Crocodile shark

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Crocodile shark
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Lamniformes Family: Pseudocarchariidae Genus: Pseudocarcharias Species: P. kamoharai
Binomial name
Pseudocarcharias kamoharai (Matsubara, 1936)
Known range - dark blue Possible range - light blue

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The crocodile shark, Pseudocarcharias kamoharai, the only member of the genus Pseudocarcharias (in turn the only member of its family Pseudocarchariidae), is a shark found in the tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans, at depths down to 590 m. It can exceed 1 m in length.

The crocodile shark is an oceanic species usually found offshore and far from land but sometimes occurring inshore. It is a medium-sized spindle-shaped shark with very large eyes lacking a nictitating membrane, long gill slits extending onto the dorsal surface of the head, lanceolate teeth, weak keel and precaudal pits on the caudal peduncle. The dorsal fins are small and low, with the second dorsal fin less than half the size of the first but larger than the anal fin. The pectoral fin is broad and rounded.

Although considered not dangerous to people, its powerful jaws, jaw muscles and teeth invite respect. Their diet is small pelagic bony fishes, squids and shrimps .

Reproduction is ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother, with up to 4 young in a litter. The flesh is not utilized except for its large, squalene-rich liver.

Coloration is light or dark grey above, paler below, fins white-edged, sometimes with small white spots on body and a white blotch between the mouth and the gill slits.

[edit] References

• "Pseudocarcharias kamoharai". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pseudocarcharias_kamoharai.html