Table of Contents
Overview
Brief Summary
Biology
Despite being relatively common in many parts of its range, little is known about the biology of the whitecheek shark (3). This species mainly feeds on fish, along with crustaceans and squid (1), which are snared by its numerous rear-angled, serrated-edged teeth (2). The whitecheek shark breeds throughout the year, with the female giving birth to an average of two live young, which are already almost half the size of the adult (4).
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Comprehensive Description
Description
A widespread species, the whitecheek shark is the most common shark in the Arabian Gulf. Possessing the typical shark form, the whitecheek shark has a pointed snout, large front dorsal fin, greyish upperparts, and a white belly (2). The main distinguishing feature is the black spot on the second, smaller dorsal fin towards the shark's rear (2) (3).
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Biology
A common but little-known shark found on the continental and insular inshore areas (Ref. 9997). Feeds mainly on fishes but also on cephalopods, and crustaceans (Ref. 6871). Viviparous (Ref. 50449), with a yolk-sac placenta; gives birth to litters of 1-4 (usually 2) pups (Ref.58048). Taken in artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries and marketed for human consumption (Ref. 244). Fins also utilized (Ref. 6871).
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Compagno, L.J.V. 1984 FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. (Ref. 244)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=244&speccode=857
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Distribution
Range Description
Widespread in coastal waters down to about 170 m depth eastwards from the Arabian Gulf to Taiwan and Japan. Possibly occurs throughout much of Indonesia, but only documented from around Java, Bali, Borneo and eastern Sumatra at this time (Last and Stevens 1994).
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Distribution
Seychelles
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Anon. (2000). FishBase 2000 [CD-ROM]. ICLARM: Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. 4 cd-roms pp.
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=6542
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Range
The whitecheek shark is distributed over a large range, extending from the Arabian Gulf, through the Indian Ocean and Indonesia, as far east as Taiwan and Japan, and south as far as northern Australia (1).
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Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea between Gulf of Oman and Pakistan to Java, Indonesia and the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819), north to Japan, south to Australia (Ref. 6871).
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Compagno, L.J.V. 1984 FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. (Ref. 244)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=244&speccode=857
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Physical Description
Morphology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 0
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Compagno, L.J.V. and V.H. Niem 1998 Carcharhinidae. Requiem sharks. p. 1312-1360. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9997)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9997&speccode=860
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Size
Max. size
120 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 4883))
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Bykov, V.P. 1983 Marine fishes: chemical composition and processing properties. Amerind Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. 333 p. (Ref. 4883)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4883&speccode=2700
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Diagnostic Description
Description
Found on the continental and insular shelves, more commonly on inshore areas. Probably feeds on small fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Viviparous; 2 to 4 pups litter size; 38 to 39 cm at birth. Taken in artisanal and smallscale fisheries and marketed for human consumption.
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Anon. (1996). FishBase 96 [CD-ROM]. ICLARM: Los Baños, Philippines. 1 cd-rom pp.
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=5909
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Back grayish or grey-brown, belly whitish; a black spot on the second dorsal fin (Ref. 9997).
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Compagno, L.J.V. and V.H. Niem 1998 Carcharhinidae. Requiem sharks. p. 1312-1360. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9997)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9997&speccode=860
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
This species is sometime confused with Carcharhinus sealei. It is a small species with a maximum reported length of 100 cm total length (TL), although specimens of up to about 90 cm TL are more common (Stevens and McLoughlin 1991). Males mature at about 64 to 74 cm TL; females at about 67 to 71 cm TL (Garrick 1982, Stevens and McLoughlin 1991). There are no data on the age at maturity or longevity of this species. The usual litter size is two, rarely four, with young born at about 40 cm TL. There does not appear to be a distinct seasonal reproductive cycle, with pregnant females recorded at all times of year. As almost all mature females are reported to be pregnant or spent at any one time, there appears to be a continuous reproductive cycle. There are no data on the gestation period, and it seems likely that, on average, only two offspring will be produced annually. Carcharhinus dussumieri feeds primarily on teleost fishes, with crustaceans and cephalopods of slightly lesser importance (Simpfendorfer and Milward 1993, Salini et al.r 1994). Other minor prey groups include molluscs, annelids and brachyurans (Salini et al. 1994).
