Ganges shark
Encyclopedia
The Ganges shark is a rare species of requiem shark
found in the Ganges River
of India. It should not be confused with the Bull shark
, which also inhabits the Ganges River and is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the Ganges shark.
. It is stocky, with a broadly rounded snout and small eyes. The first dorsal fin
is over the last third of the pectoral fins, with a free rear tip that is well in front of the pelvic fins. The second dorsal fin is much smaller than the first, but is still relatively large. The anal fin is slightly smaller than the second dorsal fin. The pectoral fins are broad and falcate. A longitudinal upper precaudal pit is present, but the interdorsal ridge is absent.
The shark tends to have a uniform gray to brown
ish coloration, with no discernible pattern or markings.
, the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi
in Bihar
, Assam
, and Orissa
respectively. Bengalis call it Baagh Maach, which means tiger fish. It is typically found in the mid- to lower reaches of a river.
, inshore marine and estuarine
systems. Its feeding habits are unknown. Its maximum size is in the area of 2 metres (6.6 ft). It is probably viviparous, measuring 55 to 60 cm (21.7 to 23.6 in) at birth.
is highly sought after.
s. Most likely the shark is a specialized species that feeds primarily on small fish. Amongst the deadly sharks inhabiting the Ganges, the bull shark represents a greater definite danger than this extremely endangered and elusive species.
Requiem shark
Requiem sharks are a family, Carcharhinidae, of sharks in the order Carcharhiniformes, containing migratory, live-bearing sharks of warm seas such as the tiger shark, the blue shark, the bull shark, and the milk shark.The name may be related to the French word for shark, "requin", itself of...
found in the Ganges River
Ganges River
The Ganges or Ganga, , is a trans-boundary river of India and Bangladesh. The river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. By discharge it...
of India. It should not be confused with the Bull shark
Bull shark
The bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as Zambezi shark or unofficially known as Zambi in Africa and Nicaragua shark in Nicaragua, is a shark common worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers...
, which also inhabits the Ganges River and is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the Ganges shark.
Appearance
In its external appearance, G. gangeticus is a typical requiem sharkRequiem shark
Requiem sharks are a family, Carcharhinidae, of sharks in the order Carcharhiniformes, containing migratory, live-bearing sharks of warm seas such as the tiger shark, the blue shark, the bull shark, and the milk shark.The name may be related to the French word for shark, "requin", itself of...
. It is stocky, with a broadly rounded snout and small eyes. The first dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
is over the last third of the pectoral fins, with a free rear tip that is well in front of the pelvic fins. The second dorsal fin is much smaller than the first, but is still relatively large. The anal fin is slightly smaller than the second dorsal fin. The pectoral fins are broad and falcate. A longitudinal upper precaudal pit is present, but the interdorsal ridge is absent.
The shark tends to have a uniform gray to brown
Brown
Brown is a color term, denoting a range of composite colors produced by a mixture of orange, red, rose, or yellow with black or gray. The term is from Old English brún, in origin for any dusky or dark shade of color....
ish coloration, with no discernible pattern or markings.
Distribution
The Ganges shark, as its name suggests, is largely restricted to the rivers of Eastern and North-Eastern India, particularly the Hooghly River of West BengalWest Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi
Mahanadi River
The Mahanadi in East Central India. It drains an area of around 141,600 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Orissa.-Source:...
in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, and Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
respectively. Bengalis call it Baagh Maach, which means tiger fish. It is typically found in the mid- to lower reaches of a river.
Biology
The shark, though poorly documented, is known to inhabit only freshwaterFreshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
, inshore marine and estuarine
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
systems. Its feeding habits are unknown. Its maximum size is in the area of 2 metres (6.6 ft). It is probably viviparous, measuring 55 to 60 cm (21.7 to 23.6 in) at birth.
Conservation
The Ganges shark is believed to be seriously endangered. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Ganges shark is one of 20 sharks on the "Red List" of endangered shark species. Widespread and rampant overfishing has depleted the population of these sharks. Their oil, along with that of the Gangetic DolphinGanges and Indus River Dolphin
The South Asian River Dolphin is a freshwater or river dolphin found in India, Nepal and Pakistan which is split into two sub-species, the Ganges River Dolphin and Indus River Dolphin...
is highly sought after.
Danger to humans
The shark may pose a threat to humans, but this has not been proven. Though some consider the Ganges shark to be "extremely dangerous", it has so far been impossible to separate its attacks from those of bull sharkBull shark
The bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as Zambezi shark or unofficially known as Zambi in Africa and Nicaragua shark in Nicaragua, is a shark common worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers...
s. Most likely the shark is a specialized species that feeds primarily on small fish. Amongst the deadly sharks inhabiting the Ganges, the bull shark represents a greater definite danger than this extremely endangered and elusive species.