title: Rediscovery of the Threatened River Sharks, Glyphis garricki and G. glyphis, in Papua New Guinea.
abstract: Recent surveys of the shark and ray catches of artisanal fishers in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) resulted in the rediscovery of the threatened river sharks, Glyphis garricki and Glyphis glyphis. These represent the first records of both species in PNG since the 1960s and 1970s and highlight the lack of studies of shark biodiversity in PNG. Two individuals of G. garricki and three individuals of G. glyphis were recorded from coastal marine waters of the Daru region of PNG in October and November 2014. The two G. garricki specimens were small individuals estimated to be 100-105 cm and ~113 cm total length (TL). The three G. glyphis specimens were all mature, one a pregnant female and two adult males. These are the first adults of G. glyphis recorded to date providing a more accurate maximum size for this species, i.e. ~260 cm TL. A single pup which was released from the pregnant female G. glyphis, was estimated to be ~65 cm TL. Anecdotal information from the fishers of pregnant females of G. glyphis containing 6 or 7 pups provides the first estimate of litter size for this species. The jaws of the pregnant female G. glyphis were retained and a detailed description of the dentition is provided, since adult dentition has not been previously documented for this species. Genetic analyses confirmed the two species cluster well within samples from these species collected in northern Australia.
authors.affiliation: Australian National Fish Collection, National Research Collections Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Oceans & Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Australian National Fish Collection, National Research Collections Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Oceans & Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Appleyard
authors.affiliation: National Fisheries Authority, National Capital District, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Benthly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sabub
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kyne
authors.affiliation: F.F.C. Elasmobranch Studies, New Port Richey, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: National Fisheries Authority, National Capital District, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Rickson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lis
authors.affiliation: National Fisheries Authority, National Capital District, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Leontine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baje
authors.affiliation: National Fisheries Authority, National Capital District, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture & School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Smart
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corrigan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Gavin J P
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Naylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D004032:Diet; D056727:Endangered Species; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D012098:Reproduction; D045483:Rivers; D012754:Sharks / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial