Carcharhinidae
Carcharhinidae (whaler shark, blue shark, tiger shark; subclass Elasmobranchii, order Lamniformes) A large family of mainly pelagic sharks, in which the last of the five gill slits are placed over the origin of the pectoral fin; the spiracle is narrow and slit-like, and the first and larger of the two dorsal fins is placed well forward. These sharks have a generally drab brown to blue colour, being lighter underneath. Some species (e.g. Prionace glauca, blue shark, which can reach a length of 3.5 m), have a world-wide distribution, avoiding only the polar seas. Galeocerda cuvieri (tiger shark) also inhabits many oceans and can reach a length of 5 m. It is live-bearing, producing up to 46 live young at a time. There are about 85 species, including species such as Mustelus mustelus (smooth hound, or dogfish), which sometimes is placed in another family (Triakidae).
More From encyclopedia.com
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Carcharhinidae