Caribbean sharpnose shark
| Caribbean sharpnose shark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Superorder: | Selachimorpha |
| Order: | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family: | Carcharhinidae |
| Genus: | Rhizoprionodon |
| Species: | R. porosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhizoprionodon porosus (Poey, 1861) | |
The Caribbean sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon porosus, is a requiem shark, and part of the family Carcharhinidae. It is found in the tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, between latitudes 28° N and 40° S, from the surface to a depth of 500 m. It can reach a length of about 1.1 m.
Life History
The maximum reported size for the Caribbean Sharpnose Shark is 110 cm ( 43 inches). The average adult size appears to be about 80-89 cm (31.5-35 inches). Both sexes seem to reach maturity at about 65-70 cm (25.6-27.5 inches) in length, and just over 2 years old. The life span is estimated to be about 8-10 years old. This species was once confused as being the same species as the Atlantic Sharpnose Shark - however difference in vertebra counts indicate that it is a separate species. Reproduction and litter size is similar to the Atlantic Sharpnose Shark.
References
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). "Rhizoprionodon porosus" in FishBase. May 2006 version.
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/61407/0
- http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/CSharpnose/CSharpnose.html