The Graceful Shark is an inshore species that occurs on continental and insular shelves to a depth of 75 m (Ebert et al. 2013). It attains a maximum size of 243 cm total length (TL) (Jabado et al. 2015). Males mature about 140-177 cm TL and females at 167- 204 cm TL (Ebert et al. 2013, Jabado et al. 2015). Size at birth is probably 50-60 cm TL (Ebert et al. 2013). There are no age data available for this species, so generation length is inferred from the closely related Blacktip Shark (C. limbatus) from Indonesia at 13 years (Smart et al. 2015).

The occurrence of this species appears to be patchy with localized hotspots (Chin 2014). Juveniles appear to be site-attached, and highly resident to small areas of shallow coastal mud and mangrove habitats (Cerutti-Pereyra et al. 2014). It has been recorded from coral reefs, sandy reef lagoons, beaches, mud flats and mangroves, at depths of ~1 m to at least 30 m (O'Shea 2013, Cerutti-Pereyra et al. 2014, Chin 2014).The Porcupine Ray reaches a maximum size of at least 115 cm disc width (DW) with females mature by ~100 cm DW and males at ~90 cm DW (Last and Stevens 2009). Little else is known of the biology of this species. Attempts to collect size-at-age data from vertebral counts have proved difficult due to the fragile nature of vertebra (O'Shea 2013). Using data from the Brown Stingray (Dasyatis lata), a related species from the Pacific as a proxy, generation length for the Porcupine Ray is inferred to be 21.5 years (Dale and Holland 2012).

The Whitespotted Wedgefish inhabits coastal and continental shelf waters to depths of 70 m, but typically occurs in depths shallower than 35 m. It attains a maximum size of about 310 cm total length (TL), although it is typically smaller at around 175 cm TL, with males mature at about 150 cm TL (Last et al. 2016). Size at birth is about 60 cm TL. Maximum age for Rhynchobatus spp. in Australia is 5 years (males) and 12 years (females), but these data were not from the largest individuals (White et al. 2014) and are not reliable for the estimation of generation length. This is therefore estimated from the maximum age (19 years) and age at maturity (7 years) taken from the growth curve provided by White et al. (2014) for the Giant Guitarfish (Glaucostegus typus), which gives an estimated generation length of 13 years.

Green Sawfish are most common in shallow water coastal and estuarine areas, but occur to depths to over 70 m (Stevens et al. 2005). In the UAE, specimens of up to 600 cm TL were reported from shallow sandy areas with seagrass or further offshore by fishers (Jabado et al. 2017). A 350 cm total length (TL) female and a 250 cm TL male tracked in Australia remained in shallow water (mean depth <1.5 m) and within 200 m of a mangrove shoreline (Peverell and Pillans 2004, Stevens et al. 2008). The young are known to use nearshore and estuarine areas as nurseries, and adults occur more broadly and into deeper areas (Stephenson and Chidlow 2003).Green Sawfish may be the largest of the sawfishes, with reports of individuals up to 730 cm TL (Weigmann 2016). Mean size at birth in the Gulf of Carpentaria is 76 cm TL, and size at maturity at 340 to 380 cm TL (Peverell 2008, Last and Stevens 2009). Age and growth based on specimens from the Gulf of Carpentaria indicate that maturity is reached at about nine years, and maximum age may be >50 years (Peverell 2008). Little is known of its reproductive biology. Reproduction is aplacental viviparous and litter size is about 12. Demographic models based on life history data from the Gulf of Carpentaria indicate that the generation time is 14.6 years, the intrinsic rate of population increase is very low (0.02 yr^-1), and population doubling time is ~28 years (Moreno Iturria 2012).

The Smooth Hammerhead is a coastal-pelagic and semi-oceanic species that occurs on the continental shelf, to at least 200 m depth, with large individuals often found over deep reefs on the edge of the shelf (Smale 1991, Ebert et al. 2013). Despite its widespread occurrence, there are only limited published biological data on this species. It attains a maximum size of 370-400 cm total length (TL) (Ebert et al. 2013, Weigmann 2016). Stevens (1984) reported that off the east coast of Australia males mature at about 250-260 cm TL and females at about 265 cm TL with parturition and ovulation occurring between January and March. The gestation period off eastern Australia would appear to be 10-11 months. Castro and Mejuto (1995) reported 21 gravid females with a mean litter size of 33.5 from the waters of western Africa. Off eastern Australia, Stevens (1975) reported litter sizes between 20-49 (mean 32). The sex ratio of embryos is 1:1 (Stevens 1984, Castro and Mejuto 1995). Compagno (1984) and Compagno et al. (2005) gave the size at birth as 50-61 cm. Smale (1991) and Doño (2008) reported juveniles with open umbilical scars from South Africa at sizes between 59 and 63 cm, and from Uruguay between 49 and 55 cm TL, respectively. Although maximum age has yet to be determined for this species, it is thought that the lifespan of the Smooth Hammerhead may be 20 years or longer (FLMNH 2008). Generation length is estimated at 24 years based on that for the Scalloped Hammerhead (S. lewini), which reaches a similar size (Drew et al. 2015).

