coastal waters in the vicinity of coral reefs; distinguished by conspicuous black tips on pectoral and second dorsal fins, and lower lobe of tail; dangerous; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 160 cm
SHARK ATTACK!
The sharks illustrated in Plate 2 are members of the family Carcharhinidae, commonly known as whalers. Although many of the species have never been implicated as far as attacks on humans are concerned, the family contains several which have a bad reputation. All should be handled with respect when removing hooks and none should be deliberately provoked by spearing fishes or offering food when diving in their company.
PLATE 3: SHARKS AND RAYS
1 TIGER SHARK
Galeocerdo cuvier (Peron & Le Sueur, 1822)
Inhabits deeper offshore areas, frequently near reefs, distinguished by blunt (when viewed from above) snout, stripes on side (faint or absent in large adults), keel on side of tail base, and strongly curved teeth; very dangerous; found throughout the region; worldwide temperate and tropical seas; to 650 cm and 520 kg. (CARCHARHINIDAE)
★★★
2 SLITEYE SHARK
Loxodon macrorhinus Muller & Henle, 1839
Inhabits continental shelf waters between 7-80 m depth; distinguished by notch or slit on rear edge of eye socket, long slender snout, and large eye; harmless; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 91 cm. (CARCHARHINIDAE)
★★★
3 LEMON SHARK
Negaprion acutidens (Rüppell, 1837)
Inhabits inshore waters, in bays, estuaries and in coral reef lagoons; distinguished by yellow-brown colour, short snout and stocky body with 2 dorsal fins about equal sized; generally harmless to divers but potentially dangerous; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 335 cm and 91 kg. (CARCHARHINIDAE)
★★★
4 BLUE SHARK
Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758)
Inhabits surface waters, usually well offshore; similar to Mako (1-7) at least in colour, but has smaller gill slits; longer pectoral fins and serrated teeth; also called Blue whaler; dangerous; found throughout the region; worldwide temperate and tropical seas; to 380 cm and 140 kg. (CARCHARHINIDAE)
★★★
5 WHITETIP SHARK
Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell, 1837)
Inhabits coral reefs, frequently seen resting on the bottom in caves or in the open; distinguished by slender shape and white tips on first dorsal and caudal fin; usually harmless, but has attacked humans; found throughout the region; Indo-E. Pacific; to 215 cm. (HEMIGALEIDAE)
★★
6 MILK SHARK
Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppell, 1837)
Inhabits coastal bays and off sandy beaches, also offshore areas to 200 m depth; similar to 2 above, but lacks notch on rear edge of eye socket; harmless; found throughout the region; E. Atlantic and Indo-W. Pacific; to 178 cm. (CARCHARHINIDAE)
★★
7 SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD
Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834)
Inhabits coastal waters and also encountered well offshore, frequently near the surface; distinguished from other hammerheads in the region by an indentation in the middle of the front edge of the head; dangerous; found throughout the region; worldwide temperate and tropical seas; to 420 cm and 76 kg. (SPHYRNIDAE)
★★
8 WINGHEAD SHARK
Eusphyra blochii (Cuvier, 1817)
Inhabits shallow coastal waters; distinguished by huge wing-shaped head (nearly 1/2 length of body); considered harmless; found throughout the region; N. Indian Ocean and Indo-Australian Archipelago; to 152 cm. (SPHYRNIDAE)
★★
9 GREAT HAMMERHEAD
Sphyrna mokarran (Rüppell, 1837)
Inhabits coastal waters and also found well offshore; distinguished by very flat front edge of head and tall, sail-like first dorsal fin with pointed tip, otherwise body shape similar to 7 above; dangerous; found throughout the region; worldwide temperate and tropical seas; to 610 cm. (SPHYRNIDAE)
★★
10 SMOOTH HAMMERHEAD
Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus, 1758)
Inhabits coastal waters and also found well offshore; distinguished from other hammerheads in the region by smooth front edge of head; dangerous; found throughout the region; worldwide temperate and tropical seas; to 400 cm; 96 kg. (SPHYRNIDAE)
★★
11 GREEN SAWFISH
Pristis zijsron Bleeker, 1851
Inhabits mud bottoms, entering estuaries; distinguished by relatively long saw-like snout; similar to 12 below, but has 24-28 pair of teeth extending along entire edge of snout; not dangerous unless cornered; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; usually to 600 cm, but reported to attain 730 cm. (PRISTIDAE)
★★
12 NARROW SAWFISH
Anoxypristis cuspidatus (Latham, 1794)
Inhabits mud bottoms inshore to about 40 m depth; similar in general appearance to 11 above, but body not as stout and has very long, narrow snout with 18-22 pairs of lateral teeth, but teeth absent on rear part; found throughout the region; N. Indian Ocean and Indo-Australian Archipelago; to 350 cm. (PRISTIDAE)
★★
13 WIDE SAWFISH
Pristis microdon Latham, 1794
Inhabits mud bottoms of bays and estuaries, also enters large rivers and goes well upstream; similar to 11 above, but has shorter, broader snout with 18-23 (usually 20-22) pairs of lateral teeth; also known as Freshwater Sawfish; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; usually to about 200 cm, but reputed to reach 700 cm. (PRISTIDAE)
★★
14 SHARK RAY
Rhina ancylostoma (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Inhabits coastal waters, on mud or sand bottoms; distinguished from 15 below by rounded head and granular patches or ridges above each eye and on middle of forehead; found
