Life-history traits of a small-bodied coastal shark

The life histories of small-bodied coastal sharks, particularly carcharhinids, are generally less conservative than those of large-bodied species. The present study investigated the life history of the small-bodied slit-eye shark, Loxodon macrorhinus, from subtropical Hervey Bay, Queensland, and compared this species' biology to that of other coastal carcharhinids. The best-fit age model provided parameters of L∞=895mm total length (TL), k=0.18 and t0=-6.3 for females, and L∞=832mmTL, k=0.44 and t0=-2.6 for males. For sex-combined data, a logistic function provided the best fit, with L∞=842mmTL, k=0.41 and α=-2.2. Length and age at which 50% of the population was mature was 680mmTL and 1.4 years for females, and 733mmTL and 1.9 years for males. Within Hervey Bay, L. macrorhinus exhibited an annual seasonal reproductive cycle, producing an average litter of 1.9±0.3s.d. With the exception of the low fecundity and large size at birth relative to maximum maternal TL, the life-history traits of L. macrorhinus are comparable to other small-bodied coastal carcharhinids, and its apparent fast growth and early maturation contrasts that of large-bodied carcharhinids.