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Changes: Pondicherry Shark

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{{Stub}}
  
 
{{Animalbox
  
{{Animalbox
 
|name = Pondicherry Shark
  
|name = Pondicherry Shark
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|image = File:Carcharhinus_hemiodon_nmfs_2.png
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|image = File:Ezgif-4-660b4789c1.jpg
 
|location = Indian Ocean
  
|location = Indian Ocean
 
|phylum = [[Chordata]]
  
|phylum = [[Chordata]]
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|statusimage = CR
  
|statusimage = CR
 
|status = Critically Endangered
  
|status = Critically Endangered
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|othername=Long nosed shark, Pondicherry Shark}}
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}}
  
   
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The '''Pondicherry Shark''' ('''Carcharhinus hemiodon''') is a species of requiem shark, in the family of Carcharhinidae.
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The '''Pondicherry Shark''' ('''''Carcharhinus hemiodon''''') is an extremely rare species of requiem shark, in the family of [[Carcharhinidae]].
   
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The Pondicherry shark is critically endangered. It was thought to be extinct, but recently a few have been sighted in rivers in India and surrounding countries.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/pondicherry-shark-spotted-near-kakinada/article24910627.ece</ref> In 2016, it was rediscovered in two rivers in Sri Lanka, the Menik and Kumbukkam rivers.<ref name=":0">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pondicherry_shark</ref>
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The last sighting of the Pondicherry Shark was in 1979.
  
   
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==Description==
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==Appearance==
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The Pondicherry Shark has black-tipped fins and an unique tooth that is serrated at the base and smooth at the point.
  
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The Pondicherry shark is a small species of shark, likely not growing much longer than 1 meter in length. The smallest specimen ever found was 32 cm (13 in) long. This length is thought to be close to the length they are born at.
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This shark has an unusually shaped tooth that starts off serrated near the base and becomes more smooth near the tip. They have 14-15 rows of teeth on their upper jaw and 12-14 rows of teeth on their lower jaw.<ref name=":0" />
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Pondicherry sharks are mostly grey on their top half, but white on their underside. It has a pale stripe along the side of its body. It also has black tips on multiple fins, including the pectoral fins, second dorsal fin, and lower lobe of the caudal fin.<ref name=":1">https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/Technical%20Report/tr34.pdf</ref>
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==Distribution and Habitat==
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The historic range of the Pondicherry Shark covers much of the Indo-Pacific coast, spanning from the Gulf of Oman to New Guinea.
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This shark spends most of its time in salty or brackish water, but has been sighted multiple times in fresh water. Some sources claim they have found Pondicherry Sharks in rivers such as the Saigon River, but it is unsure if these reports were accurate and not confusing another species for a Pondicherry Shark. If these sightings were accurate, they would mean this shark could be tolerant to very low salinity.<ref name=":1" /> They live close to the coast, often preferring 10-150 meter deep water. <ref name=":2">https://fishbase.mnhn.fr/summary/Carcharhinus-hemiodon.html</ref> Most recorded sightings are from the coastal waters of India.
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==Behavior==
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===Diet===
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Not much is known about the diet of the Pondicherry shark, but it is likely it feeds on crustaceans, cephalopods, and small fishes.<ref name=":0" />
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===Reproduction===
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Specific details of reproduction are unknown, but like other requiem sharks, they give live birth to their young. The mother sustains the embryo via a placental connection.<ref name=":0" />
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==Trivia==
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*The Pondicherry Shark got its name from the place the first specimen was found, Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry), India. <ref name=":0" />
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*The species name ''hemiodon'' is a combination of the Greek words "hemi" (half) and "odon" (tooth).
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*The genus name ''Carcharhinus'' comes from the Greek words "karcharos" (sharp or jagged) and "rhinus" (an ancient name for sharks)<ref name=":2" />
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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File:Shark-in-menik-ganga-23-01.jpg
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File:Screenshot_2024-01-04_003234.png|Diagram of the Pondicherry Shark (NOAA Technical Reports NMFS 34)
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File:Screenshot_2024-01-04_003416.png|Diagram of the teeth of the Pondicherry Shark (NOAA Technical Report NMFS 34)
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</gallery>
   
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Like the Bull Shark, the Pondicherry Shark was incredibly adaptable, hunting in both fresh and salt water.
  
