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Hemigaleidae (weasel sharks)
Life
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Opisthokonta
> Metazoa (animals) >
Bilateria >
Deuterostomia > Chordata >
Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates) > Gnathostomata (jawed
vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes
> Elasmobranchii > Galeomorphii >
Carcharhiniformes
Small to moderate sized sharks with horizontal
oval eyes, small spiracles, long labial furrows, precaudal pits,
spiral intestinal valves, and large 2nd dorsal fins. All are
placental live-bearers. 6 species, 3 in the area.
Families in southern Africa
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Hemipristis elongatus
(Snaggletooth shark) A slender light grey or bronzy shark with a
broadly rounded long snout, large curved saw-edged upper teeth,
hooked lower teeth that protrude from its mouth, long gill slits,
strongly curved fins, and no prominent markings. |
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Paragaleus leucolomatus (Whitefin
weasel shark) A slender dark grey shark with a long snout,
large oval eyes, moderately long mouth with small serrated upper
teeth, erect-cusped lower teeth, and prominent white tips on most of
its fins. Underside white, 2nd dorsal black-tipped. |
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Paragaleus pectoralis
(Atlantic
weasel shark) A slender shark with a moderately long snout,
large oval eyes, short small mouth, small serrated upper teeth,
erect-cusped lower teeth, and plain fins. Colour light grey or
bronze with longitudinal yellow bands, white below. |
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Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert
and Malcolm J. Smale
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