Systems
- Marine
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Depth range based on 195 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 106 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 11 - 168.5
Temperature range (°C): 20.387 - 28.385
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.048 - 10.433
Salinity (PPS): 33.899 - 36.410
Oxygen (ml/l): 2.877 - 4.932
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.089 - 1.025
Silicate (umol/l): 1.236 - 14.577
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 11 - 168.5
Temperature range (°C): 20.387 - 28.385
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.048 - 10.433
Salinity (PPS): 33.899 - 36.410
Oxygen (ml/l): 2.877 - 4.932
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.089 - 1.025
Silicate (umol/l): 1.236 - 14.577
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 106 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 11 - 168.5
Temperature range (°C): 20.387 - 28.385
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.048 - 10.433
Salinity (PPS): 33.899 - 36.410
Oxygen (ml/l): 2.877 - 4.932
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.089 - 1.025
Silicate (umol/l): 1.236 - 14.577
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 11 - 168.5
Temperature range (°C): 20.387 - 28.385
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.048 - 10.433
Salinity (PPS): 33.899 - 36.410
Oxygen (ml/l): 2.877 - 4.932
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.089 - 1.025
Silicate (umol/l): 1.236 - 14.577
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Depth: 0 - 170m.
Recorded at 170 meters.
Habitat: demersal.
Recorded at 170 meters.
Habitat: demersal.
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Habitat
The whitecheek shark is found in shallow, coastal waters, to a maximum depth of 170 metres (2) (3).
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Environment
reef-associated; marine; depth range ? - 170 m (Ref. 6871)
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Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens 1994 Sharks and rays of Australia. CSIRO, Australia. 513 p. (Ref. 6871)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=6871&speccode=5891
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Trophic Strategy
A common but little-known shark found on the continental and insular inshore areas (Ref. 9997). Feeds mainly on fishes but also on cephalopods, and crustaceans (Ref. 6871). A carnivore (Ref. 9137).
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Salini, J.P., S.J.M. Blaber and D.T. Brewer 1994 Diets of trawled predatory fish of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, with particular reference to predation on prawns. Aust. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 45(3):397-411.
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=6932
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Life History and Behavior
Life Cycle
Viviparous, placental (Ref. 50449). With 2 to 4 pups in a litter; 37-38 cm at birth (Ref. 244). Both male and females mature at about 70 cm (Ref. 6871). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205). No distinct seasonal reproductive cycle apparent, instead continuously breeding with most mature females pregnant or spent at any one time (Ref.58048).
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Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen 1966 Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p. (Ref. 205)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=205&speccode=1256
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Carcharhinus dussumieri
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.
There are 16 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
Download FASTA File
There are 16 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
ESHKC175-07|07-GHRI-0726|Carcharhinus dussumieri| ------------------------------------------CTTTACCTAATCTTTGGTGCATGAGCAGGTATAGTTGGAACAGCCCTA---AGTCTCCTAATTCGGGCTGAACTTGGACAACCTGGATCGCTTTTAGGAGAT---GATCAGATTTATAATGTAATCGTAACCGCTCACGCTTTTGTAATAATCTTTTTCATAGTTATACCAATTATAATTGGTGGTTTCGGAAATTGATTAGTTCCCTTAATA---ATTGGTGCACCAGATATAGCCTTCCCACGAATAAATAACATAAGTTTCTGACTTCTTCCACCATCATTTCTCCTTCTCCTCGCTTCTGCTGGAGTAGAAGCTGGAGCAGGTACTGGTTGAACAGTCTATCCTCCACTAGCTAGCAATCTAGCACATGCTGGACCATCTGTTGACTTA---GCTATTTTTTCTCTTCACTTAGCCGGTGTTTCATCAATTTTAGCTTCAATTAATTTTATTACAACTATTATTAATATAAAACCACCAGCCATTTCCCAATATCAAACACCATTATTCGTTTGATCTATTCTTGTAACCACTATTCTTCTTCTCCTTTCACTTCCAGTTCTTGCAGCA---GGGATTACAATATTACTTACAGACCGTAACCTTAATACCACATTCTTTGACCCTGCAGGTGGAGGAGACCCTATTCTTTATCAACATTTA-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- end --
-- end --
Download FASTA File
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Carcharhinus dussumieri
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 16
Species: 43
Species With Barcodes: 1
Public Records: 16
Species: 43
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
NT
Near Threatened
Red List Criteria
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2003
Assessor/s
Bennett, M.B. & Kyne, P.M. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003)
Reviewer/s
Fowler, S. & Cavanagh, R.D. (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification
Carcharhinus dussumieri has a wide tropical Indo-West Pacific distribution in coastal waters down to 170 m, and locally is one of the most common whaler sharks of northern Australia. This small species of shark is particularly susceptible to inshore fisheries, being caught commonly as bycatch in commercial trawling, artisanal fishing, hook-and-line fishing and gillnetting throughout its range. It has a low reproductive capacity, with a normal litter size of two, making it vulnerable to over-exploitation. It also enters the shark fin trade. Globally, this species fails to qualify for Vulnerable (VU A2acd), as while declines have been observed throughout part of its range, quantitative data are not available. In Australia this species is classified as Least Concern, as regional fishing pressure appears sustainable. However, continued fishing pressures throughout its range will result in further declines and populations require monitoring.
