Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IFishea. 



Plate 64, Fig. 1. 



ODONTASPIS TAURUS (Rafin.). 



The Long-toothed Bull- Shark, or Shovel-nosed Shark. 



[Genus ODONTASPIS (Agass.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Plagios- 

 tomata. Sub-order Selachoidae. Fam. Odontaspidae.) 



Gen. Char. — Teeth alike in both jaws, with smooth margins, triangular, central cusp thick, 

 twisted, very acutely pointed, with a much smaller pointed cusp at each side of the deeply 

 notched base ; no median tooth. Spiracles very minute. Nostrils very large with large 

 triangular valve. Second dorsal fin large, in front of anal, over the space between the large 

 anal and the ventral fins. Branchial slits large, all in front of base of pectoral fins. Tail-pits 

 very small or none ; no keel on sides of tail. Caudal fin with a small lower lobe and a notch 

 near end of slender upper lobe. No nictitating membrane,] 



Description. — General form rounded, moderately tapering ; tail moderate. 

 Posterior border of 1st dorsal nearly over the origin of the ventrals (less than 

 one-fourth the length of its base in front). Snout flat, moderately pointed, 

 the portion in front of the eyes forming nearly an equilateral triangle with a 

 transverse line drawn in front of eyes ; the part in front of mouth nearly equalling^ 

 one-half the width of the mouth in length. Spiracle a very small pore about 

 midway between angle of mouth and top of orbit, and half the length of a line 

 connecting them, behind. A moderate tooth on each side of midline, 2nd and 

 3rd a little larger j 4th and 5th teeth on each side in upper jaw much smaller 

 than the adjoining ones. Pectorals nearly twice as long as wide. 1st dorsal ending 

 over origin of ventrals, little larger than 2nd dorsal, which is about the size of 

 the anal, and terminates nearly over its origin. Scales small, posterior margin 

 rounded, each with three small keels. Color : Plain, muddy, yellowish grey 

 above, lighter below; border of fins darker. Upper jaw: 13 teeth; length of 1st, 

 9 lines; 2nd and 3rd, 8 lines; 4th, 4 lines; 5th, 3 lines; 6th, 7\ lines (gradually 

 diminishing to end). Lower jaw : 17 teeth ; length of 1st, 7 lines ; 2nd, 1 inch ; 

 3rd, 1 inch 1 line ; 4th, 1 inch 1 line ; 5th, 6^ lines ; 6th, 6| lines ; 7th, b\ lines 

 (thence regularly diminishing). 14 scales in 3 lines, each with 3 longitudinal 

 keels. 



Measurements. Ft. Ins. lines. 



Length from tip of snout to tip of tail ... ... ... 9 11 



„ „ „ anterior edge of orbit ... 7 



1st dorsal ... 4 4 6 



» M n 



>• » » 



>» >» J> 



M n » 



» ft » 



w it » 



2nd dorsal ... 6 3 6 



1st gill-opening 18 



pectoral ... 2 7 



ventral ... 5 4 



anal ... 7 6 



" » » '» n A n 



,, nostril ... ... ... 4 



caudal ... 7 II 



4 



1 4 



» » » 



„ of pectoral 

 Width of ditto ... ... ... — ... 9 9 



13 



4 4 



Length of nostril 



Girth of body behind pectorals ... 



[ 13 ] 



