Reproductive biology of the whiskery shark, Furgaleus macki, off south-western Australia

The whiskery shark, Furgaleus macki, is important in the commercial shark f ishery off southern Western Australia. The reproductive biology was studied with the aid of 886 specimens collected by commercial gill-net vessels off south-western Australia between March 1994 and August 1996. The size selec tivity of the gill-nets resulted in:only mature and large juvenile specimen s being caught. Size at birth was estimated to be 22-27 cm total length. Si ze (fork length) at maturity was 107 cm for males and 112 cm for females. T here is a seasonal reproductive cycle. Mating is most likely to occur from August to September, with females storing spermatozoa until ovulation in la te January to early April. Gestation lasts 7-9 months, with parturition fro m August to October. Litter sizes vary from 4 to 28 (mean 19). There was a significant linear relationship between litter size and maternal length. Ma ture males mate each year, but females produce litters every second year. M ature non-pregnant females develop large yolky ova from March to October, w ith development of the ova completed several months before ovulation. The r esults are compared with previous records and with data for other species o f the family Triakidae that occur off southern Australia.