Carcharhinid shark species (Family Carcharhinidae), with special reference to the first records in the Egyptian Mediterranean Waters, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

The present study aimed to provide an update on carcharhinid sharks (Family: Carcharhinidae) in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters, based on the differences in morphological features of the body. A total of 36 specimens of carcharhinid sharks belong to 7 species of family Carcharhinidae were seasonally collected from the commercial catch at land fish market in Alexandria of Mediterranean Sea, during the period from May 2017 to June 2018. Morphometric characters were recorded for each specimen. Many photos had been captured for each shark specimen and processed by Image J software for calculating different ratios of morphological aspects for shark's body. Results showed that seven species belonging to the family Carcharhinidae (Carcharhinus altimus, C. brachyurus, C. brevipinna, C. falciformis, C. obscurus, C. plumbeus and Prionace glauca) were found to inhibit the Egyptian Mediterranean waters at Alexandria. Four of them were firstly recorded in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters (i.e. C. brachyurus, C. falciformis, C. obscurus and Prionace glauca. Our study was attempted to add some morphometric characters for the identification of studied species. Statistical analysis of morphometric ratios showed significant differences between investigated species (P<0.05), revealing its capability as classifying tool.

Species diversity, taxonomy and distribution of Chondrichthyes in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

“…Later on, other specimens were reported, especially in the north-western area of the Mediterranean Sea (e.g., Vacchi et al 1996;Orsi Relini 1998;Zava et al 2006). Recently, Azab et al (2019) collected one specimen of C. brachyurus at the Alexandria (Egypt) fish market and its presence was also confirmed in the Turkish waters (Kabasakal & Bilecenoğlu 2020). The presence of C. brachyurus in the Mediterranean Sea has been confirmed even before historical times: referring to fossil teeth.…”

“…The species was also mentioned in the Algerian waters (Hemida & Labidi 2001). Azab et al (2019) collected 14 specimens of Carcharhinus altimus (Springer 1950) at the Alexandria fish market. The fishes were caught in Egyptian waters but the authors did not include any detail on the utilized fishing gear.…”

“…Carcharhinus falciformis (Bibron, 1839) is an abundant species in the Eastern Atlantic, but it was reported only sporadically in the Alboran Sea, as well as along the Algerian and southern Spanish coasts (Moreno 1987;Barrul & Mate 2002;Hemida et al 2002). Recently, other records of this species were reported: one from the Ligurian Sea (Garibaldi & Orsi-Relini 2012), two specimens from the Egyptian waters (Azab et al 2019), and one from Turkey (Kabasakal & Bilecenoğlu 2020). C. falciformis can be considered a vagrant species in the Mediterranean Sea.…”

Unveiling Diversity in Shark Fin Characteristics: A Comparative Study Across Order Carcharhiniforms

“…Careful dissection of shark fins excludes the meaty underside of the fin. Subsequently, they are dried and packaged for sale (Clarke et al, 2006;Azab et al, 2019b). When it comes to sharks and batoids that resemble sharks, the first dorsal fin is often sold in sets due to its high value (Martins, 2021).…”