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🌊 Marine Vulnerable 🌡️ Tropical

Sicklefin weasel shark

Hemigaleus microstoma Bleeker, 1852
Max Length
135 cm
Max Weight
14.0 kg
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.2
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
60.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

A small, relatively common inshore and offshore shark of tropical continental seas . Feeds mainly on cephalopods, particularly octopi but also takes crustaceans and cephalopods . Viviparous . Taken regularly in inshore artisanal fisheries, commonly caught by inshore gillnet, bottom trawl and, to a lesser extent, longline fisheries. Utilized for human consumption . Offal used for fishmeal .

Scientific Name
Hemigaleus microstoma
Authority
Bleeker, 1852
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
VU
Max Length
135 cm
Max Weight
14 kg
Latitude
30°S – 28°N
Trophic Level
4.2
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
60.00/100
Water Temp
22–28 °C
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Australian specimens with dark-tipped fins; tooth counts 28-34/43-54; total vertebral counts 111 to 118 . Indonesian, Singapore and Thailand specimens with light-tipped fins; tooth counts 25-32/37-43; total vertebral counts 137 to 150 . Grey-brown above, lighter below, dorsal fins with white tips and posterior margins, sometimes with spots on sides of body .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Sicklefin weasel shark is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Sicklefin weasel shark is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Viviparous 🤰 Viviparous

Viviparous, with a yolk-sac placenta; 4 to 14 fetuses in a litter ; 2-4 pups after a gestation period of about 6 months; born at about 45-47 cm TL . Size of full-term fetuses (detached umbilical cords and placentae) ranges from 23.7 to 25.6 cm . Distinct pairing with embrace .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal. Tropical; 22°C - 28°C ; 28°N - 30°S West Pacific: southern India and Sri Lanka; China to Indonesia (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
4.2±0.4
Food Items

cephalopods, particularly octopi (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00214 × L3.1 (TL)
Max TL
135cm
Max Weight
14,000g

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
22–28°C
Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Vulnerable
Assessment Date
2020

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Very low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
60.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.2
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
28°N – 30°S
Described By
Bleeker, 1852

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Hemigaleus machlani Herre 1929 Heterotypic
Negogaleus brachugnathus Chu 1960 Synonym
Negogaleus brachygnathus Chu 1960 Heterotypic
Negogaleus microstoma Bleeker 1852 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 14 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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