Speartooth shark | Primary industries & fisheries | Queensland Government

Speartooth shark

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Speartooth shark

The speartooth shark has a broad and triangular first dorsal fin which is slightly rounded at the tip. The relatively large second dorsal fin is similar in size to the anal fin. The upper teeth are broadly triangular, erect and serrated
The speartooth shark. Its upper teeth (top right) are broadly triangular, erect and serrated.
Pictures: Jason Stapley
The lower teeth of the speartooth shark, which are long, narrow and erect with spear-like tips. The upper teeth are broadly triangular, erect and serrated
The lower teeth are narrow and erect with spear-like tips. The upper teeth are broadly triangular, erect and serrated.
A map showing the distribution of the speartooth shark, which is found inshore in small pockets in North Queensland and the Northern Territory
Distribution of the speartooth shark.
The snout of the speartooth shark is short and bluntly rounded
The snout is short and bluntly rounded.

Alert Protected species.  Limited take
Scientific name

Glyphis glyphis. CAAB code: 37 018041
Family

Whaler
Other names

Blue, Bizant, Queensland or Northern river shark, Glyphis sp A.
Frequent misidentification
  • Northern river shark/New Guinea river shark (Glyphis sp. C - no confirmed records in Queensland)
  • lemon shark (Negaprion acutidens)
  • sometimes bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas).
Description
  • medium sized, moderately stout whaler
  • has a large second dorsal fin (at least half the height of the first dorsal fin)
  • grey on the upper surface and pale underneath with an inconspicuous pale stripe along the flanks.
Distribution

Inshore including estuaries and river systems in the northern Gulf of Carpentaria and eastern coastline of Queensland. Captures reported in the southern and western gulf are unconfirmed.
Size

59 to 300 cm.
Fisheries

Inshore gillnet fisheries; however, rarely encountered.

Further information

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Page maintained by Cassie France
Last reviewed 02 March 2009

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