Bignose shark
Carcharhinus altimus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Bignose shark
- Scientific
- Carcharhinus altimus
- Dhivehi
- މެންދަން މިޔަރުMendhan miyaru
- Group
- Sharks
- Maximum size
- Up to about 3 m (total length); commonly 2.5 m; max. published weight 167.8 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 3 m
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 12 to 810 m (usually 80 to 220 m)
- IUCN status
- NT · Near ThreatenedNear Threatened (NT), assessed 2020CITES Appendix II
Description
A heavy-bodied requiem shark with a long, broad snout, plain grey above and white below, with a high ridge between the dorsal fins. It lives near the bottom at the edge of the shelf, mostly at 80 to 220 m, and feeds on fish, other sharks and rays.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name mendhan miyaru (MRS 1997); MRS explains that mendhan means midnight, because it was caught only at night on longlines. Sharks are fully protected in the Maldives (since 2010).
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Carcharhinus-altimus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/މެންދަން_މިޔަރު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Carcharhinus_altimus_nefsc.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Mendhan miyaru' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'މެންދަން މިޔަރު' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form.