Broadfin shark

Breitflossenhai ( Lamiopsis temminckii ) from the first description of Müller & Henle

The Breitflossenhai ( Lamiopsis temminckii ) is a species of requiem sharks ( Carcharhinidae ). It is mainly found in the Indian Ocean in the shallow sea area off the coast of India.

Appearance and characteristics

The Breitflossenhai reaches a body length of up to 1.70 meters with a light gray or light brownish color and a whitish belly region. It is like the blue sharks of the genus Carcharhinus in habit. They have like this one anal fin and two dorsal fins, the second dorsal fin is however almost as big as the first. The name derives from the broad-based pectoral fins. Moreover, they are characterized by an elongated snout, five gill slits and sawed teeth in the upper jaw with broad triangular peaks and smooth-edged and narrow teeth in the lower jaw. In addition, they do not have a spray hole.

Way of life

The Breitflossenhai is an outspoken Flachwasserart and feeds predatory probably of different fish of riparian zones. The sharks are viviparous and form a yolk sac placenta ( placental viviparous ). The females get in a litter 4-8 pups. The Gebärzeit is, according to observations before the monsoon season in April and May, an approximately 8 -month pregnancy is suspected.

Dissemination

The species is found in India in the Indian Ocean, especially in the shallow sea area off the coast, it is rare on the coasts of China and Southeast Asia.