On a freak embryo of the grey-shark, Carcharinus limbatus Muller and Henle

Abstract

Structural peculiarities, sometimes unidentifiable and responsible for the creation of new species and even genera were occasionally met with among sharks and rays (Gill, 1896 ; Gudger, 1933 ; Bigelow and Shroder 1953). In the Indian species, Menon (1957) and Luther (1961) have described abnormalities in certain shark embryos and a ray respectively. On 12-2-1961, while examining a pregnant Carcharinus limbatus in the fish landing centre at Cannanore, an abnormal embryo was obtained and is briefly described in the present note.