Paragaleus leucolomatus (Whitefin weasel shark)

Compagno & Smale, 1985

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Galeomorphii > Carcharhiniformes > Hemigaleidae

Paragaleus leucolomatus (Whitefin weasel shark) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

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.

Size

To 96 cm TL.

Range

East coast from off Kosi Bay, kwaZulu. Endemic.

Habitat

Coastal and tropical, in shallow water at 20 m.

Biology

Bears 2 young. Human Impact None.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale