Life-history traits of a small-bodied coastal shark.

The life histories of small-bodied coastal sharks, particularly carcharhinids, are generally less conservative than those of large-bodied species. The present study investigated the life history of the small-bodied slit-eye shark, Loxodon macrorhinus, from subtropical Hervey Bay, Queensland, and compared this species' biology to that of other coastal carcharhinids. The best-fit age model provided parameters of L[sub ∞] = 895 mm total length (TL), k = 0.18 and t[sub 0] = -6.3 for females, and L[sub ∞] = 832 mm TL, k = 0.44 and t[sub 0] = -2.6 for males. For sex-combined data, a logistic function provided the best fit, with L[sub ∞] = 842 mm TL, k = 0.41 and α = -2.2. Length and age at which 50% of the population was mature was 680 mm TL and 1.4 years for females, and 733 mm TL and 1.9 years for males. Within Hervey Bay, L. macrorhinus exhibited an annual seasonal reproductive cycle, producing an average litter of 1.9 ± 0.3 s.d. With the exception of the low fecundity and large size at birth relative to maximum maternal TL, the life-history traits of L. macrorhinus are comparable to other small-bodied coastal carcharhinids, and its apparent fast growth and early maturation contrasts that of large-bodied carcharhinids. The life histories of small-bodied coastal sharks are generally less conservative than large-bodied species. The present study aimed to describe, for the first time, the detailed life history of the small-bodied slit-eye shark, Loxodon macrorhinus. In comparison to other coastal sharks, the biology of the species conforms to that of other small-bodied species, with its apparent fast growth and early maturation contrasting that of large-bodied species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]