Author: (Day, 1878)
Field Marks:
As in Eugomphodus taurus but possibly differing in diagnostic features below.
Diagnostic Features:
Possibly rounded snout and absence of labial furrows (see Remarks below).
Geographical Distribution:
Indo-West Pacific: India, Pakistan, ? Indonesia, ? Indochina, ? Australia, ? Philippines, ? northern China.
Habitat and Biology:
An inshore and offshore, littoral shark; biology little known if distinct from E. taurus.
Size:
Said to reach 3.7 or more metres total length, possibly to at least 6.1 m (Day, 1878), but this is unlikely.
Interest to Fisheries:
Apparently fished in India and Pakistan.
Remarks:
This species is poorly known, and may be a junior synonym of E. taurus. Day's (1878) original description stated that it lacked labial furrows and pictured it as having a broadly rounded snout (E. taurus has a rounded-angular snout and well-developed labial furrows). However, since the species was described from a skin, now lost, it is possible that the reported snout shape is in error and the labial furrows were overlooked. Day's (1878, pl. 186, fig. 13 drawing of the snout of his Carcharias tricuspidatus might even be based on Negaprion acutidens, though the lateral view and tooth illustrated are very similar to those of E. taurus. During a trip to India in 1982, I was unable to examine any specimens of Eugomphodus from India (which is apparently much less common there than many carcharhinids) and was unable to confirm or deny the validity of this species. I prefer to consider it a species dubium for the present.
Type material:
Holotype: Apparently lost (P.K. Talwar, pers.comm.). Type Localitly: India.