Updated reproductive parameters for the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) in the western North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

— Reproductive data collected through anatomical dissection, from 48 female and 66 male tiger sharks ( Galeocerdo cuvier ) captured in the west- ern North Atlantic Ocean, were used to assess stage of maturity. The fork length (FL) of examined females and males ranged from 88 to 318 cm and from 84 to 349 cm, respectively. Median length at maturity ( L 50 ) was calculated by using binomial maturity data from dissections in addition to maturity assignments based on clasper condition examination of 320 males (46–280 cm FL) and pub- lished maturity data for 14 males (170– 313 cm FL) and 28 females (242–312 cm FL). Further, sex- specific median age at maturity ( A 50 ) was calculated by using direct age estimates and the aforemen-tioned binomial maturity data from the dissected specimens. Females reached L 50 at 261.4 cm FL and A 50 at 11.6 years. Males reached L 50 at 258.9 cm FL and A 50 at 9.5 years.