Author: (Müller and Henle, 1839)
Field Marks:
A stocky requiem shark with a broadly rounded short snout, preoral snout much shorter than mouth width but preorbital snout rather long, minute eyes, first dorsal origin over rear ends of pectoral bases, second dorsal rather large, about 3/5 height of first dorsal, upper teeth with high, broad, serrated triangular cusps, lower anterior teeth with long, hooked, protruding cusps with unserrated cutting edges confined to slightly expanded spearlike tips, no interdorsal ridge, upper precaudal pit longitudinal, no conspicuous markings.
Diagnostic Features:
First few anterior teeth in lower jaw with cutting edges confined to tips of cusps, giving the cusps a spearlike shape, and no cusplets. Second dorsal higher, about 3/5 height of first dorsal.
Geographical Distribution:
Uncertain. G. glyphis-like sharks occur in Borneo, New Guinea, and Queensland, Australia, but it is uncertain at present if any of these are the true G. glyphis (see remarks below).
Habitat and Biology:
Presumably inshore and possibly in fresh 2, water. Biology unknown.
Size:
Maximum at least 1 m; this or a related species in New Guinea may reach 2 to 3 m.
Interest to Fisheries:
Unknown.
Remarks:
This mysterious, apparently rare shark was long known only from Müller and Henle's (1839) original account. Prof. J.A.F. Garrick (pers. comm.) has obtained additional specimens of glyphis-like sharks from New Guinea, Borneo and Queensland, Australia. However, these may represent more than one species, as the Borneo and New Guinean specimens differ significantly in vertebral counts, and it is uncertain at present which of these (if any) represent the true G. glyphis. This problem is under study by Prof Garrick and the writer.
Type material:
Holotype: About 1 m long, stuffed specimen in Zoologisches Museum, Humboldt Universitat, Berlin. Type Locality: Unknown.