- Classification
- CHONDRICHTHYES
- CARCHARHINIFORMES
- TRIAKIDAE
- Mustelus
- antarcticus
Gummy Shark, Mustelus antarcticus Günther 1870
A Gummy Shark, Mustelus antarcticus. Source: Rudie H. Kuiter / Aquatic Photographics. License: All rights reserved
A relatively small slender grey to greyish-brown shark, often with white spots scattered over the back. The Gummy Shark, along with the School Shark (Galeorhinus galeus) provides much of the 'flake' sold in fish and chips shops in southern Australia.
Video of Gummy Sharks in Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary, Port Phillip, Victoria
Gummy Shark, Mustelus antarcticus Günther 1870
More Info
Distribution |
Endemic to eastern and southern Australia from off Hinchinbrook Island, to Geraldton, Western Australia, including Tasmania. The Gummy Shark inhabits estuaries, coastal and continental slope waters, at a depths to 400 m, usually at depths to 80 m. |
Features |
Vertebrae 125–133 (79–86 precaudal); Jaw teeth (upper) 31-35 : 31-35; Jaw teeth (lower) 37-42 : 37-42 Body elongate; caudal peduncle without keels or precaudal pits; head slightly flattened above and below; snout moderately long, its tip bluntly pointed; nostrils not connected to mouth by a groove, internasal distance broad (2.6--3.2% TL); eyes oval; spiracles present; upper labial furrows noticeably longer than lower; teeth asymmetric, flattened, each with low primary cusp, arranged in pavement-like pattern; five gill slits, last two above pectoral fin. Denticles on body lanceolate with 2-5 ridges which extend at least half distance to tips; low interdorsal ridge usually present. Two dorsal fins, origin of first over inner corner of pectoral fin, origin of second dorsal anterior to anal-fin origin; caudal fin herterocercal, upper lobe with moderate sub-terminal notch, distal flap slightly enlarged, lower lobe of fin small; pectoral fin short, angular, hind margin slightly concave. |
Colour |
Grey to greyish-brown above, often with small white spots which may or may not be very conspicuous. |
Feeding |
Feeds mostly on cephalopods and crustaceans, but also on bony fishes. |
Biology |
Female Gummy Sharks grow to a total length (TL) of 185 cm, and body mass of 24.8 kg; males to 148 cm TL and 13.5 kg. The species is aplacental viviparous (ovoviviparous) usually with litters of 14 pups, although large females may produce up to 57 young per litter. The pups are born at 30–35 cm after an 11–12 month gestation period. Males mature at about 80 cm and females at about 85 cm. Tagging and ageing studies indicate that the maximum life span in 16 years. |
Fisheries |
An abundant and extremely important species in the southern Australian commercial shark fishery, and marketed as flake. Gummy Sharks are harvested over their entire range, although about two-thirds of the catch is taken from Bass Strait. They are highly prized by sports fishers for their fighting abilities and the flesh is excellent eating. |
Remarks |
The common name "Gummy Shark" refers to the flattened teeth arranged in a mosaic pattern. |
Similar Species |
Very similar in appearance to Mustelus manazo which is found on Australia’s Northwest Shelf. Also similar to the New Zealand species Mustelus lenticulatus. |
Species Citation |
Mustelus antarcticus Günther, 1870, Cat. Fish. British Mus. 8: 387. Type locality: "Southern Pacific" (= New South Wales or Tasmania). |
Author |
Bray, D.J. 2021 |
Resources |
Gummy Shark, Mustelus antarcticus Günther 1870
References
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Boomer, J.J., Harcourt, R.J., Francis, M.P., Walker, T.I., Braccini, J.M. & Stow, A.J. 2013. Frequency of Multiple Paternity in Gummy Shark, Mustelus antarcticus, and Rig, Mustelus lenticulatus, and the Implications of Mate Encounter Rate, Postcopulatory Influences, and Reproductive Mode. Journal of Heredity doi: 10.1093/jhered/est010
Coleman, N. 1980. Australian Sea Fishes South of 30ºS. Lane Cove, NSW : Doubleday Australia Pty Ltd 309 pp.
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Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. 2005. A Field Guide to the Sharks of the World. London : Collins 368 pp.
