REVISION OF CARCHARHINID SHARK GENERA — SPRINGER 617 



total vertebrae 153-168; upper teeth 12-1-12; lower teeth 11-12 to 

 12-12 (usually 12-12); cusps of teeth smooth to faintly irregular, 

 posterior margins sometimes denticulate; anterior teeth of lower jaw 

 of mature males distinct from those of females and young males 

 (fig. 11); in mature males cusps of anterior teeth of lower jaw are 

 slenderer and rounder in cross section than in females and young 

 males. This situation is somewhat analagous to, but less striking 

 than, that found in Scoliodon (p. 578). Enlarged hyomandibular 

 pores 6-14 (rarely less than 8, usually 10 or 11) on each side of head. 



Denticles imbricate (adults), 3-ridged and 3-toothed in young, 

 3- to 5-ridged and 3- to 5-toothed or kregularly margined in adults. 



Color of preserved specimens: Body slate gray or brownish gray 

 above, pale below; pectorals dusky with a pale distal margin (one 

 young specimen had a blackish diffuse blotch near the tip of each 

 pectoral); pelvics and anal pale or light dusky; caudal dusky or with 

 a pale area centrally on each side; posterior margin of upper and 

 lower lobes black-edged; first dorsal dusky with or without a pale 

 posterior margin; second dorsal dusky. Distal portion of clasper 

 of adult male sometimes abruptly paler than remainder. 



A low interdorsal ridge present in well-preserved specimens. Both 

 precaudal pits present, the upper better developed. 



Growth changes : There is a slight tendency for distance from snout 

 tip to outer nostrils, eye, and mouth to decrease in percent of t.l. with 

 increased t.l. Length of upper lobe of caudal fin and caudal notch 

 depth also decrease in similar manner. Distance from snout tip to 

 pelvic, second dorsal, anal, and upper and lower caudal origins increase 

 in percent of t.l. with increased t.l., as do also mouth width and 

 length, first dorsal height, anal height, anterior and distal margins of 

 pectoral fin, and width of pectoral fin. 



In large specimens there is a tendency for the axis of the upper 

 caudal lobe to become raised in relation to the horizontal axis of the 

 body. 



On the basis of the following tabulation males appear to mature at 

 between 446 and 503 mm. : 



