The first record of Alopias vulpinus in Maldivian offshore waters was made by USSR research vessels (Gubanov, 1978), and it is regularly found in offshore shark longline catches. Additionally, it is very rarely seen by divers near the atolls.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 5.5 m or more
color
Dark above and abruptly white below. White area extends over pectoral fin bases.
This species is found mainly over the coastal shelves and epipelagic waters far from land, with juveniles often inhabiting inshore areas. It feeds on schooling fishes, cephalopods, and pelagic crustaceans. It is ovoviviparous and apparently engages in uterine cannibalism, with litters of 2-4 young.
distinctive characters
A large shark with an enormous upper caudal lobe, at least as long as the rest of the shark, has no grooves on its nape and its head profile is not indented. Its eyes are moderately large and extend onto the dorsal surface of its head. The first dorsal fin is much larger than the second and is located just behind the pectoral fin insertions.