Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834)

Brackish, Marine

Viviparous, placental , with 13-23 in a litter ; 12-41 pups after a gestation period of 9-10 months (Ref.58048). Size at birth 45-50 cm TL ; 39-57 cm TL (Ref.58048).

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

It occurs in all tropical and warm-temperate seas. They sometimes congregate over sea mounts or around offshore islands . A coastal-pelagic, semi-oceanic shark occurring over continental and insular shelves and adjacent deep water, often approaching close inshore and entering enclosed bays and estuaries . Found in inshore and offshore waters to about 275 m depth ; has been filmed at a baited camera in 512 m depth (Lis Maclaren, pers. Comm. 2005). Huge schools of small migrating individuals move pole ward in the summer in certain areas . Permanent resident populations also exist . Feeds mainly on teleost fishes, cephalopods and zooplankton ; also lobsters, shrimps, crabs , including other sharks and rays .

Loimosina Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ;

Habitat pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous ; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 512 m, usually 0 - 25 m

Lower Risk: near threatened (LR/nt) IUCN 2006

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes