Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks)
Etymology: Rhizoprionodon: Greek, rhiza = root + Greek, prion = saw + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; depth range ? - 500 m (Ref. 244), usually ? - 100 m (Ref. 244). Tropical; 28°N - 40°S, 88°W - 32°W (Ref. 55194)
Western Atlantic: Caribbean, including the Bahamas, south to Uruguay. The separation of this species from Rhizoprionodon terraenovae whether as a distinct species or a representative of a southern subspecies is still uncertain and pending until detailed studies are commenced.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 65.0, range 80 - ? cm
Max length : 113 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 111958); common length : 75.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217); max. published weight: 7.5 kg (Ref. 111958)
Common in bays and estuaries often entering rivers. Also found in offshore waters at depths of about 500 m, generally less than 100 m. Feeds mainly on small bony fishes, including wrasses, but also marine snails, squid and shrimp. Viviparous, with 2 to 6 young in a litter. Size at birth about 31 to 39 cm. Utilized salted or frozen for human consumption and processed into fish meal. Not dangerous (Ref. 9710).
Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205). Viviparous, placental (Ref. 50449).
Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 244)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00219 (0.00138 - 0.00347), b=3.11 (2.98 - 3.24), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 4.0 ±0.2 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=2; K=0.3-0.42).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (51 of 100) .