| Atlantic sharpnose shark | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family: | Carcharhinidae |
| Genus: | Rhizoprionodon |
| Species: | R. terraenovae |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhizoprionodon terraenovae (J. Richardson, 1836) |
|
| Range of the Atlantic sharpnose shark | |
The Atlantic sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, is a requiem shark of the family Carcharhinidae, found in the subtropical waters of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean between latitudes 43° N and 25° S,
Contents |
Atlantic Sharpnose sharks are found in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean & Gulf of Mexico. At depths of from surf zone to 280 m (920 ft). They prefer the shallow coastal (less than 12 m) waters during the late spring and summer months. While the seem to prefer the deeper offshore (deeper than 90 m) waters during the winter months. They are found year round from the Carolina coast southward to Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico.
The Atlantic Sharpnose Shark's maximum species length is about 1.22 m (about 4 ft). But the average adult Atlantic Sharpnose seem to be about 99-106.7 cm (39-42 inches) in length. They usually mature at between 79-89 cm (31-35 inches) in total length at roughly 2-4 years of age. Atlantic Sharpnose sharks may live to 9-12 years of age. Like most sharks, the females seem to be larger than the males.
Females give live-birth to a litter of 3-7 pups after a gestation period of 10-11 months. The pups are usually born at between 25-35 cm (10-14 inches) in total length. Females will often be found in the marine estuaries during the late spring months, as these are likely pupping grounds where they give birth to their young.
Florida Museum of Natural History - Ichthyology Dept.