Genus Carcharhinus Blainville, 1816

Whaler Sharks

Carcharhinus (subgenus of Squalus) Blainville, 1816: 121. Type species: Carcharias melanopterus Quoy & Gaimard, 1824, by subsequent designation of the ICZN.

Remarks: The taxonomic nomenclature of the Carcharhinus species in South Africa is very convoluted with numerous examples of misidentifications, new species descriptions that later were reduced to junior synonyms, and changes to the genus name. Therefore, caution is advised with the individual species synonymies. The synonymies presented were taken from primary literature sources, especially Bass et al. (1973, 1986) and Eschmeyer’s Catalogue of Fishes (Fricke et al., 2020), and from research by the present authors and discussions with knowledgeable individuals.