Galapagos Shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis, from the Ogasawara Islands, Japan

Abstract

Fourteen speirnens of Carcharhinus galapagensis (Snodgrass et Heller) (Carcharhinidae, Elasmobranchii) were collected from the Ogasawara Islands, about 1, 000km south of Tokyo.In addition, ten living sharks taken there have been exhibited in the large tank at Ueno Zoo Aquarium.This species is closely allied to C.ohscurus (Leseuer) but is distinguishable from the latter by vertebral numbers.Up to now, twelve species of Carcharhinus are found to occur in Japan and its adjacent seas from the brief review of the genus in Japan, including C.alibmarginatus, C.hrachyurus, C.breripinna, C.dussumieri, C., Jalcitormis, C.galapagensis, C.linrhatus, C.longimanus, C.melanopterus, C.obscurity, C.plumbeus and C.sorrah.