Eusphyra blochii

Scientific Name:-

Eusphyra blochii

Common Name:-

Winghead Shark

Malayalam Name:-

Kannankodi Chuttikathalayam Sravu

Category:-

Fishes

Status:-

Near Threatenedin IUCN Redlist of species. Image courtesy: Wikimedia; FAO

Description:-

Huge hammer-shaped head that is broad, wing-shaped, and nearly half of the shark’s total length; lateral blades of head very narrow and winglike; nostrils greatly enlarged, their widths 0.8 to 0.9 times in internarial width and nearly twice mouth width; bumps present along anterior margin of head opposite nostrils. Upper precaudal pit longitudinal and not crescentic.Nostrils greatly enlarged. Origin of first dorsal fin over midbase of pectoral fins. Upper precaudal pit is longitudinal and not crescentic. Colour: Grey or grey-brown above, paler below.

Threats:-

Not recorded

Remark:-

Reported from Kerala.

Habitat:-

Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; amphidromous

Synonyms:-

Cestracion blochi (Cuvier, 1816)
Sphyrna blochii (Cuvier, 1816)
Zygaena blochii Cuvier, 1816
Zygaena laticeps Cantor, 1837
Zygaena latycephala van Hasselt, 1823

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). Eusphyra blochii. In: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2015) FishBase. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=280757 on 2015-07-14
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.
Pillai P.P. and Biju P. 2000. Pelagic sharks in the Indian seas-their exploitation, trade, management and conservation. CMFRI Spl publ. 70: 1-95.
Simpfendorfer, C.A. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003) 2003. Eusphyra blochii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 14 July 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.

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