Lamna nasus (Bonnaterre, 1788)

Porbeagle Shark

Squalus nasus Bonnaterre, 1788 (ex Pennant): 10, fig. 350, pl. 85. No known types. Based on the ‘ Porbeagle’ of Pennant, 1769: 92. Type locality: Cornwall, England, northeastern Atlantic.

Local synonymy: Lamna nasus: Smith, 1949a: 49, pl. 1; Smith, 1949b: 367; Smith, 1965: 49, pl. 1; Bass et al., 1975c: 21, fig. 9; Compagno, 1984a: 248, fig.; Bass, 1986: 100, fig. 14.4, pl. 1; Compagno et al., 1989: 44, pl.; Compagno, 1999: 118; Compagno, 2001: 121, fig. 79; Compagno et al., 2005: 184, fig., pl. 30; Ebert et al., 2013 a: 232, fig., pl. 28; NPOA, 2013: 49; Ebert & Dando, 2014: 53, fig.; da Silva et al., 2015: 247; Ebert & van Hees, 2015: 145; Compagno, 2016: 1249; Weigmann, 2016: 851.

South Africa voucher material: Bass et al. (1975c) commented on a young specimen of 125 cm TL in the SAM collection (no number) caught in False Bay, April 1928. Smith (1949b) recorded one from off Knysna, but without any details .

South African distribution: Southwest of Cape Town to possibly off Knysna (WC).

Remarks: Uncommon off the South African mainland, but common to the south and around Prince Edwards Islands where water temperatures are below 18°C.

Conservation status: VU (2019).