Lowfin houndshark

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Lowfin houndshark
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Carcharhiniformes Family: Triakidae Genus: Iago Species: I. Sp.A
Binomial name
Iago Sp.A not yet described

The lowfin houndshark, Iago sp.A, is a hound shark of the family Triakidae found in the Indian Ocean from the Gulf of Aden and from the south east coast of India. Its habitat is the outer continental shelf and upper slope below 183 m, but it is also semipelagic. Its length is up to 41 cm.

The lowfin houndshark is slender with large gill slits, similar to the bigeye houndshark, Iago omanensis (with which it is confused in Indian waters), but with shorter head, slimmer body, much lower dorsal fins, smaller pectoral fins, softer skin and muscles, and darker coloration. The large gills suggest that this species can tolerate water with low oxygen content.

[edit] References

• Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, Sharks of the World, Princeton University Press, New Jersey 2005 ISBN 0-691-12072-2