The Great Hammerhead is a coastal-pelagic and semi-oceanic tropical hammerhead shark occurring close inshore and well offshore, over continental shelves, island terraces, and in passes and lagoons of coral atolls, as well as over deep water near land, at depths ranging from near-surface to over 80 m (Compagno et al. 2005). The maximum total size is 550-610 cm total length (TL) (Weigmann 2016), though 400 cm TL is more common for a mature adult (Compagno et al. 2005, Last and Stevens 1994). Males mature at about 225 to 269 cm TL, and reach at least 341 cm TL, and females mature at about 225 to 300 cm TL and reach 482 to 549 cm TL (Compagno et al. 2005) In the UAE the largest recorded specimen was 3.82 m (Jabado et al. 2016 biological data sharks uae paper). The Great Hammerhead is viviparous, with a yolk-sac placenta. Litter size ranges from 6 to 42 pups after 11 months' gestation (Ebert et al. 2013). Size at birth is 50 to 70 cm TL with females breeding once every two years (Stevens and Lyle 1989). Generation length is estimated at 24-25 years based on Piercy et al. (2010) and Harry et al. (2011).

The Scalloped Hammerhead is a coastal and semi-oceanic pelagic shark, found over continental and insular shelves and in deep water ranging from intertidal areas and the surface to at least 1,000 m depth (Compagno et al. 2005). Horizontal migration is observed from inshore bays to a pelagic habitat as this species grows. It has been observed to be highly faithful to particular diurnal core areas (Holland et al. 1993) and sometimes form large schools which migrate to higher latitudes in summer (Stevens and Lyle 1989). This species segregates by sex, with females migrating offshore earlier and at smaller sizes than males. Adults spend most of the time offshore in midwater and females migrate to the coastal areas to have their pups (Bass et al. 1975, Klimley and Nelson 1984, Branstetter 1987, Klimley 1987, Chen et al. 1988, Stevens and Lyle 1989). Nursery areas are found in shallow inshore waters, while the adults are found offshore (Compagno 1984, Holland et al. 1993, Kotas et al. 1995, Lessa et al. 1998). Neonates and juveniles are known to shoal in confined coastal pupping areas for up to two years before moving out to adult habitat (Holland et al. 1993). The species is viviparous with a yolk-sac placenta. Only the right ovary is functional. In Taiwanese (POC) waters, ovum development takes approximately 10 months and ova reach a maximum diameter of 40-45 mm. The number of oocytes in the ovarium can be as many as 40-50 per female (Chen et al. 1988). The gestation period is around 9-12 months, with birth in spring and summer. The average number of embryos in the uterus ranges from 12-41 and females pup every year. Newborn size ranges from 31-57 cm (Castro 1983, Compagno 1984, Branstetter 1987, Chen et al. 1988, Stevens and Lyle 1989, Chen et al. 1990, Oliveira et al. 1991, 1997, Amorim et al. 1994, White et al. 2008). Maximum size is reported by several studies, 370-420 cm total length (TL) (Ebert et al. 2013) and ranged from 219-340 cm TL for males and 296-346 cm TL for females (Bass et al. 1975b, Schwartz 1983, Klimley and Nelson 1984, Stevens 1984, Branstetter 1987, Chen et al. 1988, Stevens and Lyle 1989, Chen et al. 1990). Males mature between 140-198 cm TL and females at around 200-250 cm TL (Compagno 1984b, Branstetter 1987, Chen et al. 1990, Carrera and Martinez 2007, White et al. 2008). Branstetter's (1987) growth study in the Gulf of Mexico found asymptotic length for both sexes of 329 cm TL and 253 cm fork length (FL), with an index of growth rate of k = 0.073 y^-1. Piercy et al.'s (2007) more recent study used FL rather than TL and suggested faster growth, with asymptotic length of 214.8 cm FL for males and 233.1 cm FL for females, with an index growth rate of k=0.13 year^-1 for males and k=0.09 year^-1 for females. It is unclear whether these differences are related to sample size, methodology or changes resulting from a density-dependent compensatory response to population depletion. The nearest studies on life history traits of this species have been undertaken in the Eastern Indian Ocean. White et al. (2008) estimated females and males to mature at 228.5 cm TL and 175.6 cm TL, respectively. Age at maturity was estimated at 13.2 for females and 8.9 years for males (Drew et al. 2015). Based on these data, generation length was estimated at 24 years.

