Catalog of Fishes
literature references
FishBase
Alopias pelagicus
NAKAMURA, 1935
Pelagic thresher
Classification: Elasmobranchii Lamniformes Alopiidae
Reference of the original description
On the two species of the thresher shark from Formosan waters. Memoirs Faculty Science Taihoku Imperial University Formosa, 14 (1): 1-6, pls 1-3
On the two species of the thresher shark from Formosan waters. Memoirs Faculty Science Taihoku Imperial University Formosa, 14 (1): 1-6, pls 1-3
Synonyms / new combinations and misspellings
Alopias aff. pelagicus, Alopias pelagios
Alopias aff. pelagicus, Alopias pelagios
Types
Alopias pelagicus
Alopias pelagicus
Description:
Citation: Alopias pelagicus NAKAMURA, 1935: In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 05/2013
Please send your images of "Alopias pelagicus" to info@shark-references.com
Alopias pelagicus NAKAMURA, 1935, © FAO, www.fish-base.org
Alopias pelagicus NAKAMURA, 1935, © FAO, www.fish-base.org
Common names
Tiburon zorro, Zorro de mar, Zorro pelágico, 
Renard pélagique, Requin-renard, 
Fox shark, Pelagic thresher, Pelagic thresher shark, Small tooth thresher shark, Smalltooth thresher, Smalltooth thresher shark, Thresher shark, Whiptail shark, 
Tubarão-raposo-do-Indico, Zorro pelágico
Tiburon zorro, Zorro de mar, Zorro pelágico, Renard pélagique, Requin-renard, Fox shark, Pelagic thresher, Pelagic thresher shark, Small tooth thresher shark, Smalltooth thresher, Smalltooth thresher shark, Thresher shark, Whiptail shark, Tubarão-raposo-do-Indico, Zorro pelágico
Short Description
A small thresher with moderately large eyes, a broadly convex forehead, a very narrow caudal tip, and straight, broad-tipped pectoral fins [536]. Upper lobe of caudal fin very long and strap-like, almost equal to length of rest of shark; lower lobe short but strong; terminal lobe very small (Ref. 13570). Dark blue on back and sides, underside white; no white patch over pectoral fin bases [536].
A small thresher with moderately large eyes, a broadly convex forehead, a very narrow caudal tip, and straight, broad-tipped pectoral fins [536]. Upper lobe of caudal fin very long and strap-like, almost equal to length of rest of shark; lower lobe short but strong; terminal lobe very small (Ref. 13570). Dark blue on back and sides, underside white; no white patch over pectoral fin bases [536].
Distribution
Circumglobal. Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Maldives (Ref. 30829), Somalia, South Africa, Western Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, New Caledonia, Hawaiian Islands and Tahiti. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California and the Galapagos. Reliable records lacking partly due to its confusion with Alopias vulpinus. Firs record: 2012: Lakshadweep Sea, India (10°52'N latitude 72°13'E longitude) [15389]
Circumglobal. Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Maldives (Ref. 30829), Somalia, South Africa, Western Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, New Caledonia, Hawaiian Islands and Tahiti. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California and the Galapagos. Reliable records lacking partly due to its confusion with Alopias vulpinus. Firs record: 2012: Lakshadweep Sea, India (10°52'N latitude 72°13'E longitude) [15389]
Human uses
fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Biology
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding on other ova produced by the mother (oophagy) after the yolk sac is absorbed [733] (Ref. 42326). Usually with at least two young [1388]. Size at birth about 100 cm [1388]; 130-160 cm TL [2539]. Distinct pairing with embrace [17086]. A carnivore [17641]. A pelagic species occasionally advancing into coastal waters [17641].
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding on other ova produced by the mother (oophagy) after the yolk sac is absorbed [733] (Ref. 42326). Usually with at least two young [1388]. Size at birth about 100 cm [1388]; 130-160 cm TL [2539]. Distinct pairing with embrace [17086]. A carnivore [17641]. A pelagic species occasionally advancing into coastal waters [17641].
Size / Weight / Age
347 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 48844)); 383 cm TL (female); max. reported age: 29 years (Ref. 48844)
347 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 48844)); 383 cm TL (female); max. reported age: 29 years (Ref. 48844)
Habitat
pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous [17660]; marine; depth range 0 - 300 m (Ref. 37816), usually 0 - 150 m (Ref. 55167)
pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous [17660]; marine; depth range 0 - 300 m (Ref. 37816), usually 0 - 150 m (Ref. 55167)
Parasites arranged by Pollerspöck, Jürgen
Cestoda
Cestoda
- Litobothrium amplifica (KUROCHKIN & SLANKIS, 1973) [7374] [16908]
- Litobothrium daileyi KUROCHKIN & SLANKIS, 1973 [7374] [16929]
- Litobothrium nickoli OLSON & CAIRA, 2001 [7374]
- Nybelinia sp. [16578]
- Anisakis sp. [16578]
