Genus Odontaspis

Summary:
A genus of nurse sharks with two species, one found in Australian waters. Species have a long conical snout, the first dorsal fin positioned closer to the pectoral-fin base than to the pelvic-fin base, and much larger than the second dorsal fin and the anal fin; upper jaw teeth on two rows on either side of the symphysis.

Species are ovoviviparous without a yolk-sac placenta - meaning that the embryos develop from eggs and the young hatch in the uterus before they are born.

Odontaspis Agassiz, J.L.R. 1838. Recherches sur les Poissons Fossiles. Neuchâtel (Switz.) Vol. 3 pp. 73–140, atlas pls 1a, 8a–b, 15, 17, 19–20, 24, 25b, 30, 31–35, 39–40 [87]
Type species: Squalus ferox Risso, 1810
Author: Bray, D.J. 2020

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Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2020, Odontaspis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/genus/1016

References

Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 4(1) pp. 1-249

Compagno, L.J.V. 2001. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). Rome : FAO, FAO Species Catalogue for Fisheries Purposes No. 1 Vol. 2 269 pp.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp. 

Stone, N.R. & Shimada, K. 2019. Skeletal Anatomy of the Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Odontaspis noronhai (Lamniformes: Odontaspididae), and its implications for lamniform phylogeny, taxonomy, and conservation biology. Copeia 107(4): 632-652 https://doi.org/10.1643/CG-18-160

White, W. 2008. Shark Families Heterodontidae to Pristiophoridae. pp. 32-100 in Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.