Carcharhinus longimanus
Scientific Name:-
Carcharhinus longimanusCommon Name:-
Oceanic Whitetip Shark / Whitetip Shark
Malayalam Name:-
Vella Valan Sravu
Category:-
Fishes
Status:-
Classified as Vulnerable in IUCN Redlist of species.
Image Courtesy: Sharktrust
Description:-
Llarge, stocky species. Snout short and broadly rounded, short and blunt; long, broad, paddleshaped pectoral fins and a high first dorsal fin, plus white tips and sometimes black markings on fins. Colour grey-bronze above, white below; white mottling usually present on fins, particularly pectorals, first dorsal, pelvics, and caudal tips; but young additionally with black blotches or tips on most fins, especially the pelvic, second dorsal, anal, and ventral caudal lobe, as well as black saddles at second dorsal insertion, upper caudal origin, and sometimes between the dorsal fins, that fade in adults; an inconspicuous white band on flank.
Threats:-
In Kerala rarely caught in deep sea trawl nets.
Remark:-
A common but little-known shark found on the continental and insular inshore areas and often recorded from Kerala coast.
Habitat:-
Marine; deep waters
Synonyms:-
Carcharhinus maou (Lesson, 1831); Carcharias insularum Snyder, 1904; Carcharias longimanus (Poey, 1861); Carcharias obtusus Garman, 1881; Carcharinus longimanus (Poey, 1861) (misspelling); Pterolamiops budkeri Fourmanoir, 1961 (junior synonym); Pterolamiops longimanus (Poey, 1861); Pterolamiops magnipinnis Smith, 1958; Squalus longimanus Poey, 1861; Squalus maou Lesson, 1831
References:-
Akhilesh K.V., K. K. Bineesh, A. Gopalakrishnan, J. K. Jena, V. S. Basheer and N. G. K. Pillai (2014). Checklist of Chondrichthyans in Indian waters. Mar. Biol. Ass. India, 56 (1), 109-120.
Bailly, N. (2015). Carcharhinus longimanus (Poey, 1861). In: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2015) FishBase. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=105794 on 2015-06-16
Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO.
Baum, J., Medina, E., Musick, J.A. & Smale, M. 2006. Carcharhinus longimanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 16 June 2015.
Venkataraman, K., John Milton, M.C. and Raghuram, K.P. 2003. Handbook on Sharks of Indian Waters: Diversity, Fishery status, Trade and Conservation. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.