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Slender weasel shark

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Slender weasel shark
BERJAYA
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Division: Selachii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Hemigaleidae
Genus: Paragaleus
Species:
P. longicaudatus
Binomial name
Paragaleus longicaudatus
Bessednov, 1966
BERJAYA
Synonyms

Paragaleus randalli Compagno, Krupp & K. E. Carpenter, 1996

The slender weasel shark, (Paragaleus longicaudatus), is a weasel shark of the family Hemigaleidae. It is found in the western Indian Ocean, including the Persian Gulf off Bahrain. It can grow up to a length of 48 cm (19 in).

The slender weasel shark is a harmless Viviparous species, about which little is known.

Morphology

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The slender weasel shark is often mistaken for smaller sharks in the family Carcharhinidae and is thus neglected in studies. However it is easy to identify morphologically: The shark has distinctly narrow, strongly falcated pectoral fins, short gill slits, a wedge like snout, and small spiracles. A notable feature is on the underside of the shark's head where two dusky stripes are found parallel to each other at the tip of the snout.[2]

Biology

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Little is known about P. longicaudatus' behaviour and its distribution. However, dissections of specimens suggests that its diet mainly comprises cephalopods.[2]

References

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  1. VanderWright, W.J.; Simpfendorfer, C.; Bin Ali, A.; Bineesh, K.K.; Derrick, D.; Elhassan, I.; Jabado, R.W.; Moore, A.; Utzurrum, J.A.T.; Yuneni, R.R. (2021). "Paragaleus randalli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T161506A173437966. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T161506A173437966.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Dareen K. Almojil, ALEC B. M. Moore, William T. White (2015). Sharks & rays of the Persian gulf (in French). MBG (INT) Ltd. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-9930427-2-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)