Scoliodon laticaudus Müller & Henle, 1838
Spadenose shark
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks)
Max. size:  100 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 6 years
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 13 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf (Ref. 68964), Somalia (Ref. 30573), Tanzania, Mozambique (Ref. 5213), Pakistan to Java in Indonesia; then Japan, China, and Taiwan. Reported from Australia (Ref. 4959).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Bronze grey above, white below, fins sometimes darker than body; no conspicuous markings (Ref. 9997).
Biology:  Found on rocky substrates of coastal waters and lower reaches of tropical rivers (Ref. 244). It is uncertain, however, if this species can live in perfectly fresh water for extended periods (Ref. 244). Forms large schools (Ref. 244). Adults feed on small bony fishes, shrimps and cuttlefish (Ref. 244). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Common by-catch of the inshore demersal gillnet fisheries, particularly those operating off Kalimantan (Ref.58048). Utilized fresh for human consumption; processed into fishmeal and used as bait for other sharks and bony fishes (Ref. 244). Maximum sizes up to 120 cm unconfirmed (Ref. 244).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 29 April 2020 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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