The Eastern Spotted Gummy shark (Mustelus walkeri) is a newly described species of shark belonging to the Triakidae family, found in Australian waters. Its appearance is similar to the Gummy shark and the Western Spotted Gummy shark, but the ranges do not overlap.
Family: Triakidae – Houndsharks
Genus: Mustelus
Species: walkeri
Phylum– Chordata
Class– Chondrichthyles
Common Name– Ground Sharks
Family– Triakidae
Common Name– Houndsharks
Genus– Mustelus
Species– walkeri
Status: IUCN Red List DATA DEFICIENT
Average Size and Length: Adults have been measured at 86-94.2 cm/2.8-3 feet, with the max length of a male at 94.2 cm/3 feet and a female at 111.6 cm/3.6 feet.
Teeth and Jaw: There are buccopharyngeal denticles cover entire palate and floor of mouth; it has pavement like teeth great for crushing. There are about 69/73 teeth rows.
Head: There is light and dark tonal coloration that is well defined on head below eye and onto middle of first gill slit. The lower edge of the spiracle is usually close to level of the mid-eye.
Tail: Juveniles have a caudal fin with distinctive whitish posterior margins.
Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: It is found in the western Pacific in Australia. They are tropical benthopelagic at a range between 171-1,322 feet.
Aesthetic Identification: The Eastern Spotted Gummy shark looks similar to the Gummy shark and the Western Spotted Gummy shark, but their ranges do not overlap. It is a somewhat large species. They are pale greyish with many small, often indistinct, semi-regular, diffuse-edged white spots on head and body. The inter-gill membranes are much darker dorsally than ventrally. The bases and inner lobe of the dorsal fins in juveniles (<400 mm TL) are not strongly contrasted to distal part of fin. The inner lobe is pale-edged. It has tall dorsal fins and its posterior margin is directed poster-oventrally from top to bottom and not upright distally. The first dorsal-fin base is 1.6-2.0 times the anal-caudal space. The long claspers of adult males are slender and strongly depressed, with the inner length about 9-10% of the total length, extending to just the anterior of the second dorsal-fin origin. The insertion of the anal fin is usually over its apex.
Biology and Reproduction: There are 78- 94 precaudal vertebral centra and 35-39 monospondylous centra. Reproduction is unknown.
Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: Unknown.
Eastern Spotted Gummy Shark Future and Conservation: There is currently not enough data to evaluate.
Eastern Spotted Gummy Shark Recorded Attacks on Humans: Not a threat to humans.