 
[[Category:Sharks]]
  
[[Category:Sharks]]
 
[[Category:Sharks of the Indian Ocean]]
  
[[Category:Sharks of the Indian Ocean]]
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[[Category:Critically Endangered Species]]
  
[[Category:Critically Endangered Species]]
 
[[Category:Fish]]
  
[[Category:Fish]]
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[[Category:Animalia]]
  
 
[[Category:Chondrichthyes]]
  
[[Category:Chondrichthyes]]
 
[[Category:Carcharhiniformes]]
  
[[Category:Carcharhiniformes]]
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[[Category:Animals Described in 1839]]
  
[[Category:Animals Described in 1839]]
 
[[Category:Animals]]
  
[[Category:Animals]]
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[[Category:Animals that went extinct due to human activity]]
  
 
[[Category:Animals of Asia]]
  
[[Category:Animals of Asia]]
 
[[Category:Fish of Asia]]
  
[[Category:Fish of Asia]]
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[[Category:Extinct or Alive Animals]]
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<references />

Latest revision as of 02:01, 5 January 2024

Pondicherry Shark
Ezgif-4-660b4789c1
Information
Common Name Long nosed shark, Pondicherry Shark
Range Indian Ocean
Scientific Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Chondrichthyes
Order Carcharhiniformes
Family Carcharhinidae
Genus Carcharhinus
Species C. hemiodon
Conservation Status
CRSpecies
Critically Endangered

The Pondicherry Shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon) is an extremely rare species of requiem shark, in the family of Carcharhinidae.

The Pondicherry shark is critically endangered. It was thought to be extinct, but recently a few have been sighted in rivers in India and surrounding countries.[1] In 2016, it was rediscovered in two rivers in Sri Lanka, the Menik and Kumbukkam rivers.[2]

Appearance

The Pondicherry shark is a small species of shark, likely not growing much longer than 1 meter in length. The smallest specimen ever found was 32 cm (13 in) long. This length is thought to be close to the length they are born at.

This shark has an unusually shaped tooth that starts off serrated near the base and becomes more smooth near the tip. They have 14-15 rows of teeth on their upper jaw and 12-14 rows of teeth on their lower jaw.[2]

Pondicherry sharks are mostly grey on their top half, but white on their underside. It has a pale stripe along the side of its body. It also has black tips on multiple fins, including the pectoral fins, second dorsal fin, and lower lobe of the caudal fin.[3]

Distribution and Habitat

The historic range of the Pondicherry Shark covers much of the Indo-Pacific coast, spanning from the Gulf of Oman to New Guinea. This shark spends most of its time in salty or brackish water, but has been sighted multiple times in fresh water. Some sources claim they have found Pondicherry Sharks in rivers such as the Saigon River, but it is unsure if these reports were accurate and not confusing another species for a Pondicherry Shark. If these sightings were accurate, they would mean this shark could be tolerant to very low salinity.[3] They live close to the coast, often preferring 10-150 meter deep water. [4] Most recorded sightings are from the coastal waters of India.

Behavior

Diet

Not much is known about the diet of the Pondicherry shark, but it is likely it feeds on crustaceans, cephalopods, and small fishes.[2]

Reproduction

Specific details of reproduction are unknown, but like other requiem sharks, they give live birth to their young. The mother sustains the embryo via a placental connection.[2]

Trivia

  • The Pondicherry Shark got its name from the place the first specimen was found, Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry), India. [2]
  • The species name hemiodon is a combination of the Greek words "hemi" (half) and "odon" (tooth).
  • The genus name Carcharhinus comes from the Greek words "karcharos" (sharp or jagged) and "rhinus" (an ancient name for sharks)[4]

Gallery

  1. ↑ https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/pondicherry-shark-spotted-near-kakinada/article24910627.ece
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pondicherry_shark
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/Technical%20Report/tr34.pdf
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://fishbase.mnhn.fr/summary/Carcharhinus-hemiodon.html
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