Species: Carcharhinus brevipinna, Spinner Shark

Carcharhinus brevipinna (Müller & Henle, 1839)

Spinner Shark

A slender shark; eyes round, small, nictitating lower eyelid present; snout narrowly pointed, long, distance from tip to front of nostrils > distance from front of mouth to front of nostrils; anterior nasal flap very reduced and low; top and bottom teeth very similar, nearly symmetrical, with long narrow, straight points, top teeth finely serrated (in adults), lower teeth smooth; top lip furrow long, prominent; five gill slits, moderately long, last two over pectoral fin, gill arches without papillae; two dorsal fins, first relatively small, 5-6 times higher than second, its origin over or just behind free rear tip of pectoral; 2nd dorsal fin with length of free rear tip 1.5 X height of that fin; origin of second dorsal almost directly over anal fin origin; pectorals relatively small, narrow, curved, sharp tips; no ridge on body between dorsal fins; tail base without keel; tail fin strongly asymmetrical, with well developed lower lobe, undulating ridge along dorsal surface of top lobe, and a notch under tip of that lobe.

Grey above white below; an inconspicuous white band along flank; 2nd dorsal, pectorals, anal and lower lobe of tail fin of adults with intensely black tips,

Size: 278 cm.

Habitat: Coastal pelagic

Depth: 0-100 m, common in < 30 m.

Circumtropical except for the central and eastern Pacific; Delaware Bay to Uruguay.