The bull shark, Carcharhinus feucus (Valenciennes, 1841), from the Usumacinta River, Tabasco, Mexico, with notes on its serum composition and osmolarity

Abstract

Five specimens of the bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, were collected from a freshwater lagoon (2–3 ppt) and the Usumacinta River in Tabasco, Mexico, in May 1993. The serum osmoregulatory status of two individuals was analyzed: a mature 14-year-old male (2180 mm total length, the largest bull shark reported in fresh water) and a neonate (786 mm total length). Blood serum ionic concentrations of sodium chloride and calcium were reduced and compared with the seawater and marine forms. Urea serum contents were significantly lower than those reported for other bull sharks living in marine and freshwater environments, but much higher that those obtained for true freshwater elasmobranchs, such as potamotrygonid stingrays (Potamotrygoninae). Osmolarity was approximately 70% that of seawater. This osmoregulatory status suggested that the large bull shark analyzed had a longer time of residence in fresh water than other specimens reported in the literature.

Keywords

• bull shark
• freshwater elasmobranchs
• urea contents
• osmoregulation
• Usumacinta River