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Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The diversity of fish fauna within the inland waterways and around the island is very high considering the small size of the island. [1]
Among the marine fishes, sharks and batoids (rays and skates) form a considerable diversity. [2] A preliminary checklist of sharks around Sri Lanka was compiled by marine biologist, ornithologist, astronomer and well known diver Rex I. De Silva in 1985. It is cited as the first most comprehensive catalogue to Sri Lankan cartilage fishes. On 2016 May, he published the Illustrated Guide of Sharks of Sri Lanka. According to De Silva, there are 60 sharks species and 30 rays and skates found around the coast of Sri Lanka. [3] [4]
Sharks are a group of fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorpha (or Selachii) and are the sister group to the rays.
The following list of shark species recorded from the territorial waters of Sri Lanka.
| Name | Binomial | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose sixgill shark | Hexanchus griseus | |
| Broadnose sevengill shark | Notorynchus cepedianus | unconfirmed |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Leaf scale gulper shark | Centrophorus squamosus |
| Gulper shark | Centrophorus granulatus |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Ornate dogfish | Centroscyllium ornatum |
| Kitefin shark | Dalatias licha |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Bramble shark | Echinorhinus brucus |
| Prickly shark | Echinorhinus cookei |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Roughskin dogfish | Centroscymnus owstonii |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Grey bamboo shark | Chiloscyllium griseum |
| Slender bamboo shark | Chiloscyllium indicum |
| White spotted bamboo shark | Chiloscyllium plagiosum |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Zebra shark | Stegostoma fasciatum |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Tawny nurse shark | Nebrius ferrugineus |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Whale shark | Rhincodon typus |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Thresher shark | Alopias vulpinus |
| Bigeye thresher shark | Alopias superciliosus |
| Pelagic thresher shark | Alopias pelagicus |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Bigeye sand tiger | Odontaspis noronhai |
| Smalltooth sand tiger | Odontaspis ferox |
| Sand tiger shark | Carcharias taurus |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Crocodile shark | Pseudocarcharias kamoharai |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Great white shark | Carcharodon carcharias |
| Shortfin mako shark | Isurus oxyrinchus |
| Longfin mako shark | Isurus paucus |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Megamouth shark | Megachasma pelacios |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Coral catshark | Atelomycterus marmoratus |
| Bristly catshark | Bythaelurus hispidus |
| Dwarf false catshark | Planonasus parini |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Pygmy ribbontail catshark | Eridacnis radcliffei |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Starspotted smooth-hound | Mustelus manazo |
| Arabian smooth-hound | Mustelus mosis |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Hooktooth shark | Chaenogaleus macrostoma |
| Sicklefin weasel shark | Hemigaleus microstoma |
| Snaggletooth shark | Hemipristis elongatus |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Silvertip shark | Carcharhinus albimarginatus |
| Bignose shark | Carcharhinus altimus |
| Graceful shark | Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides |
| Grey reef shark | Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos |
| Pigeye shark | Carcharhinus amboinensis |
| Spinner shark | Carcharhinus brevipinna |
| Whitecheek shark | Carcharhinus dussumieri |
| Silky shark | Carcharhinus falciformis |
| Pondicherry shark | Carcharhinus hemiodon |
| Blacktip shark | Carcharhinus limbatus |
| Oceanic whitetip shark | Carcharhinus longimanus |
| Hardnose shark | Carcharhinus macloti |
| Blacktip reef shark | Carcharhinus melanopterus |
| Sandbar shark | Carcharhinus plumbeus |
| Blackspot shark | Carcharhinus sealei |
| Spot-tail shark | Carcharhinus sorrah |
| Tiger shark | Galeocerdo cuvier |
| Broadfin shark | Lamiopsis temminckii |
| Sliteye shark | Loxodon macrorhinus |
| Sicklefin lemon shark | Negaprion acutidens |
| Lemon shark | Negaprion brevirostris |
| Blue shark | Prionace glauca |
| Milk shark | Rhizoprionodon acutus |
| Grey sharpnose shark | Rhizoprionodon oligolinx |
| Spadenose shark | Scoliodon laticaudus |
| Whitetip reef shark | Triaenodon obesus |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Winghead shark | Eusphyra blochii |
| Scalloped hammerhead | Sphyrna lewini |
| Great hammerhead | Sphyrna mokarran |
| Smooth hammerhead | Sphyrna zygaena |
Batoidea is a superorder of cartilaginous fish commonly known as batoids or rays, but it also includes the skates and sawfishes. Approximately 560 species are described in thirteen families. Batoids are in the fish subclass Elasmobranchii along with sharks, as they are closely related. Rays are distinguished by their flattened bodies, enlarged pectoral fins that are fused to the head, and gill slits that are placed on their ventral surfaces.
The following list of rays and skates species recorded from the territorial waters of Sri Lanka.
