PORT PHILLIP BAY


Whiskery shark 

Furgaleus macki (Whitley, 1943)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Jaw teeth (upper): 11 to 15-1-12 to 16
Jaw teeth (lower): 36 to 42

Additional information in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Family level detail.
Small to moderately-sized streamlined sharks with long snouts, two widely-spaced dorsal fins that lack spines, the first with the fin-base positioned before the pelvic fins; the second dorsal fin originating before the anal fin and smaller than the first dorsal fin; tail with a large, distinctly-notched upper lobe; outer margins of teeth with coarse serrations. Found worldwide in tropical and temperate coastal seas with 47 species.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subclass:
Elasmobranchii
Order:
Carcharhiniformes
Family:
Triakidae
Genus:
Furgaleus
Species:
macki

General Description

Relatively small, slender sharks with nasal flaps modified into slender nasal barbels; snout broadly rounded; two similar widely-spaced dorsal fins; anal fin small. Greyish-brown above, paler below, sometimes with blotches on body and fins; juveniles light brown with distinct darker blotches. To 1.6 m long.

Biology

These active swimming sharks live on or near the bottom and feed on cephalopods, fishes and crustaceans. The species is targeted in the Western Australian shark fishery. Females give birth to live young.

Habitat

Rocky and weedy areas, to depth of 220 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern Australia, rare in Victoria.

Species Group

Sharks and rays › Sharks

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

1.6 m

Diet

Carnivore

Harmful

Although considered harmless to humans, has the potential to bite.

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Least Concern

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Whiskery shark, Furgaleus macki, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 10 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6560

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