Overview
They are characterized by a rather long, pointed snout and oval eye and distinctive teeth, which have a sharp oblique cusp and 3 5 coarse basal serrations. The second dorsal fin is nearly over the anal fin and about the same size. The terminal lobe of the caudal fin is extremely large, about half the length of the upper lobe. Tope are ovoviviparous, giving birth to 6 to 52 (average 35) young per litter.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Squaliformes
- Family
- Triakidae
- Genus
- Galeorhinus
- Species
- galeus
Habitat
Tope sharks primarily inhabit temperate and subtropical coastal waters over continental shelves and slopes, often in depths from the surface to about 800 meters. They prefer areas with sandy or muddy bottoms and are commonly found near the seafloor. These sharks undertake seasonal migrations to follow prey or warmer waters.
Diet
Primarily an opportunistic predator feeding mostly on moderate sized bony fishes, and in some areas crabs and squid.
Behavior
Tope sharks are highly migratory and often form schools, especially juveniles, to hunt cooperatively. They are most active during the day, patrolling coastal areas for prey, and exhibit curious behavior around divers or boats. These sharks can be territorial in feeding grounds but generally avoid aggressive interactions with larger predators.
Fishing
It has a strong preference for very fresh fish or squid bait over slightly stale or even fresh frozen bait. It will fight actively when hooked. Its meat is eaten fresh, fresh frozen, or dried salted, its fins are used for sharkfin soup. Tope were once intensively fished for the exceptionally high concentrations of Vitamin A found in the liver.
Conservation Status
Listed as Vulnerable by IUCN.