PORT PHILLIP BAY


Bronze Whaler 

Carcharhinus brachyurus (Günther, 1870)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Vertebrae: 179-203 (precaudal 96-110)
Jaw teeth (upper): 15 or 16-2 or 3-15 or 16
Jaw teeth (lower): 15-1-15

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 large streamlined pelagic sharks with the large first dorsal fin positioned just before the middle of the body, the second far back in front of the tail; tail with a well-developed lower lobe; 5 gill slits, the last positioned above the pectoral fin; teeth blade-like with a strong cusp.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subclass:
Elasmobranchii
Order:
Carcharhiniformes
Family:
Carcharhinidae
Genus:
Carcharhinus
Species:
brachyurus

General Description

A large whaler shark with a sharply-pointed snout; upper jaw teeth bent and hooked-shaped with narrow cusps. Bronze to greyish brown above, pale below, with an indistinct pale stripe anteriorly on flank from ventral fin, fin tips sometimes darker. To 3 m long.

Biology

This shark feeds on fishes and cephalopods, and females give birth to live young. They are taken in the shark fishery in Western Australia.

Habitat

In shallow coastal waters and over the continental shelf, to depths of about 100 m.

Open water

Distribution guide

Worldwide. Southern Australia.

Species Group

Sharks and rays › Sharks

Depth

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

Water Column

Midwater

Max Size

3 m

Diet

Carnivore

Harmful

Potentially dangerous to humans.

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Near Threatened

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, Bronze Whaler, Carcharhinus brachyurus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 09 May 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7841

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