Family : Hemigaleidae (Weasel sharks)
Order : Carcharhiniformes  (ground sharks)
Class : Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)
Fishbase Name : Sicklefin weasel shark
Fish Name : Hemigaleus microstoma
Max size : 114 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 58048)
Environment : demersal
Climate : tropical; 22 - 28°C; 28°N - 30°S
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=4)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: southern India and Sri Lanka; China to Indonesia. Recent study confirmed that those found in Australia (and probably Papua New Guinea) is a separate species, Hemigaleus australiensis (Ref. 56150).
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0. Australian specimens with dark-tipped fins; tooth counts 28-34/43-54; total vertebral counts 111 to 118 (Ref. 13567). Indonesian, Singapore and Thailand specimens with light-tipped fins; tooth counts 25-32/37-43; total vertebral counts 137 to 150 (Ref. 13567). Grey-brown above, lighter below, dorsal fins with white tips and posterior margins, sometimes with spots on sides of body (Ref. 13567).
Biology : A small, relatively common inshore and offshore shark of tropical continental seas (Ref. 13567). Feeds mainly on cephalopods, particularly octopi (Ref. 13567) but also takes crustaceans and cephalopods (Ref. 244). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Taken regularly in inshore artisanal fisheries (Ref.244), commonly caught by inshore gillnet, bottom trawl and, to a lesser extent, longline fisheries. Utilized for human consumption (Ref. 244). Offal used for fishmeal (Ref. 244)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless , Compagno, L.J.V.. 1998
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Compagno, L.J.V.. 1984. (Ref. 244)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses