creek creek common species requiem shark family endemic northern australia shallow waters close shore including small shark usually grows long brownish color conspicuous fin markings identified long snout large triangular pectoral fins large positioned dorsal fin diet creek consists mainly small fishes crustaceans viviparous young sustained connection defined mating season lasts july females birth seven pups annually following gestation period seven months small number creek caught incidentally food effect fishing population result iucn listed species concern taxonomy phylogeny creek described australian volume proceedings society new south wales assigned new species subgenus genus gave specific epithet type specimen long female collected estuary subsequent authors evolutionary relationships creek fully resolved comparative morphological studies published tentatively placed grouping defined shark shark study based reported species close nervous shark reef shark study based nuclear mitochondrial genes found basal member clade containing graceful shark shark australian shark description body creek shaped long snout narrowly shape large nostrils preceded small shaped flaps skin eyes circular medium size equipped membranes arched mouth short furrows corners upper lower tooth rows upper teeth long triangular strongly edges increasing angled sides jaw lower teeth slender upright finely edges pairs gill slits short pectoral fins large triangular rounded pointed tips large dorsal fin originates rear pectoral fin bases second dorsal fin relatively tall long originates slightly anal fin origin ridge dorsal fins anal fin larger second dorsal fin crescent shaped notch caudal origin upper caudal fin lobe caudal fin developed lower lobe longer upper lobe ventral notch near tip skin densely covered overlapping dermal denticles bearing horizontal ridges leading marginal teeth species bronze brownish gray pale lacks obvious lighter band flanks rarely individuals light bluish gray reach length typical distribution habitat range creek restricted northern australia central queensland cape western australia common species inhabits waters zone depth biology ecology creek feeds predominantly small fishes including crustaceans including cephalopods consumed known parasites species include genus like members family creek viviparous developing embryos receiving mother connection formed depleted yolk sac females produce litters seven young year mating occurs july females storing sperm takes place july september gestation period seven months occurs february following year measure long spend months life shallow nursery areas cleveland bay north queensland males females attain sexual maturity lengths respectively human interactions creek minor fisheries operating northern australia meat sold human consumption given relatively high reproductive rate population appears capable present levels fishing iucn listed species concern
Creek whaler