. 9*. Carcharhinus vanrooyeni Smith, 1958: 12, pis. (Zululand); 1961: 565, No. 9a*.
Carcharhinus leucas: Bass et aI., 1973: 37*; van der Elst, 1981: 35*; Garrick, 1982: 81 *.
No interdorsal ridge. Juveniles with dusky tips to fins, adults plain.
13-2-13
Teeth 12-2-12' Upper teeth with broad, strongly serrated cusps. Short
blunt snout; stocky body. Precaudal vertebrae 112-123.
In our area litters contain 10-12 pups, born at 60-70 cm;
mature at 2.3 m; attains 3 m. Often feeds on relatively large
prey, and a proven maneater. An inshore warm-water
shark known from all major oceans; the young often going
into rivers, sometimes many kilometres from the sea. In
Natal adults occur in shallow inshore waters, often in the
surf; a 2.9 m, 196 kg female was caught at Fish River mouth
in December 1983.
N
9.9 Carcharhinus leucas: 166 em male (Natal). N & T as in 2.1 .
N
9.10 Carcharhinus limbatus: 115 em male (Natal). N & T as in 2.1.
9: CARCHARHINJDAE (REQUIEM SHARKS)
9.10 Carcharhinus limbatus
(MUlier & Henle, 1839)
PLATE 2
Blacktip shark
Swarttiphaai
Carcharias (Prionodon) limbatus Miiller & Henle, 1839: 49, PI. 19
(West Indies). Eulamia limbata: Smith, SFSA No. 5*. Carcharinus limbatus: Smith, 1953: 40, No.5. Carcharhinus limbatlis: Bass et aI., 1973:
46*; van der Elst, 1981: 36*; Garrick, 1982: 28*.
No interdorsal ridge. Juveniles often plain or, like adults, with all fins
(except possibly the anal) black-tipped; these markings not clearly
15-2 or 3-15
.
demarcated except for those onV. Teeth
15-1-15' Upper teeth With
narrow, erect cusps on broad bases. Precaudal vertebrae 94-102.
In our area usually 8 pups per litter, born in summer at 6065 cm; males mature at 160-180 cm, females at 190 cm;
attains 2.5 m. An active hunter in midwater; nervous but
sometimes aggressive toward spearfishermen. Widely distributed throughout tropical seas; found around Madagascar and offshore islands and along the coast to Natal and, in
summer, the eastern and southern Cape coasts. Often taken
by shore anglers.
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73