Argyrosomus Coronus
Family
Lamnidae (Mackerel sharks or white shark)
Order
Lamniformes (mackerel sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)
Maximum Size
400 cm TL (male/unsexed; max. published weight: 505.8 kg; max. reported age: 25 years
Environment
Reef-associated; oceanodromous; marine ; depth range 0 - 740 m
Climate
Subtropical; 16; 64°N - 56°S, 180°W - 180°E
Importance
fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resiliance
Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (rm=0.051; K=0.2; tmax=28; Fec=4)
Distribution
Cosmopolitan in temperate and tropical seas.Eastern Atlantic: Norway to South Africa, including the Mediterranean. Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii, north to Primorsk Kray (Russian Federation), south to Australia and New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: south of Aleutian Islands and from southern California, USA to Chile.
Diagnosis
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0. A large, spindle-shaped shark with large black eyes, a sharp snout, and large, narrow, hooked teeth with smooth edges. Caudal fin lunate, lower lobe strongly developed. Dark blue above, white below. Tiny second dorsal and anal fins.
Biology
Oceanic, but sometimes found close inshore. Usually in surface waters, down to about 150 m. Feeds on bony fishes, other sharks, cephalopods; larger individuals may feed on larger prey such as billfish and small cetaceans. Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother. Tagging in New Zealand indicates seasonal migrations. Probably the fastest of all sharks and can leap out of the water when hooked. Potentially dangerous and responsible for unprovoked attacks on swimmers and boats. Utilized fresh, dried or salted, smoked and frozen; eaten broiled and baked. Valued for its fine quality meat as well as its fins and skin. Oil is extracted for vitamins and fins for shark-fin soup. Jaws and teeth are also sold as ornaments and trophies. Give birth to 4-16 young, 60-70 cm long.
