Species: Rhizoprionodon porosus, Caribbean Sharpnose Shark

Rhizoprionodon porosus (Poey, 1861)

Caribbean Sharpnose Shark

Body elongate and slender; eyes large, nictitating lower eyelids present; snout long, depressed; labial folds well developed, upper ones about equal to eye diameter, ending well behind eye; teeth on both jaws with narrowly triangular, strongly oblique smooth to finely serrated tips; no spiracles; five gill slits, last two over pectoral; first dorsal fin moderate in height, origin just in front of pectoral fin rear edge, center of its base slightly nearer rear axil of pectoral than origin of pelvic fin; second dorsal low; origin over or slightly behind midpoint of anal fin; rudimentary ridge between dorsals; anal fin rear margin slightly concave; pectoral fins reaching under middle of dorsal fin base when pressed against body, tip pointed, rear margin slightly concave; low ridge between dorsal fins present or absent; long ridge on each side before anal fin; no keel on tail base, but notches above and below.

Brown or greyish brown above, whitish below, usually no white spots on sides; rear margin of pectoral fins white, rear margin of dorsal and tail fins blackish.

Size: 110 cm.

Habitat: A coastal, tropical species, common in bays and estuaries.

Depth: 0-500 m.

The Bahamas to Uruguay.