Zoology Publications from Victoria University of Wellington—Nos. 54 to 57
Introduction
Introduction
The purpose of this account is to establish that the Australasian shark Heptranchias dakini Whitley, 1931, is conspecific with H. perlo (Bonnaterre, 1788), the widely distributed Sharpsnouted Sevengill shark (alternatively named the Slender Sevengill shark or the Perlon shark). The main reported difference between these nominal species—the relative positions of the dorsal and anal fins—can be shown to be due to sexual dimorphism, and other listed differences are apparently derived from an inaccurate illustration of a single Australian specimen or cannot be substantiated.