Hemigaleidae - Weasel Sharks

There are eight species of medium-sized sharks in this family. Most species are around five feet in length. They are found in coastal tropical waters from South Africa and the Red Sea to Japan. One species, the Atlantic weasel shark, is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. They have torpedo-shaped bodies, round eyes, two dorsal fins, five gill slits, and nictitating eyelids. A nictitating eyelid is a transparent eyelid that protects the eye. Weasel sharks eat bony fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct
Status taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status, or there is no status data for the species.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Antarctic Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Species
Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Mediterranean/Black Sea Pacific Ocean Click for More Info Click for Image

Species Around the World
Hooktooth Shark - Chaenogaleus macrostoma Australian Weasel Shark - Hemigaleus australiensis Sickle Fin Weasel Shark - Hemigaleus microstoma Snaggletooth Shark - Hemipristis elongata		Whitetip Weasel Shark - Paragaleus leucolomatus Atlantic Weasel Shark - Paragaleus pectoralis Slender Weasel Shark - Paragaleus randalli Straight-tooth Weasel Shark - Paragaleus tengi

Additional Information

Resource Key
Profile Photos Video Audio

Atlantic Weasel Shark - Paragaleus pectoralis
The Atlantic weasel shark is found off the coast of Africa from Cape Verde to Namibia.
Source: Florida Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: High School

Australian Weasel Shark - Hemigaleus australiensis
The Australian weasel shark is found off the coast of northern Australia.
Source: Queensland Government Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School