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Narrow sawfish | Anoxypristis cuspidata |
| Largetooth sawfish | Pristis microdon |
| Longcomb sawfish | Pristis zijsron |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Numbray | Narke dipterygia |
| Brown numbfish | Narcine brunnea |
| Blackspotted numbfish | Narcine timlei |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Stripenose guitarfish | Acroteriobatus variegatus |
| Spotted eagle ray | Aetobatus narinari |
| Mottled eagle ray | Aetomylaeus maculatus |
| Banded eagle ray | Aetomylaeus nichofii |
| Wafic’s eagle ray | Aetomylaeus wafickii |
| Sharpnose guitarfish | Glaucostegus granulatus |
| Bowmouth guitarfish | Rhina ancylostoma |
| Annandale's guitarfish | Rhinobatos annandalei |
| Giant guitarfish | Rhynchobatus djiddensis |
| Rough cownose ray | Rhinoptera adspersa |
| Javanese cownose ray | Rhinoptera javanica |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Bluespotted maskray | Neotrygon kuhlii |
| Common stingray | Dasyatis pastinaca |
| Pale-edged stingray | Dasyatis zugei |
| Sharpnose stingray | Himantura gerrardi |
| Scaly whipray | Himantura imbricata |
| Blackedged stingray | Himantura marginata |
| Whiptail stingray | Himantura uarnacoides |
| Honeycomb stingray | Himantura uarnak |
| Pakistan whipray | Maculabatis arabica |
| Cowtail stingray | Pastinachus sephen |
| Bluespotted ribbon ray | Taeniura lymma |
| Round ribbontail ray | Taeniura meyeni |
| Porcupine ray | Urogymnus asperrimus |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Longtail butterfly ray | Gymnura poecilura |
| Name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Lesser devil ray | Mobula eregoodootenkee |
| Pygmy devil ray | Mobula kuhlii |
Chondrichthyes is a class that contains the cartilaginous fishes that have skeletons primarily composed of cartilage. They can be contrasted with the Osteichthyes or bony fishes, which have skeletons primarily composed of bone tissue. Chondrichthyes are jawed vertebrates with paired fins, paired nares, scales, and a heart with its chambers in series. Extant chondrichthyes range in size from the 10 cm finless sleeper ray to the 10 m whale shark.
Stingrays are a group of sea rays, which are cartilaginous fish related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae, Plesiobatidae, Urolophidae (stingarees), Urotrygonidae, Dasyatidae, Potamotrygonidae, Gymnuridae and Myliobatidae . There are about 220 known stingray species organized into 29 genera.
Skates are cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae in the superorder Batoidea of rays. More than 150 species have been described, in 17 genera. Softnose skates and pygmy skates were previously treated as subfamilies of Rajidae, but are now considered as distinct families. Alternatively, the name "skate" is used to refer to the entire order of Rajiformes.
Elasmobranchii is a subclass of Chondrichthyes or cartilaginous fish, including sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish. Members of this subclass are characterised by having five to seven pairs of gill clefts opening individually to the exterior, rigid dorsal fins and small placoid scales on the skin. The teeth are in several series; the upper jaw is not fused to the cranium, and the lower jaw is articulated with the upper. The details of this jaw anatomy vary between species, and help distinguish the different elasmobranch clades. The pelvic fins in males are modified to create claspers for the transfer of sperm. There is no swim bladder; instead, these fish maintain buoyancy with large livers rich in oil.
Rajiformes is one of the four orders in the superorder Batoidea, flattened cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. Rajiforms are distinguished by the presence of greatly enlarged pectoral fins, which reach as far forward as the sides of the head, with a generally flattened body. The undulatory pectoral fin motion diagnostic to this taxon is known as rajiform locomotion. The eyes and spiracles are located on the upper surface of the head and the gill slits are on the underside of the body. Most species give birth to live young, although some lay eggs enclosed in a horny capsule.
The sharpnose sevengill shark, also known as one-finned shark, perlon shark, sevengill cow shark, sharpsnouted sevengill or slender sevengill, is a species of shark in the family Hexanchidae, and the only living species in the genus Heptranchias. Found almost circumglobally in deep water, it is one of the few species of sharks with seven pairs of gill slits as opposed to the usual five. The other shark species with seven gill slits is the broadnose sevengill shark. Though small, this shark is an active, voracious predator of invertebrates and fish. When caught, this species is notably defensive and will attempt to bite. It is of minor commercial importance.
The sixgill stingray is a species of stingray and the only extant member of the family Hexatrygonidae. Although several species of sixgill stingrays have been described historically, they may represent variations in a single, widespread species. This flabby, heavy-bodied fish, described only in 1980, is unique among rays in having six pairs of gill slits rather than five. Growing up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft) long, it has a rounded pectoral fin disc and a long, triangular, and flexible snout filled with a gelatinous substance. It is brownish above and white below, and lacks dermal denticles.
The Pondicherry shark is an extremely rare species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae. A small and stocky gray shark, it grows not much longer than 1 m (3.3 ft) and has a fairly long, pointed snout. This species can be identified by the shape of its upper teeth, which are strongly serrated near the base and smooth-edged near the tip, and by its first dorsal fin, which is large with a long free rear tip. Furthermore, this shark has prominent black tips on its pectoral fins, second dorsal fin, and caudal fin lower lobe.
