A Survey of Vertebral Numbers in Sharks

Taxonomic research on <i>Squalus megalops</i> (Macleay, 1881) and <i>Squalus blainvillei</i> (Risso, 1827) (Chondrichthyes: Squalidae) in Tunisian waters (central Mediterranean Sea)

“…The Mediterranean S. megalops studied by Muñoz-Chápuli et al (1984) also had a longer pectoral-fin inner margin 9.2±0.6 versus 7.4 (6.6-8.2 / ±0.2)%TL. Tunisian specimens of Squalus megalops had similar vertebral counts to those studied by Springer and Garrick (1964) (Indo-Pacific), Bass et al (1976) (South Africa), Muñoz-Chápuli et al (1984) (Mediterranean coasts of Spain), Muñoz-Chápuli and Ramos (1989) (east Atlantic) and Last et al (2007b) (south Western Australia, Queensland). They had a low number of monospondylous centra (37), typical of the Squalus megalops-cubensis group (Muñoz-Chápuli and Ramos, 1989), and a relatively high number of precaudal centra (81), which is somewhat fewer than in S. blainvillei (Table 6).…”

“…S. blainvillei from New Zealand has a longer pre-first dorsal length (32.5±0.8 versus 28.24±1.12%TL), and a smaller mouth (5.8±0.1% versus 7.29±0.53%TL). Squalus blainvillei specimens examined herein and those specimens studied by Springer and Garrick (1964), Bass et al (1976), Merrett (1973), Muñoz-Chápuli et al (1984) and Muñoz-Chápuli and Ramos (1989) have similar vertebral counts.…”

The Status of the Freshwater Shark of Lake Nicaragua

“…These, averaging 95.6, were respectively 93, 98, and 96. These figures agree with those of Springer and Garrick (1964) Sexual dimorphism.-Although we do not have sufficient data to make a proper analysis of sexual dimorphism, we have summarized the data for eight San Carlos sharks by sex, three males and five females ( Table I).…”

Confirmation of the occurrence of a second killer whale morphotype in South African waters

“…Total vertebral counts in the blue shark range from 239 to 252 (Springer and Garrick 1964). Consequently, and assuming all the vertebrae were from blue sharks, the stomach of the Melkbosstrand female contained the remains of a minimum of 10-11 individual fish.…”