The Borneo shark is a requiem shark swimming in the waters of northwestern Borneo.
Borneo Shark Scientific Classification |
|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family | Carcharhinidae |
| Genus | Carcharhinus |
| Scientific Name | C. borneensis |
Description
They are slim sharks with circular eyes, pointed snouts, and slit-like nostrils. The largest known specimen was 26 inches long. Inside their mouth are 25-26 rows of serrated upper teeth and 23-25 rows of slender, finely serrated lower teeth.
Borneo sharks have a large first dorsal fin, a smaller second dorsal fin, two sickle-shaped pectoral fins, two small triangular pelvic fins, and a caudal fin with a large upper lobe.
When looked at from above, these sharks are slate grey; when seen from below, they are white.
Where do they live
Map Of The Borneo Shark’s Habitat
As their name suggests, this shark lives on and around the coasts of Borneo, though nowadays, it is only seen around the coastal town of Mukah. There have been sightings in China as well.
They live in shallow coastal habitats.
Behavior
Feeding
Their diet consists of bony fish.
Reproductive
Borneo sharks are viviparous, giving birth to 6 pups. Initially, the newborns are 9.4–11.0 inches long. Sexual maturity is observed in males when they are 22–23 inches long and in females when they are 24–26 inches long.
Adaptations
The eyes of this shark have nictitating membranes that protect them from sand and silt particles.
Interactions with humans
Borneo sharks face a high risk of going extinct as attempts to locate them within their given range fail regularly. This has caused the IUCN to classify it as “Critically Endangered” or “CR”.
