The flapnose houndshark is a rare species of houndshark found in the western Indian Ocean. It gets its name from the skin flaps covering its nose.
Flapnose Houndshark Scientific Classification |
|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family | Triakidae |
| Genus | Scylliogaleus |
| Scientific Name | S. quecketti |
Description
Flapnose houndsharks are about 2-3 ft long. They have blunt, short snouts with nasal flaps covering the mouth, inside of which is a series of pebble-like teeth.
Adults tend to be gray dorsally and cream ventrally. Newborn sharks have white edges on the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins.
Where do they live
Map Of The Flapnose Houndshark’s Habitat
The only known location of the flapnose houndshark is in the western Indian Ocean, off the coast of South Africa.
It has been spotted in both the coastal waters of the continental shelf and the offshore waters of subtropical parts.
Behavior
Feeding
Their diet consists of crustaceans like lobsters, though they may also feed on squids.
Reproductive
Flapnose houndsharks are viviparous, with the females giving birth to a litter of 2-4 pups after a gestation period of 9-10 months.
Interactions with humans
This shark is a rare species, with only 50 specimens ever recorded. The last recorded specimen was from 1902 until 2020; the show Extinct or Alive unearthed one in 2020. It was promptly tagged and released.
Since the shark is found in waters prone to heavy fishing activity, the IUCN has classified it as “Vulnerable” or “VU”.
