Some observations on the reproductive biology of the sixgill shark <i>Hexanchus griseus</i> (Bonnaterre, 1788) from South African waters

Abstract

Observations are made of the maturation status of 81 male and 88 female sixgill sharks Hexanchus griseus from southern African waters. Males mature at about 310 cm total length (TL) with the calcification of the terminal cartilage elements of the claspers. Determination of maturity for females was problematic, but most were fully mature by at least 420 cm TL. Newborns were captured at the same location over three consecutive summer seasons, indicating the location of a possible pupping ground.

Keywords: maturity size, pupping grounds, reproduction, sixgill sharks

African Journal of Marine Science 2002, 24: 359–363