The bronze whale is a large shark with a bluntly pointed, broad snout. It is usually dark brownish grey or bronzy above. The fins are mostly plain except for dusky tips on the pelvic fins, as well as dusky to black tips and rear edges on the pectoral fins. It can attain 2.9m standard length or >300kg.
The bronze whaler is found in the warm temperate waters of all oceans and is common from Namibia to KZN. It is a coastal species and is usually found near the bottom from shore to 100m.
It feeds on benthic and pelagic fish and cephalopods, small sharks and rays. Females mature at 2.4m and males at 2.0m It is viviparous and produces 13-20 pups per litter.
For information on places where this species occurs click on the destinations below:
References
Heemstra, P. and Heemstra E. 2004. Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity and National Inquiry Service Centre. 488 pp.