Compagno, L.J.V. & Niem, V.H. 1998. Family Triakidae. pp. 1297-1304 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 2 687-1396 pp.
Frick, L.H, Reina, R.D. & Walker, T.I. 2010. Stress related changes and post-release survival of Port Jackson sharks (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) and gummy sharks (Mustelus antarcticus) following gill-net and longline capture in captivity. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 385: 29-37.
Frick, L.H., Walker, T.I. & Reina, R.D. 2010. Trawl capture of Port Jackson sharks, Heterodontus portusjacksoni, and gummy sharks, Mustelus antarcticus, in a controlled setting: Effects of tow duration, air exposure and crowding. Fisheries Research 6: 344-350.
Gardner, M.G. & Ward, R.D. 1998. Population structure of the Australian gummy shark (Mustelus antarcticus Günther) inferred from allozymes, mitochondrial DNA and vertebral counts. Marine and Freshwater Research 49: 733–745. doi:10.1071/MF98009
Gardner, M.G. & Ward, R.D. 2002. Taxonomic affinities within Australian and New Zealand Mustelus sharks inferred from allozymes, mitochondrial DNA and precaudal vertebrae counts. Copeia 2002(2): 356–363.
Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp.Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986.Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.
Günther, A. 1870. Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Physostomi, containing the families Gymnotidae, Symbranchidae, Muraenidae, Pegasidae, and of the Lophobranchii, Plectognathi, Dipnoi, ... Leptocardii, in the British Museum. London : British Museum Vol. 8 549 pp.
Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.
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Klages, J., Broad, A., Kelaher, B.P. & Davis, A.R. 2014. The influence of gummy sharks, Mustelus antarcticus, on observed fish assemblage structure, Environmental Biology of Fishes 97(2: 215-222.
Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. 437 pp.
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Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs.
Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. (in part as Mustelus sp. nov. B)
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Lenanton, R.C.J., Heald, D.I., Platell, M., Cliff, M. & Shaw, J. 1990. Aspects of the reproductive biology of the gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus Günther, from waters off the south coast of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 41: 807–822.
Macbeth, W.G., Vandenberg, M. & Graham, K.J. 2008. Identifying Sharks and Rays; a Guide for Commercial Fishers. Sydney : New South Wales Department of Primary Industry 71 pp.
Stead, D.G. 1963. Sharks and Rays of Australian Seas. Sydney : Angus & Robertson 211 pp. 63 figs.
MacDonald, C.M. 1988. Genetic variation, breeding structure and taxonomic status of the gummy shark Mustelus antarcticus in southern Australian waters. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 39: 641–648.
Moulton, P.M., Walker, T.I. & Saddlier, S.R. 1992. Age and growth studies of Gummy Shark, Mustelus antarcticus Gunther, and School Shark, Galeorhinus galeus (Linnaeus), from Southern Australian Waters. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43(5): 1241-1267.
Pribac, F., Punt, A.E., Walker, T.I. & Taylor, B.L. 2005. Using length, age and tagging data in a stock assessment of a length selective fishery for gummy shark (Mustelus antarcticus). Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science 35: 267–290.
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Rigby, C.L., White, W.T., Smart, J.J. & Simpfendorfer, C.A. 2016. Life histories of two deep-water Australian endemic elasmobranchs: Argus skate Dipturus polyommata and eastern spotted gummy shark Mustelus walkeri. Journal of Fish Biology https://doi.org/0.1111/jfb.12891
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Waite, E.R. 1899. Scientific results of the trawling expedition of H.M.C.S. Thetis off the coast of New South Wales. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 4: 1-132 figs 1-10 pls 1-31 (as Galeus antarcticus)
Walker, T.I. 1992. A fishery simulation model for sharks applied to the gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus Günther, from southern Australian waters. In: J.G. Pepperell (ed.) Sharks: Biology and Fisheries. Vol. 43. pp 195–212. (CSIRO Australia)
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White, W.T., Arunrugstichai, S. & Naylor, G.J.P. 2021. Revision of the genus Mustelus (Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) in the northern Indian Ocean, with description of a new species and a discussion on the validity of M. walkeri and M. ravidus. Marine Biodiversity 51: 42: 1-x. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-021-01161-4
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