- Gummy shark
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Gummy shark 
Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Carcharhiniformes Family: Triakidae Genus: Mustelus Species: M. antarcticus Binomial name Mustelus antarcticus
Günther, 1870
Distribution of the Gummy Shark The gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus, is a shark in the family Triakidae. It is a slender grey shark with white spots along the body and flat plate-like teeth for crushing its prey. It has a maximum length of between 157 cm (male) and 175 cm (female). It feeds on crustaceans, marine worms, small fish and cephalopods. It is found in the waters around southern Australia, from Shark Bay in Western Australia to Port Stephens in New South Wales to a depth of 350 m. Reproduction is ovoviviparous.
Gummy shark meat is often marketed as "flake". Their boneless fillets have made them particularly popular within the fish and chip industry throughout Australia. Although Gummy sharks have not been overfished they inhabit many of the same areas as School (snapper) sharks which have, therefore a bycatch quota was established. This means fishers targeting Gummy shark can not adversely impact on the School shark population.[1] Bag limits for recreational fishers in Victoria apply, a limit of two gummy shark and/or school shark, landed whole or as a carcass. Minimum size for both species is 45 cm measured from the rear most gill slit to the base of the tail fin.[2]
Gummy shark caught at Hastings, Western Point, Victoria. Bait used was cured eel.
References
- ^ Australian Fisheries Management Authority : Gummy Shark fact sheet
- ^ Department of Primary Industries : Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide 2009-2010
- Walker (2003). Mustelus antarcticus. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- "Mustelus antarcticus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=160249. Retrieved 18 April 2006.
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2005). "Mustelus antarcticus" in FishBase. November 2005 version.
- Edgar, Graham J. Australian Marine Life : The Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters. Reed New Holland, 2003.
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Triakidae
- Ovoviviparous fish
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