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Given Names
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French
: Emissole d'Arabie; Emissole; Chien de mer
German : N/A
Spanish : Mussola arabiga; Mussola; Mussola vera, Mussola
pintada
Italian : Palombo; Palummu; Nisseua; Mussola; Penn
Other Scientific Names : N/A |
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Diagnosis
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| A moderately-sized,
rather slender shark with two high dorsal fins; grey-brown with no prominent
white spots on the dorsum. Snout gradually rounded with elongate and prominent
nasal flaps which are well seperated from each other and the mouth; internasal
distance more than 1.4 times nostril width; eyes large, horizontally elongate
with strong subocular ridges; spiracle rather prominent. Mouth triangular
in shape, with teeth in both jaws low, small and molariform with weakly-developed
cusps, arranged in a pavement-like fashion; labial furrows prominent and
with uppers slightly longer than lowers. Buccopharyngeal denticles occur
only on the tip of tongue and front of palate. First dorsal fin origin over
pectoral free tip. Dorsal fins of similar shape; tall and broadly triangular,
the second slightly smaller; interdorsal space 18 - 25% TL; pectoral fins
broad with anterior margins measuring 13 - 17% TL; anal fin smaller
than second dorsal. Caudal fin strongly asymmetrical and falcate in adults;
ventral lobe only moderately developed; terminal lobe well-developed. Colour
mid-grey to grey-brown dorsally, shading to paler grey or white ventrally;
no prominent white spots but sometimes with sporadic darker brown spots on
dorsum. |
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Size
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| Attaining
164cm but usually to 150cm maximum; common to 100-120cm; size at birth ca
35cm TL. |
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Distribution
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| Océan
Atlantique : N/A
Mer Méditerranée : Very common; locally abundant.
Entire Mediterranean over continental shelf, including Adriatic and Sea
of Marmara but not Black Sea.
Océan Indien : N/A
Océan Pacifique : N/A
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Biology
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| A common
demersal species of coastal waters, usually above 150m but has been reported
down to 250m (350m elsewhere). Smoothhounds frequent both inshore and offshore
habitats, often over tidal flats, off estaury mouths and in shallow bays
with sandy, muddy or gravel substrate; offshore occurrences typically associated
to submerged banks and similar topographical features where these sharks
may rally in large numbers (e.g., Adventure Bank in the Sicilian Channel).
They are generally encountered on or near the bottom but will occasionally
swim at midwater. A viviparous species although with development of a primitive
placenta in pregnant females; 4 - 15 (usually up to 10) pups per litter
with gestation period at 10 - 11 months. Females mature at ca. 80cm and
males between 70 - 74 cm TL. |
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Feeding
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| Prey
is mostly benthic crustaceans including hermit and other crabs, lobsters,
and shrimp; less frequently feeding on cephalopods (squid, octopus) and
small bony fish including eels. |
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Similar Species
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| N/A. |
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Endangerment
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| N/A. |
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Danger to humans
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| Probably
harmless. |
This
page has been designed by Fadi Fakhoury
with the help of the Shark
Trust and its chairman Mr Ian Fergusson.
The Shark Trust
36 Kingfisher Court,Hambridge Road,
Newbury, Berkshire,RG14 5SJ, UK.
Tel(+44) 01635 551150
Fax(+44) 01635 550230
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