| Family: |
Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks) |
| Max. size: |
340 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 184 kg; max. reported age: 25 years |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 92 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean; also in Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 26938). Northeast Atlantic: Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and probably wide-ranging off West Africa, but this requires confirmation. Eastern Pacific: southern Baja California, Mexico and the Gulf of California to Ecuador. |
| Diagnosis: |
A brownish shark with yellow overtones but no conspicuous markings. Large second dorsal fin nearly same size as first dorsal (Ref. 26938). |
| Biology: |
Occurs on continental and insular shelves, frequenting mangrove fringes, coral keys, docks, sand or coral mud bottoms, saline creeks, enclosed bays or sounds, and river mouths. May enter fresh water. Occasionally moves into the open ocean, near or at the surface, apparently for purposes of migration. May rest motionless on the bottom (Ref. 9710). May occur singly or in small groups. Feeds mainly on fish but also takes crustaceans and mollusks. Viviparous, with 4 to 17 young in a litter. Size at birth 60 to 65 cm. Has been involved in several attacks on people. Meat is utilized for human consumption, hides for leather, fins for shark-fin soup base, liver oil for vitamins, and carcasses for fish meal. Marketed fresh, dried-salted and frozen (Ref. 9987). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 04 September 2020 (A2bcd) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
traumatogenic |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
