Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system

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Species: Odontaspis noronhai, Bigeye Sand Tiger, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

large eyes
D1 often light tip
C - lower lobe hardly developed
teeth - 1 small point each side
2 rows large central teeth
A low, > D2

Odontaspis noronhai (Maul, 1955)

Bigeye Sand Tiger, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark

Bulky body; a long bulbous and conical snout; eyes very large without nictitating eyelids; mouth long, extending behind eye; teeth with long, dagger-like central point and a single small point on each side, large central teeth in 2 rows; first dorsal fin larger than second dorsal or anal fin, located closer to pectoral than pelvic fins; 2nd dorsal fin origin over middle of pelvic fin base; anal fin > second dorsal; lateral keel absent from tail base, upper pit present; tail fin asymmetrical, lower lobe hardly developed, dorsal notch present.

Blackish to dark brown or reddish brown above and below, without spots, first dorsal fin often with white tip.

Reaches 427 cm.

Pelagic, midwater in the open ocean, may migrate vertically during the day/night cycle.

Depth range: 35-1000 m.

Possibly circumglobal in warm seas; the Gulf of Mexico and SE Florida.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
  • Bottom + water column
  • Near Bottom
Habitat
  • Rocks
  • Water column
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
FishBase Habitat
  • Bathydemersal
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Data
  • Bony fishes
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Live birth
  • No pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Continent only
  • Extends North of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Temperate (>35N)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 427
Depth Range Min
  • 35
Depth Range Max
  • 1000