Slender weasel shark

{{Speciesbox

| name = Slender weasel shark

| image = Paragaleus_longicaudata_by_fahad.png

| status = VU

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=VanderWright, W.J. |author2=Simpfendorfer, C. |author3=Bin Ali, A. |author4=Bineesh, K.K. |author5=Derrick, D. |author6=Elhassan, I. |author7=Jabado, R.W. |author8=Moore, A. |author9=Utzurrum, J.A.T. |author10=Yuneni, R.R. |date=2021 |title=Paragaleus randalli |volume=2021 |page=e.T161506A173437966 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T161506A173437966.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}

| genus = Paragaleus

| species = longicaudatus

| authority = Bessednov, 1996

| synonyms = Paragaleus randalli Compagno, Krupp & K. E. Carpenter, 1996

| range_map = Paragaleus randalli distmap.png

}}

The slender weasel shark, Paragaleus longicaudatus, is a weasel shark of the family Hemigaleidae. It is found in the western Indian Ocean, off Bahrain. It can grow up to a length of {{Convert|48|cm|abbr=on}}.

The slender weasel shark is a harmless Viviparous species, about which little is known.

Morphology

The slender weasel shark is often mistaken for smaller sharks in the family Carcharhinidae and thus neglected in studies, however it is easy to identify morphologically.

The shark has distinctly narrow, strongly falcated pectoral fins, short gill slits, a wedge like snout, and small spiracles. A notable feature is on the underside of the shark’s head where two dusky stripes are found parallel to each other at the tip of the snout.{{cite book |title=Sharks & rays of the Persian gulf |year=2015 |publisher=MBG (INT) Ltd |page=42 |isbn=978-0-9930427-2-0 |author=Dareen K. Almojil, ALEC B. M. Moore, William T. White|language=fr}}

Biology

Little is known about P. longicaudatus' behaviour and its distribution. However, dissections of specimens suggests that its diet mainly comprises cephalopods.

References

{{FishBase_species|genus = Paragaleus | species = randalli | month = may | year = 2006}}

slender weasel shark

Category:Fish of the Indian Ocean

Category:Marine fauna of South Asia

slender weasel shark