Investigating reproductive cycle of whitecheek shark Carcharhinus dussumieri (Müller and Henle, 1839) in Hormozgan waters, Persian Gulf

This study was conducted to investigate reproductive biology of white cheek shark (C. dussumieri) in Hormozgan waters, Persian Gulf. Sampling was done during six months from December 2013 to May 2014. 605 gonad samples including 289 female sharks and 316 male sharks caught by large head hairtail mid-water trawls and gillnets were analyzed. Results indicated that females were mature at body length range of 60-68 cm and their maturity size was 64.17 cm. Also, males had mature gonads at body length range of 61-68 cm and their maturity size was 63.14 cm. The number of observed embryos in uterus was 1-3 and their average length was 26.7±1.05 cm. The average number of embryos per birth was calculated as 2.31±0.067. Clasper length and total body length showed a sigmoid-shape function. Clasper length sharply increased from the size of 63 to76 cm and then decreased when the shark reached the upper-limit size (76 cm). All the sharks larger than 61 cm had a hard clasper and those smaller than 61 cm showed a smooth clasper. GSI analysis indicated no significant difference among various seasons for both males and females. According to the observations, no distinct seasonal breeding pattern was detected for this shark species. Results from the present study can be used as basis for the future comprehensive study.