Age and growth estimates for the Zambezi shark, Carcharhinus leucas, from the east coast of South Africa

• DOI: 10.1071/mf01062
• Publication Date: 2002-09-16T04:41:12Z
• Authors: S. P. Wintner; S. F. J. Dudley; N. Kistnasamy; B. Everett
• Keywords: Carcharhinus; Leucas; Chondrichthyes; Gompertz function

Growth rings (GR) were counted in vertebrae of 69 female (56–221 cm precaudal length; 3–238 kg) and 54 male (57–216 cm; 3–180 C. leucas. Annual GR deposition could not be confirmed by centrum edge analyses but was assumed on the basis ‘mark–recapture’ analysis 10 sharks held captive for between 2.2 20 years an aquarium. counts indicated that largest 32 (221 cm) 29 (216 cm), respectively smallest mature 14 (197 25 (196 cm). Length at 50% maturity 193 (21 years) 190 (20 females males, respectively. Maximum age is >50 years, two specimens (216, 217 have been aquarium are both estimated to >29 years. Von Bertalanffy parameters combined sexes L∞ = 230 cm, k 0.071 year–1, t0 –5.12 Gompertz w0 24 kg, G 2.86, g 0.046 year–1.