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Carcharhinus sorrah (Müller & Henle, 1839)
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Carcharhinus sorrah (Müller & Henle, 1839)
  • Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
  • Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
  • Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Genus: ,

Scientific Name: Carcharhinus sorrah

English Name: Spottail shark

Creole Name: Nennen pwent

French Name: Requin à queue tachetée

IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT)



Information

Description:

Small sized, spindle-shaped shark with long rounded to sharply rounded snout. Grey to dark grey dorsally to pale or white ventrally often with conspicuous white band on flank.
Prominent black tip on ventral caudal lobe, pectorals and D2. D1 plain or black edged.

Fins: D1 medium-sized falcate, pointed or narrowly rounded apex with a short rear tip. Plain or a black edge to thin dark tip to apex. Origin typically posterior to pectoral 
free rear tips (occasional specimens have origin slightly anterior). D2 small and low with black tip and long free rear tip (the terminal point of this tip is sometimes black). 
Origin posterior to that of anal fin. Interdorsal ridge present – narrow and low. Pectorals small, falcate with narrowly rounded or pointed apices showing prominent black tips. 
Pelvic and anal fins regular and plain (Note some specimens exhibit a dark to black edge to the posterior margin of the anal fin). Caudal ventral lobe has large prominent black 
patch on lower portions and tip. Dorsal lobe with black edging.

Head: Long rounded to sharply rounded snout, large circular eyes, short gill slits. Anterior nasal flaps narrow and elongated to distinctive nipple-shaped lobes. Labial 
furrows short and inconspicuous.


Size:

Born 45-60cm TL. Mature: Male approx. 105cm TL, Female 110-120cm, Maximum 160cm TL.


Habitat and Ecology:

Inhabits coastal waters and associated shelves (depth 0-140m). Occurs throughout the water column but mainly in midwater or near the surface. Feeds on teleosts and cephalopods.
Viviparous with 1-8 pups per litter after 10 month gestation period. Pupping starts in late December and continues through January in Seychelles. Young utilise coastal 
shallow water nurseries, segregated from adults.
 


Fishery Status:

This species is not protected. It is however illegal to fish for sharks with nets (Fisheries Act, Reg 16.c). It is subject to hook and line, short anchored long line and 
illegal net fishing. A relatively common species in the Seychelles artisanal fishery catch, mature adults however are rarely caught, suggesting that adults perhaps frequent 
waters much further offshore than most of the literature indicates.


Notes:
References:

Ebert, D.A. et al (2013). Sharks of the World – A fully illustrated guide. Wild Nature press ISBN 978-0-9573946-0-5
Fisheries Act (2014). Prohibition of net fishing of sharks, Reg. 16c of 1st August 1998. (Carried over from the 1986 Fisheries Act as per Fisheries Act 2014 para 79: 
Savings and Transitional provisions).
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.in/summary/Carcharhinus-sorrah.html (27/05/19).
Nevill, J.E.G. et al (2015). An identification guide for the sharks of the Seychelles Artisanal Fishery.
Pillans, R. et al (2009). Carcharhinus sorrah. The IUCN Red List 2009: e.T161376A5409506. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T161376A5409506.en. (27/05/19).
Simpfendorfer, C. et al (2021). Carcharhinus sorrah. The IUCN Red List 2021: e.T161376A173434793. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T161376A173434793.en. (08/10/21). 
 


Citation:

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Carcharhinus sorrah, Spottail shark. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/carcharhinus-sorrah-muller-henle-1839/ (Updated 08/10/21).


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