A preliminary investigation of the reproductive biology of the blind shark, 'Brachaelurus waddi' (Orectolobiformes: Brachaeluridae)

Title: A preliminary investigation of the reproductive biology of the blind shark, 'Brachaelurus waddi' (Orectolobiformes: Brachaeluridae)
Creator: Foged, Anne; Powter, David Mark
Relation: Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales Vol. 137, p. 7-12
Relation: http://index.php/LIN/article/view/8636
Publisher: Linnean Society of New South Wales
Resource Type: journal article
Date: 2015
Description: Although the focus on shark conservation has increased in recent years, small, economically unimportant species are often overlooked. The blind shark, 'Brachaelurus waddi', is endemic to eastern Australia and is commonly encountered in commercial fisheries. However, this is the first study of the species' reproductive biology. Males were sexually mature at 520-540 mm total length (TL) and all females = 563 mm TL were sexually mature. Only the right ovary was functional and two distinct groupings in follicle size indicated that the reproductive cycle is at least biennial. Reproductive output may be smaller than previously suggested, with an average of four pups per gravid female in this study.
Subject: bycatch; conservation; elasmobranch; IUCN Red List; reproduction; sexual maturity
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1315933
Identifier: uon:23031
Identifier: ISSN:1839-7263
Language: eng
Reviewed

		Thumbnail	File	Description	Size	Format