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Status
Classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1).
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Trends
Population
Population
Population Trend
Inshore populations in much of the species? range have declined dramatically, with localised extirpations (L.J.V. Compagno, pers. comm). There is a relatively large population in northern Australia at this time, based on its continued appearance in trawl fisheries and gill-net fisheries as a major component of the bycatch.
Population Trend
Decreasing
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Threats
Threats
Major Threats
The major threat to this species is from fisheries in relatively shallow shelf and inshore waters throughout the whole of its range. As a small shark (40-90 cm TL) it is caught by gillnetting, hook-and-line fishing and trawling. In northern Australia it commonly comprises about 2-3% of trawl catch by biomass (Russell and Houston 1989). While the population in Northern Australia appears fairly robust, there is evidence of severe depletions, including local extirpations, of this species in coastal waters throughout parts of its range in Asia (L.J.V. Compagno, pers. comm.).
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Threats
Large numbers of whitecheek shark are caught throughout its range, both for human consumption, and as bycatch (1) (3). Being a coastal species, the whitecheek shark falls within numerous commercial and local fishing areas, where its small size means that it falls victim to all commonly used fishing techniques, including gillnetting, hook and line, and trawling. Given the low numbers of offspring produced by the whitecheek shark, it is unlikely to be able to reproduce fast enough to cope with current levels of exploitation in certain parts of its range. Consequently, in heavily fished waters this species has suffered population declines, and even local extinctions (1).
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Near Threatened (NT)
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IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006.
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073
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Management
Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions
The life history characteristics of this species, together with its small size, make local populations particularly sensitive to fishing-induced declines. It is caught by all commonly used fishing techniques (mainly as bycatch), making it difficult to conserve without recourse to ?no-fishing zones?. The size of closed areas that would be needed to conserve this species is not known. Data need be collected on movement patterns of individuals (e.g., seasonal, reproductive migrations, diurnal movements) to assess the viability of such an approach.
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Conservation
There are no current conservation measures targeted specifically towards the whitecheek shark. As such a common and widely caught bycatch species, effective conservation strategies would need to employ “no-fishing zones” in order to prevent further declines. Unfortunately, given the current lack of information about this species' movement patterns, it is not yet possible to determine how large these zones would have to be and, therefore, if their creation would be practical (1).
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Importance
fisheries: commercial
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Coppola, S.R., W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, N. Scialabba and K.E. Carpenter 1994 SPECIESDAB: Global species database for fishery purposes. User's manual. FAO Computerized Information Series (Fisheries). No. 9. Rome, FAO. 103 p. (Ref. 171)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=171&speccode=2534
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Wikipedia
Whitecheek shark
The whitecheek shark, Carcharhinus dussumieri, is a requiem shark of the family Carcharhinidae, found in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean between latitudes 34° N and 25° S. Its length is up to about 1.2 m.
References
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Whitecheek shark |
 | Wikispecies has information related to: Whitecheek shark |
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Carcharhinus dussumieri" in FishBase. May 2006 version.
 | This shark-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
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