Hi Venkataraman, 

The 'legs' are actually the male claspers used for mating. Claspers are extensions of the pelvic fin used to deliver semen to the female cloaca. They are more visible in older males than the young. Hopefully someone can help you with the species. Good luck!

Hi Venkataraman, 

The 'legs' are actually the male claspers used for mating. Claspers are extensions of the pelvic fin used to deliver semen to the female cloaca. They are more visible in older males than the young. Hopefully someone can help you with the species. Good luck!

Dear Kate Pocklington

Thanks for your answer.

Regards

K Venkatarman

Hi K. Venkataraman

Agree with Kate, that is male shark.

You should try look into shape of the upper teeth - strongly serraleted at the based and smooth edge on the tip.... then it might be rare endanger species. Pondicherry shark, Carcharhinus hemiodon. Hope this might help you further ID this shark.

Cheer

Michael

This is a sliteye shark Loxodon macrorhinus - commonly captured by inshore fisheries in the northern Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.  As already pointed out, the leg-like appendages are male copulatory structures called claspers.

Aaron Henderson

Thanks for your identification report.

Thanks again.

Dear Dr. Venkataraman,

this shark is not sure that can be identified as Carcharhinus hemiodon or Loxodon macrorhinus (as the colleagues pointed out), because I fail to distinguish the presence of a precaudal pit. It is possible to get more photos, taken at a shorter distance, and showing some details of the upper edge of the tail, the shape of the mouth and if it is possible, the number and the shape of teeth? Kind regards, Gustavo

It's highly unlikely that this is C. hemiodon; the origin of the first dorsal fin is too far back in relation to the pectorals. Also,