TOPE

Galeorhinus galeus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Usual Size	To 195cm. Within UK waters between 140/150cm
UK Record Weight	Boat 82lb 8oz Shore 58lb 2oz
Identification	Upper body Grey to brown, under side white
Habitat	Found between depths of 2/471m Both a coastal and offshore species, although known to come within the surf- line. Mostly a bottom and mid-water schooling shark
Range	For the UK found from Scotland to the English Channel, for most of the year, and during the summer months tending to be closer inshore, though migrations are known to include the Mediterranean Sea. Also found in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and California; where the current IGFA record comes from, at 98lb 8oz, though most of the line class records come from New Zealand.
Food	Fish eater, mostly Whiting, Pout, and other schooling species, though occasionally crustaceans plus squid and cuttlefish
Reproduction	Plancentally viviparous (live bearing) Litter size between 6/52 pups, usually 25/35, with the pups at 35cm at birth. Females mature between 130/185cm when approximately 11 years old.
Additional Notes	Has a potential weight in excess of 100lbs
References	A Field Guide to The Sharks of British Coastal Waters - Vas 1991 FAO Species Catalogue 4 - Sharks of The World - Compagno Fishes of the North-Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean - Whitehead, Bauchot, Hureau, Nielsen, Tortonese Key to the Fishes of Northern Europe - Wheeler

To Shark Species Directory

To Angling Method for Shark Species

Home Page

Tagging Index