The blotchy swellshark, or Japanese swellshark, is a common species of catshark, belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae. The Blotchy swellshark is found at depths of 90–200 m (300–660 ft) in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Taiwan. It is benthic in nature and favors rocky reefs. Reaching 1.4 m (4.6 ft) in length, this thick-bodied shark has a broad head, large mouth, and two unequally-sized dorsal fins positioned far back past the pelvic fins. It can be identified by its dorsal coloration, consisting of seven brown "saddles" and extensive darker mottling on a light tan background. This species has often been confounded with the draughtsboard shark and the Sarawak pygmy swellshark in scientific literature.
The Izak catshark or simply Izak is a species of catshark, belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae, common off the coasts of South Africa and southern Namibia. It typically inhabits the outer continental shelf at depths of 100–300 m (330–980 ft), with the males found deeper than the females and juveniles. The Izak catshark has a short, wide, flattened head and a robust body tapering to a long, slender tail. It can be identified by its ornate color pattern of dark brown spots or reticulations and blotches on a light yellowish background, as well as by the enlarged dermal denticles over its pectoral fins and along its dorsal midline from the snout to the second dorsal fin. This species reaches 69 cm (27 in) in length, with the males larger than females.
Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi, known as the Jonklaas's loach or the spotted loach, is an endemic fish species restricted to the wet zone of Sri Lanka. The species was first recorded from the Wilpita area. It is currently known from 12 locations in the wet zone including Beraliya, Dombagaskandha, Madakada, Gilimale, Hiyare, Kottawa, Kanneliya, Weddagala, Nakiyadeniya, Pahiyangala and Boralugoda. It is recorded from a wide range of altitudes. Due to its restricted range and the threats to its habitat Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi, is listed as an Endangered species. The species has already begun to disappear from some of the sites mentioned above due to destruction and fragmentation of its habitat and many other threats that are operating on the species.
Callorhinchus, the plough-nosed chimaeras or elephantfish, are the only living genus in the family Callorhinchidae. A few extinct genera only known from fossil remains are recognized. Callorhinchus spp, are similar in form and habits to other chimaeras, but are distinguished by the presence of an elongated, flexible, fleshy snout, with a vague resemblance to a ploughshare. They are only found in the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere along the ocean bottom on muddy and sandy substrates. They filter feed, with small shellfish making up the bulk of their diet. The plough-nosed chimaera lays eggs on the ocean floor that hatch at around 8 months. They are currently not a target of conservation efforts; however, they may be susceptible to overfishing and trawling.
The smooth butterfly ray is a species of cartilaginous fish in the family Gymnuridae. It is a member of the order Myliobatiformes, which contains 10 total families. Its natural habitats are shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, estuarine waters, and coastal saline lagoons. Its common name is derived from its compressed body, pectoral fins that are wider than their length, and overall diamond shape.
Wildlife of Sri Lanka includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats. Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of biological endemism in the world.
Pethia cumingii, known as the Cuming's barb or the two spot barb, is a species of cyprinid fish endemic to Sri Lanka.
Batoidea is a superorder of cartilaginous fishes, commonly known as rays. They and their close relatives, the sharks, comprise the subclass Elasmobranchii. Rays are the largest group of cartilaginous fishes, with well over 600 species in 26 families. Rays are distinguished by their flattened bodies, enlarged pectoral fins that are fused to the head, and gill slits that are placed on their ventral surfaces.
The clearnose skate is a species of cartilaginous fish in the family Rajidae. R. eglanteria is also known by other common names such as the brier skate and summer skate. Clearnose skates are easily identified by the translucent patches on either side of their snouts and their mottled dorsal surface. They are found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States in shallow waters of the continental shelf.
Batoids are a superorder of cartilaginous fish consisting of skates, rays and other fish all characterized by dorsoventrally flattened bodies and large pectoral fins fused to the head. This distinctive morphology has resulted in several unique forms of locomotion. Most Batoids exhibit median paired fin swimming, utilizing their enlarged pectoral fins. Batoids that exhibit median paired fin swimming fall somewhere along a spectrum of swimming modes from mobuliform to rajiform based on the number of waves present on their fin at once. Of the four orders of Batoidae this holds truest for the Myliobatiformes (rays) and the Rajiformes (skates). The two other orders: Rhinopristiformes and Torpediniformes exhibit a greater degree of body caudal fin swimming.
Rajella fyllae is a species of skate in the family Rajidae.
De Silva, R. I. 2015. The Sharks of Sri Lanka. Colombo. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. https://sites.google.com/site/booksharksofsrilanka/home/ Ebert, D.A., De Silva, R.I. and Goonewardene, M. First Record of a Dwarf False Catshark (Carcharhiniformes" Pseudotriakidae) from Sri Lanka. LORIS 27 (5 and 6) pp. 63–64.
