Carcharhinus obscurus

Dorsal surfaces bronzy grey to dark grey; a faint pale stripe on each side. Fin tips mostly dusky in juveniles, plain in adults. Ventral surfaces paler.

Maximum size up to 400 cm TL; birth size 69–100 cm TL.

Circumglobal, but patchy, in all tropical and warm temperate seas.

Occurs over continental and insular shelves from the surf zone to oceanic waters, from the surface to a depth of 400 m.

Feeds primarily on bony fish, sharks and rays, but also cetaceans, crustaceans and cephalopods. Length at maturity is at 295–310 and 265–280 cm TL for females and males respectively. Age at maturity is around 20–23 years and 17–22 years for females and males respectively. Reproductive mode is viviparous with yolk-sac placenta; females give birth to 3–14 (usually 5–12) pups, with Western Australian populations giving birth during summer and autumn after a 16 month gestation period; females breen every second or third year. Maximum age of the Western Australian population at least 32 years.

Common component of the catch of the shark longline fishery. Utilised for its fins (very high value in larger individuals), meat, skin, jaws and cartilage.

Carcharhinus obscurus gallery

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM