Heterodontus ramalheira
– Data Deficient
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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CHONDRICHTHYES
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Order:
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HETERODONTIFORMES
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Family:
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HETERODONTIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Heterodontus ramalheira
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Species Authority:
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(Smith, 1949)
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Synonym/s:
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Gyropleurodus ramalheira Smith, 1949
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Common Name/s:
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WHITESPOTTED BULLHEAD SHARK (Eng)
DORMILÓN BOQUIGRANDE (Fre)
REQUIN DORMEUR CHABOT (Fre)
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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DD ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2004
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Assessor/s:
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Ebert, D.A.
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Evaluator/s:
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Cavanagh, R.D., Kyne, P.M. & Fowler, S.L. (Shark Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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A rare and little-known benthic shark of the outer continental shelf and uppermost slope of southern and East Africa and the eastern Arabian Peninsula, unusual for the family Heterodontidae in being a relatively deepwater species found at 40 to 275 m, with most records below 100 m and from trawler hauls. Presumably taken as bycatch in demersal trawl fisheries. This species is known from only a very few records within its distributional range and virtually nothing is known of its biology.
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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A very poorly known species.
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Countries:
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Native:
Mozambique; Oman; Somalia; South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal); Yemen
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FAO Marine Fishing Areas:
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Native:
Indian Ocean-western
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Population
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Population:
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Nothing is known of its population structure. Apparently rare or uncommon (Compagno 2001).
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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Little is known of this rare benthic hornshark. Recorded from the outer continental shelf and uppermost slope in 40 to 275 m, with most records below 100 m (unusual for the family in being recorded from relatively deep water). At least one station that recorded this shark was on sand (Compagno 2001). Although eggcases have not been reported to date it is presumably oviparous. A hatchling and young individuals have been recorded from off southern Mozambique at 110 m (Compagno 2001).
Diet includes crabs (from the stomachs of two individuals) (Compagno 2001).
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System:
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Marine
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List of Habitats:
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| 10.1 | Marine Oceanic - Epipelagic (0-200m) |
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Threats
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Threats:
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Unknown, but presumably taken in trawl fisheries throughout its range, including crustacean trawlers off South Africa and Mozambique.
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List of Threats:
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| 4.1.1.1 | Accidental mortality - Bycatch - Fisheries-related - Hooking (ongoing) |
| 4.1.1.2 | Accidental mortality - Bycatch - Fisheries-related - Netting (ongoing) |
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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None in effect, but further research is required.
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List of Conservation Actions:
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| 3.2 | Research actions - Population numbers and range (needed) |
| 3.3 | Research actions - Biology and Ecology (needed) |
| 3.4 | Research actions - Habitat status (needed) |
| 3.5 | Research actions - Threats (needed) |
| 3.8 | Research actions - Conservation measures (needed) |
| 3.9 | Research actions - Trends/Monitoring (needed) |
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Bibliography
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Bibliography:
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Compagno, L.J.V. 2001. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Vol. 2. Bullhead, mackeral and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). FAO species catalogue for fisheries purposes. No. 1. Vol. 2. FAO, Rome. Shark Specialist Group. For more information, see the Specialist Group website.
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