Ecology of Sphyrna lewini
 
Main Ref. Wetherbee, B.M., S.H. Gruber and E. Cortes, 1990
Distribution
Marine - Neritic
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
Marine - Oceanic
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
Brackishwater
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
Freshwater
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Sphyrna lewini may be found.
Remarks It occurs in all tropical and warm-temperate seas. They sometimes congregate over sea mounts or around offshore islands (Ref. 54301). A coastal-pelagic, semi-oceanic shark occurring over continental and insular shelves and adjacent deep water, often approaching close inshore and entering enclosed bays and estuaries (Ref. 244, 11230, 58302). Found in inshore and offshore waters to about 275 m depth (Ref. 26938, 11230, 58302); has been filmed at a baited camera in 512 m depth (Lis Maclaren, pers. Comm. 2005). Huge schools of small migrating individuals move pole ward in the summer in certain areas (Ref. 244). Permanent resident populations also exist (Ref. 244). Feeds mainly on teleost fishes, cephalopods and zooplankton (Ref. 568, 6871); also lobsters, shrimps, crabs (Ref. 30573), including other sharks and rays (Ref. 37816).

Substrate

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats Coral Reefs;
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref. Compagno, L.J.V., 1998
Associations solitary; schooling;
Associated with Adults solitary, in pairs, or schools; young in large schools (Ref. 13562).
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type ref Cortés, E., 1999
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit ref Wetherbee, B.M., S.H. Gruber and E. Cortes, 1990
Trophic level(s)
Original sample Unfished population Remark
Estimation method Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 4.08 0.45 4.00 0.57 Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
Ref. Cortés, E., 1999
From individual food items 4.21 0.68 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. cnidaria)
Entered by Luna, Susan M. on 06.26.91
Modified by Pablico, Grace Tolentino on 10.24.07
Comments & Corrections
 
Sign our Guest Book 
Back to Search
cfm script by eagbayani,  ,  php script by rolavides, 2/5/2008 ,  last modified by sortiz, 6/27/17