ON THE CAPTURE OF A PREGNANT BLUNTNOSE SIXGILL SHARK HEXANCHUS GRISEUS (CHONDRICHTHYES: HEXANCHIDAE) FROM THE GULF OF TUNIS (CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN SEA)

09/02/2018 Arda Tonay

On the capture of a pregnant bluntnose sixgill shark Hexanchus griseus (Chondrichthyes: Hexanchidae) from the Gulf of Tunis (Central Mediterranean Sea)

Khadija Ounifi-Ben Amor, Mohamed Mourad Ben Amor, Jeanne Zaouali, Christian Capapé

Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, port de pêche, 2025 La Goulette, TUNISIA
Département des Ressources Animales, Halieutiques et des Technologies Agroalimentaires, Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie, 43 avenue Charles Nicolle, cité Mahrajène, 1082 Tunis, TUNISIA
Laboratoire d’Ichtyologie, case 104, Université Montpellier II, Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, 34 095 Montpellier cedex 5, FRANCE

Abstract

This study presents the capture of a large female Hexanchus griseus in the Gulf of Tunis, northern Tunisia. The total length (TL) of the specimen was 3.5 m and the wet-weight was 220 kg. It was carrying fertilized eggs in both uteri and was at the beginning of the gestation. The distribution of the species off the Tunisian coast and in the Mediterranean Sea is evaluated and discussed.

Keywords: Gestation, eggs, total length, distribution, Tunisian waters, Mediterranean Sea

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