What reproductive method do salmon sharks use, typically yielding small litters?
Answer
Viviparous
Salmon sharks are viviparous, which means the females give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. Despite this characteristic shared with some other sharks, their reproductive output is relatively low, with litters often consisting of only one to five pups. This slow life history strategy, including late maturity and small litter sizes, means that the species has a very slow recovery rate, amplifying the negative effects of high mortality rates caused by fishing pressures.
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