Crocodile shark
📖 Overview
An oceanic species usually found offshore and far from land but sometimes occurring inshore . Epi- and mesopelagic, with occasional near-bottom occurrences . Although considered not dangerous to people, its powerful jaws, jaw muscles and teeth invite respect. Flesh not appreciated and therefore the catch is usually discarded ; utilized for its large, squalene-rich liver . Feeds on small pelagic bony fishes, squids and shrimps . Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother . With 4 young in a litter, born at 40 to 43 cm TL . Maximum length for female given in Romanove et.al 1994 . Common bycatch of tuna longline fisheries, and occasionally tuna gillnet fisheries.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A medium-sized spindle-shaped shark with very large eyes lacking a nictitating membrane, long gill slits extending onto dorsal surface of head, lanceolate teeth, weak keel and precaudal pits on caudal peduncle . Small and low dorsal fins, with second dorsal fin less than half the size of the first but larger than the anal fin . Pectoral fin broad and rounded . Light or dark grey above, paler below, fins white-edged, sometimes with small white spots on body and a white blotch between mouth and gill slits .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Crocodile shark is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Crocodile shark is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding on other ova produced by the mother (oophagy) after the yolk sac is absorbed . With 4 young in a litter, born at 40-43 cm .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 590 m , usually 0 - 200 m . Subtropical; 40°N - 40°S, 180°W - 180°E
🌿 Ecology
small pelagic bony fishes, squids and shrimps (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | bigeye ragged-tooth · Crocodile shark · Japanese ragged tooth shark · Kamohara’s sand shark · water alligator · water crocodile |
| 🌍AFR | grootoog-skeurtandhaai |
| 🌍CES | žralok krokodýlovitý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Krokodillehaj |
| 🇩🇪German | Krokodilshai |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | krokotiilihai |
| 🇫🇷French | Requin crocodile · Requin-crocodile |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Krokodilcápa |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Squalo coccodrillo |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | mizu-wani · Mizuwani · ミズワニ |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Krokodilhaai |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Tubarão Cachorro · Tubarão-crocodilo |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Ложнопесчаная акула |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | tiburón cocodrilo |
| 🌍THA | ปลาฉลามจระเข้ · ปลาฉลามหนูตาโต |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 沙魚 · 蒲原氏擬錐齒鯊 · 鱷鮫 · 黑棘鮫 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carcharias kamoharai | Matsubara | 1936 | Synonym |
| Carcharias pelagicus | Cadenat | 1963 | Synonym |
| Carcharias yangi | Teng | 1959 | Synonym |
| Odontaspis kamoharai | Matsubara | 1936 | Synonym |
| Pseudocarcharias kamorharai | Matsubara | 1936 | Synonym |
| Pseudocarcharias pelagicus | Cadenat | 1963 | Synonym |
| Pseudocarcharias yangi | Teng | 1959 | Synonym |
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 6 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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