Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

New biological data on the rare, threatened shark Carcharhinus leiodon (Carcharhinidae) from the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea

Alec B. M. Moore A B G , Dareen Almojil C , Mark Harris D , Rima W. Jabado E and William T. White F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A RSK Environment Ltd, Spring Lodge, 172 Chester Road, Helsby, Cheshire, WA6 0AR, UK.

B Bangor University, School of Ocean Sciences, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK.

C University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.

D 7142 Arboretum Way, New Port Richey, FL 34655, USA.

E UAE University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

F CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.

G Corresponding author. Email: amoore@rsk.co.uk

Marine and Freshwater Research 65(4) 327-332 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF13160
Submitted: 20 June 2013  Accepted: 8 August 2013   Published: 28 October 2013

Abstract

New biological data relevant to the conservation of the rare and threatened shark Carcharhinus leiodon are presented, based on specimens sampled in fish markets in Kuwait, the UAE and Yemen. The maximum size of this species is extended to 1648 mm total length (TL); females are mature by at least 1312 mm TL and demonstrate placental viviparity with litters of 4–6 embryos. In the north-western Persian Gulf there is evidence that parturition occurs in spring when embryos are ~350–515 mm TL, with at least some neonate individuals probably remaining in the area through the summer. Further records of C. leiodon from the western Arabian Sea indicate that adults are present in this region throughout the year. Landings of C. leiodon apparently caught in the eastern Persian Gulf may extend the highly fragmented known distribution of this species. Contrary to an earlier study, the first detailed examination of dissected adult C. leiodon jaws revealed that fine serrations are present on upper teeth, and characters are provided to separate the dentition and jaws of C. leiodon from congeners. The stomach of an adult C. leiodon contained bentho-demersal fish, and an individual with fin abnormalities is noted.


References

Al-Hassan, J. M., Afzal, M., Rao, C. V. N., and Fayad, S. (2000). Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution in sharks in the Arabian Gulf. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 65, 391–398.
Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution in sharks in the Arabian Gulf.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXmslGms7s%3D&md5=8a4e89c050884d9c55189906328ddc6fCAS | 10903364PubMed |

Compagno, L. J. V. (1988). ‘Sharks of the Order Carcharhiniformes.’ (Blackburn Press: Caldwell, NJ.)

Compagno, L. J. V. (2005). ‘Carcharhinus leiodon. In ‘IUCN Red List of Threatened Species’. Version 2010.1.’ Available at www.iucnredlist.org [accessed 3 June 2010].

Compagno, L., Dando, M., and Fowler, S. (2005). ‘A Field Guide to the Sharks of the World.’ (Harper Collins: London.)

Davenport, S., and Stevens, J. D. (1988). Age and growth of two commercially important sharks (Carcharhinus tilstoni and C. sorrah) from Northern Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 39, 417–433.
Age and growth of two commercially important sharks (Carcharhinus tilstoni and C. sorrah) from Northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Garrick, J. A. F. (1985). Additions to a revision of the shark genus Carcharhinus: synonymy of Aprionodon and Hypoprion, and description of a new species of Carcharhinus (Carcharhinidae). NOAA Technical Report NMFS 34, Washington, DC. Available at http://spo.nwr.noaa.gov/tr34.pdf

Gelsleichter, J., and Walker, C. J. (2010). Pollutant exposure and effects in sharks and their relatives. In: ‘Sharks and their relatives II: biodiversity, adaptive physiology and conservation’. (Eds. J.C. Carrier, J.A. Musick, and M.R. Heithaus) (CRC Press: Boca Raton)

Henderson, A. C., and Reeve, A. J. (2011). Noteworthy elasmobranch records from Oman. African Journal of Marine Science 33, 171–175.
Noteworthy elasmobranch records from Oman.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Henderson, A. C., McIlwain, J. L., Al-Oufi, H. S., and Al-Sheili, S. (2007). The Sultanate of Oman shark fishery: Species composition, seasonality and diversity. Fisheries Research 86, 159–168.
The Sultanate of Oman shark fishery: Species composition, seasonality and diversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Heupel, M. R., Simpfendorfer, C. A., and Bennett, M. B. (1999). Skeletal deformities in elasmobranchs from Australian waters. Journal of Fish Biology 54, 1111–1115.
Skeletal deformities in elasmobranchs from Australian waters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

IUCN (2012). ‘IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1.’ 2nd edn. (IUCN: Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK)

Moore, A. B. M., White, W. T., Ward, R. D., Naylor, G. J. P., and Peirce, R. (2011). Rediscovery and redescription of the smoothtooth blacktip shark Carcharhinus leiodon (Carcharhinidae), from Kuwait, with notes on its possible conservation status. Marine and Freshwater Research 62, 528–539.
Rediscovery and redescription of the smoothtooth blacktip shark Carcharhinus leiodon (Carcharhinidae), from Kuwait, with notes on its possible conservation status.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXnvFanur0%3D&md5=d3fb9016f935bc67356bbda90b66cc87CAS |

Moore, A. B. M., McCarthy, I. D., Carvalho, G. R., and Peirce, R. (2012a). Species, size, sex and male maturity composition of previously unreported elasmobranch landings in Kuwait, Qatar and Abu Dhabi Emirate. Journal of Fish Biology 80, 1619–1642.
Species, size, sex and male maturity composition of previously unreported elasmobranch landings in Kuwait, Qatar and Abu Dhabi Emirate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC38njvFamuw%3D%3D&md5=f032ffd4a2679793764fe5ced14fdffaCAS |

Moore, A. B. M., Ward, R. D., and Peirce, R. (2012b). Sharks of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf: a first annotated checklist (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii). Zootaxa 3167, 1–16.

Thorburn, D. C., and Morgan, D. L. (2004). The northern river shark Glyphis sp. C. Carcharhinidae) discovered in Western Australia. Zootaxa 685, 1–8.