Galapagos shark

Carcharhinus galapagensis

Type: Fish - Shark Litter size: 4 to 16 pups Other common names: Tiburón de Galápagos (Spanish), Galapagoshaai (Afrikaans), Tubarão-dos-Galápagos (Portuguese), ma’o (Rapa), manô (Hawaiian), malie (Samoan) Life span: Unknown years Diet description: Mainly benthic bony fishes, but has been known to predate fur seals and sea lions in the Galapagos. Max length: 3 metres Habitat and range: Worldwide but patchy distribution in warm-temperate to tropical waters, shallow to deep offshore (1 – 286 m). Usually found around offshore islands and seamounts; prefers areas with strong currents. Coastal pelagic but non-oceanic species. Typically hunts along coral and rocky reefs, close to the seabed. Relative size: Image IUCN status: Least concern (LC) - Unknown population Least concern (LC)
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IDENTIFICATION

Slender, streamlined body with large pectoral and dorsal fins. First dorsal has a short free rear tip. Brown-grey upper body with white band on the flank, white underside. ‘Dusky’ fin tips. Broad, rounded snout. Upper teeth are triangular and serrated, bottom teeth thinner and more pointed.

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SPECIAL BEHAVIOUR

Galapagos sharks form aggregations, but these are not coordinated schools like that of the scalloped hammerheads also found in the Galapagos. They are also cannibalistic, so juveniles tend to stay away from aggregations of adults in safer, shallower waters.

REPRODUCTION

Galapagos sharks are aplacental viviparous. Embryos receive nourishment from a yolk-sac while inside the womb, but are born live. It is thought that Galapagos sharks breed every 2 to 3 years. Nursery sites can be found in shallow waters less than 25 m.

HABITAT AND GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE

Galapagos sharks are found in clear, warm waters on coral reefs or rocky bottoms. They are classically associated with offshore islands and seamounts, where there are strong currents. They have a patchy but worldwide distribution in warm-temperate to tropical waters.

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DIET DESCRIPTION

Galapagos sharks feed mainly on benthic bony fishes, but have been known to eat fur seals and sea lions in the Galapagos.

THREATS

Galapagos sharks are fished for their meat and fins in some parts of their range.

RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMANS

Galapagos sharks are highly inquisitive and will come to the surface to investigate disturbances. They have been known to approach divers and are said to be quite difficult to deter once interested. Galapagos sharks will sometimes perform ‘hunch’ displays in the presence of divers, where their back is arched, head raised, and caudal and pectoral fins lowered. This behaviour can precede more aggressive behaviours such as pitching, rolling and biting. However, bites only happen occasionally and only one fatality has ever been recorded.

CONSERVATION

The Galapagos shark’s close proximity to offshore islands has often afforded them some level of protection by the introduction of large, offshore MPAs. For example, the Galapagos Marine Reserve has outlawed all shark fishing (although some illegal activity still occurs). In November 2022, parties to the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) voted to list all species of requiem shark – the family to which the Galapagos shark belongs – on Appendix II, introducing controls on the trade of these species.

References

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019. Galapagos shark. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41736/2954286.

David A. Ebert et al. 2021. Sharks of the World: A Complete Guide.

Galapagos Conservation Trust. Galapagos shark. https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/species/galapagos-shark/.

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