Author: (Whitley, 1943)
Field Marks:
A moderately large, broad- and triangular-finned grey shark with short labial furrows, lobate anterior nasal flaps, short gill slits, 14/13 to 14 rows of anteroposterior teeth in each jaw half, somewhat oblique, narrow cusped, upper teeth with serrations and basal cusplets, no interdorsal ridges, moderately large second dorsal fin with origin about over anal origin, and no conspicuous markings.
Diagnostic Features:
A fairly stocky species (up to about 1.5 m). Snout long and parabolic; internarial width 1.7 to 1.8 times in preoral length; eyes circular and moderately large, their length about 1.4% of total length; anterior nasal flaps moderately low and produced as a nipple-like lobe; upper labial furrows short and inconspicuous; hyomandibular line of pores just behind mouth corners not conspicuously enlarged; gill slits short, third 3% of total length and less than a third of first dorsal base; usually 14/13 to 14 rows of anteroposterior teeth in each jaw half; upper teeth with narrow, strongly serrated, semierect and oblique, high cusps, and crown feet with coarse serrations and small cusplets; lower teeth with erect, narrow, partly serrated cusps and transverse roots. No interdorsal ridge. First dorsal fin large and semifalcate, with a pointed or narrowly rounded apex and posterior margin curving ventrally from fin apex; origin of first dorsal fin over or somewhat anterior to pectoral free rear tips; inner margin of first dorsal short, a third of dorsal base or somewhat more; second dorsal fin large and high, its height 3.2% of total length, its inner margin short and 1.5 times its height; origin of second dorsal over or slightly behind anal origin; pectoral fins moderately large, triangular, with narrowly rounded apices, length of anterior margins about of 17 to 19% of total length; 125 total vertebral centra, 58 precaudal centra. Colour grey above, light below, without conspicuous markings on fins; no conspicuous white band on flanks.
Geographical Distribution:
Western Pacific: Australia (Queensland, northern and northwestern Australia).
Habitat and Biology:
A little-known tropical shark of the Australian littoral, found inshore and offshore on the continental shelves.
Size:
Maximum probably not exceeding 150 cm, largest known specimen the holotype.
Interest to Fisheries:
Apparently taken in some numbers by Taiwanese fishermen off Australia, and used for human consumption and probably for the oriental sharkfin trade.
Type material:
Holotype: Australian Museum, Sydney, AMS IB. 1229, 1174 mm female. Type Locality: Fitzroy River Estuary, Connor's Creek, Queensland, Australia.