Whitetip Reef Sharks are closely associated with coral reefs in clear, tropical waters. This species is primarily nocturnal, sheltering in caves by day, often communally. Maximum size is around 200 cm total length (TL), but adults are very rare over 160 cm. Maturity is attained at about 105 cm TL, although a mature male of 95 cm TL and a pregnant female of 102 cm TL have been recorded in the Maldives (Anderson and Ahmed 1993). Mating has been recorded in the wild by Tricas and Le Feuvre (1985) and pups are born at 52-60 cm TL after a gestation period of at least five months. Litter size has been recorded as 2-3 in Madagascar (Fourmanoir 1961, Last and Stevens 1994) and 1-5 elsewhere (Randall 1977, Last and Stevens 1994). Growth is slow in the wild, estimated at 2.1-4.2 cm year^-1 (Randall 1977), and it may attain sexual maturity at eight to nine years and live to about 16 years (Randall 1977, Smith et al. 1998). Generation length is estimated to be 12.25 years (Randall 1977).

The Blue Shark is oceanic and pelagic, found from the surface to depths of 1000 m (Weigmann 2016). It occasionally occurs close inshore when the continental shelf is narrow. This species reaches a maximum size of about 380 cm total length (TL). About 50% of males in the Atlantic are sexually mature by 218 cm, although some may reach maturity as small as 182 cm TL. Females are sub-adult from 173-221 cm TL and fully mature from 221 cm TL (Pratt 1979), although pregnant specimens as small as 183 cm TL have been recorded from the eastern Pacific (Williams 1977).Blue Sharks are placentally viviparous, producing litters averaging about 35 pups (maximum recorded 135) after a gestation period of 9-12 months. At birth, pups measure 35-50 cm TL. Reproduction has been reported as seasonal in most areas, with the young often born in spring or summer (Pratt 1979, Stevens 1984, Nakano 1994) although the periods of ovulation and parturition may be extended (Hazin et al. 1994). Ageing studies suggest a longevity of about 20 years with males maturing at 4-6 and females at 5-7 years (Stevens 1975, Cailliet et al. 1983, Nakano 1994). Smith et al. (1998) estimated the intrinsic rate of population increase at MSY to be 0.061.Generation length is estimated to be 10.5 years based on study of Blue Shark in the Northwest Pacific by Nakano (1994).

The Tiger Shark inhabits reef and slope habitats, is sometimes associated with coral reefs, and occasionally makes longer-distance excursions into the pelagic zone. It regularly dives to depths greater than 1000 m and has been noted to move hundreds to thousands of kilometres (Holmes et al. 2014, Werry et al. 2014). It attains a maximum size of at least 550 cm total length (TL). In the north-west Hawaiian Islands, Tiger Sharks with a precaudal length of 200 cm were estimated to be about five years old and one of 300 cm was about 15 years old (De Crosta et al. 1984). Branstetter et al. (1987) estimated that initial growth was very fast, but that the rate of growth of very large animals is 5-10 cm year^-1; thus, individuals of 400-450 cm TL would be 20-25 years of age. Branstetter et al. (1987) reported a maximum age of 45-50 years. Smith et al. (1998) estimated the intrinsic rate of increase of a tiger shark population at MSY to be 0.043 year^-1. Randall (1992) summarised that the size at maturity of males is 226-290 cm TL and females 250-350 cm TL.The Tiger Shark is the only species in the Carcharhinidae family that is lecithotrophic viviparous. Litter sizes are large, with between 10-82 embryos reported from a single female. Mean litter sizes of 30-35 have been reported (Tester 1969, Bass et al. 1975, Simpfendorfer 1992). The size at birth is 51-90 cm TL (Randall 1992, Simpfendorfer 1992). Clark and von Schmidt (1965) reported the gestation period as 13-16 months. There have been few other estimates of gestation period. Mating is reported to take place in the Northern Hemisphere in spring, with pupping the following spring to summer. Mating occurs before full-term females have given birth to young, indicating that litters are produced every two years or less. Based on data from the North West Atlantic, generation length is estimated at 17.5 years (Natanson et al. 1999).