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  • snout: tip round & black, length >/= mouth width
    no ridge between Ds
    D2 origin over A origin
    Carcharhinus acronotus, Blacknose shark
    teeth: top - narrow oblique point, strong side notch, serrated; bottom - narrow, smooth
    fins not dark tipped
    under pectoral pale
  • snout long (>/= mouth width), broad
    nostril flaps high, triangular
    D1 high (<1/2 predorsal length), origin over front 1/2 inner pectoral margin
    high crest between Ds
    Carcharhinus altimus, Bignose shark
    top teeth: triangular (length > base width), serrated, central pair erect, laterals oblique
  • snout broad, bluntly pointed
    D1 high, origin over inner margin pectoral
    ~no ridge between Ds
    Carcharhinus brachyurus, Copper shark, Narrowtooth shark, Bronze whaler shark
    top front teeth finely serrated, narrow, hooked
    pectoral long, straight
    fins plain
  • snout long, narrow, pointed
    eyes small
    D1 origin over/behind pectoral free tip
    D2 origin over A origin
    no ridge between Ds
    top & bottom teeth: tips narrow, straight, top serrated
    black tips: D2, lower C, A, pectoral
  • slender
    snout flat, rounded
    D1 small, orgin well behind pectoral, rear edge convex
    low ridge between Ds
    D2 < A, both low, free rear tips long
    top front teeth serrated, notched both sides
    pectoral large, curved
  • D1 high, not curved, origin over rear 1/2 pectoral inner margen
    D2 height >2.3% TL
    low ridge between Ds
    Carcharhinus galapagensis, Galapagos shark
    top teeth broad, triangular, straight/slightly curved
    pectoral: rear edge ~straight
    ventral fin origin well behind D1
  • snout pointed, length < mouth width
    D1 origin over/just behind pectoral rear tip
    no crest between Ds
    Carcharhinus isodon, Finetooth shark
    teeth both jaws ~symmetrical, straight, tips narrow, no/weak serrations
    blue-grey; fins unmarked
    color uniform
  • heavy body
    snout very short, round
    eye small
    D1 broad, high, origin ~over pectoral insertion
    top teeth - broad, serrated triangles
    pectoral broad, pointed
  • snout long, pointed
    D1: curved tip, origin ~over/slightly behind pecto
    D2 origin over A origin
    Carcharhinus limbatus, Blacktip shark
    top & bottom teeth ~symmetrical, narrow, serrated
    gill slits not long, 3rd slit 3.8-4.9% TL
    black tips: all fins except A (white) & top tip C
    flank: obvious silver stripe
  • white tips: D1, pectoral, anal & C
    D1 very large, rounded
    Carcharhinus longimanus, Oceanic whitetip shark
    pectoral very long, rounded
  • snout short, round
    large eyes
    D1: moderate, sloping front edge, origin over/before pectoral free rear tip
    D2 low (<2.3% TL)
    ridge between Ds
    top front teeth broad, triangular, semi-oblique
    pectoral: large, strongly concave rear edge
  • snout broad, round, short
    D1 high, origin over/before pectoral free rear tip
    D2 ~A
    ridge between Ds
    Carcharhinus perezii, Caribbean reef shark
    top teeth serrated, narrow, notched both sides
    pectoral: black tip, dark under outer half
    black: C lower lobe, tips pelvic & A
  • snout length < mouth width
    D1: very high, origin over pectoral rear insertio
    crest between Ds
    Carcharhinus plumbeus, Sandbar shark
    top front teeth broad, high, height ~base width
  • elongate
    snout long, pointed
    D1 low, triangular, origin over rear pectoral tip
    D2: orgin over mid A base
    no crest between Ds
    Carcharhinus porosus, Atlantic smalltail shark
    top front teeth oblique, notch rear side
    lower teeth narrow, strong
    fins unmarked
  • eye large, green pupil
    snout > mouth, narrow, pointed
    D1 low
    D2 v low, origin over A origin
    ridge between Ds
    top teeth oblique, tips smooth, rear base with notch & large serrations
    A color as body
  • big flat head
    snout short, blunt
    body: stout, dark bars
    tail base: large keel
    Galeocerdo cuvier, Tiger shark
    teeth: serrated cockscombs
  • snout v long, flat, triangular
    eyes v small
    Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus, Daggernose shark
    pectoral v large, broad
  • stocky
    snout short, wide, round
    2 large Ds
    yellow brown
    teeth: narrow, smooth points
  • elongate
    snout long, narrow
    D1: low, nearer pelvic
    blue
    Prionace glauca, Blue shark
    pectoral very long
  • D1: origin over/behind pectoral rear tip, center o
    D2: origin over/behind A rear insertion,
    Rhizoprionodon lalandii, Brazilian sharpnose shark
    teeth strongly oblique, rear notch, smooth
    pectoral short, pressed-down tip not reaching mid D1 base
    long ridges before A base
  • no white spots
    D1: origin over inner pectoral margin, center of b
    D2 origin between center of base & rear insertion of A
    Rhizoprionodon porosus, Caribbean sharpnose shark
    teeth strongly oblique, rear notch, smooth/finely serrated
    pressed-down pectoral reaches under center D1 base
    long ridges before A base
  • white spots
    D1: origin over inner pectoral margin, center of b
    D2 origin between center of base & rear insertion of A
    Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, Atlantic sharpnose shark
    teeth strongly oblique, rear notch, smooth/finely serrated
    pressed-down pectoral reaches under center D1
    long ridges before A base