Genus Negaprion Whitley, 1940
Two species; 1 in Atlantic and 1 in our area.
Lemon shark
9.29 Negaprion acutidens
(Ruppel!, 1837)
Geelhaai
Carcharias acutidens Riippell, 1837: 65, PI. 18, Fig. 3 (Red Sea).
Negaprion acutidens: Smith, 1961: 565, No. IOb*j Bass et aI., 1975: 27*.
Spiracles minute or absent. No interdorsal ridge. Minute lip grooves.
Second D almost as large as 1st; 1st D set midway between P and V. Generally yellowish brown, paler below, with plain fins.
T h I4-10r2-14 . ' 1 . b h'
h I
eet 14-1 or 2-14; simi ar III ot Jaws; cusps narrow, smoot, a most
erect on broad bases. Precaudal vertebrae 139.
Viviparous; 13 pups per litter, born at 70-80 cm; mature
at about 2.2 m; attains 3.1 m. A slow-swimming shark found
in warm shallow waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans;
ranges south to Natal. Regarded as potentially dangerous to
man.
9.29 Negaprion acutidens: 243 em mature male (Natal). N & T as in 2.1 .
9: CARCHARHINIDAE (REQUIEM SHARKS)
Genus Paragaleus Budker, 1935
Precaudal pits present. Nictitans freely movable. Compagno and Smale (1985) recognise 4 species in this genus; 1
species is known from our area, and another may be found
here.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Apex of 2nd D with prominent black blotch, other
fins with conspicuous white posterior margins;
mouth long, the lower jaw symphysis well
anterior to upper lip folds ................................ P. leucolomatus
Ib No black blotch on 2nd D, other fins without
conspicuous white margins; mouth short, the lower
jaw symphysis not much anterior to upper lip folds ..... P. pectoralis
9.30 Paragaleus leucolomatus
Compagno & Smale, 1985
Whitetip weasel shark
Wittip weselhaai
?Paragaleus pectoralis (non Garman) : Fourmanoir, 1961: 49'. Paragaleus leucolomalus Compagno & Smale, 1985: 9, Figs. 2·8 (off Kosi Bay,
Natal).
Spiracles not apparent. Mouth length greater than distance from mouth
to nostril. Upper lip folds about 1 /2 mouth length. Lower C lobe acute;
12-3·13
upper edge ofC rippled. Teeth 13-4-14; upper lateral teeth wit h long, oblique cusps and no mesial cusplet . Total vertebrae 180.
T
9.30 Psragsleus leucolomatus: gravid female, 95.5 em (Natal). T = upper and lower teeth from middle of right side of jaw.
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Two species; 1 in Atlantic and 1 in our area.
Lemon shark
9.29 Negaprion acutidens
(Ruppel!, 1837)
Geelhaai
Carcharias acutidens Riippell, 1837: 65, PI. 18, Fig. 3 (Red Sea).
Negaprion acutidens: Smith, 1961: 565, No. IOb*j Bass et aI., 1975: 27*.
Spiracles minute or absent. No interdorsal ridge. Minute lip grooves.
Second D almost as large as 1st; 1st D set midway between P and V. Generally yellowish brown, paler below, with plain fins.
T h I4-10r2-14 . ' 1 . b h'
h I
eet 14-1 or 2-14; simi ar III ot Jaws; cusps narrow, smoot, a most
erect on broad bases. Precaudal vertebrae 139.
Viviparous; 13 pups per litter, born at 70-80 cm; mature
at about 2.2 m; attains 3.1 m. A slow-swimming shark found
in warm shallow waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans;
ranges south to Natal. Regarded as potentially dangerous to
man.
9.29 Negaprion acutidens: 243 em mature male (Natal). N & T as in 2.1 .
9: CARCHARHINIDAE (REQUIEM SHARKS)
Genus Paragaleus Budker, 1935
Precaudal pits present. Nictitans freely movable. Compagno and Smale (1985) recognise 4 species in this genus; 1
species is known from our area, and another may be found
here.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Apex of 2nd D with prominent black blotch, other
fins with conspicuous white posterior margins;
mouth long, the lower jaw symphysis well
anterior to upper lip folds ................................ P. leucolomatus
Ib No black blotch on 2nd D, other fins without
conspicuous white margins; mouth short, the lower
jaw symphysis not much anterior to upper lip folds ..... P. pectoralis
9.30 Paragaleus leucolomatus
Compagno & Smale, 1985
Whitetip weasel shark
Wittip weselhaai
?Paragaleus pectoralis (non Garman) : Fourmanoir, 1961: 49'. Paragaleus leucolomalus Compagno & Smale, 1985: 9, Figs. 2·8 (off Kosi Bay,
Natal).
Spiracles not apparent. Mouth length greater than distance from mouth
to nostril. Upper lip folds about 1 /2 mouth length. Lower C lobe acute;
12-3·13
upper edge ofC rippled. Teeth 13-4-14; upper lateral teeth wit h long, oblique cusps and no mesial cusplet . Total vertebrae 180.
T
9.30 Psragsleus leucolomatus: gravid female, 95.5 em (Natal). T = upper and lower teeth from middle of right side of jaw.
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