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The Occurrence and Significance of Tooth Cuts on the Blue Shark (Prionace Glauca L.) From British Waters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

J. D. Stevens
Affiliation:
8 Courtenay St, Salcombe, Devon

Extract

In this investigation of the wounds occurring on blue sharks, tooth cuts were found only on females over 180 cm long, supporting the view that they are courtship scars incurred during breeding. However, it seems unlikely that these sharks normally mate in British waters. It is suggested that tooth cuts can provide information on the size at sexual maturity of the blue shark in European seas.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1974

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