Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks)
Etymology: Carcharhinus: karcharos (Gr.), sharp or jagged; rhinus, an ancient name for sharks, from rhine (Gr.), rasp, both words alluding to a shark's jagged, rasp-like skin (See ETYFish); perezii: In honor of Poey’s companion and friend Laureano Perez Arcas (1824-1894), University of Madrid, whose textbook Elementos de Zoología Poey used at the University of Havana (See ETYFish).
Eponymy: Professor Laureano Perez Arcas (1824–1894) was a Spanish entomologist and malacologist who became Professor of Zoology at the University of Madrid and Poey’s friend and companion. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Poey.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 65 m (Ref. 9710), usually 1 - 35 m (Ref. 40849). Subtropical; 33°N - 35°S, 100°W - 33°W (Ref. 55187)
Western Atlantic: Florida, USA to southern Brazil, including the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Antilles.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 160.0, range 152 - 168 cm
Max length : 300 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710); 295.0 cm TL (female); max. published weight: 69.9 kg (Ref. 40637)
A large, gray shark with an interdorsal ridge and short blunt snout. 1st dorsal fin small with short rear tip (Ref. 26938).
Found on continental and insular shelves, often near drop-offs on the outer edges of reefs. May rest on the bottom (Ref. 9710). Usually found in reefs, at less than 30 m deep (Ref 26938). Feed on bony fishes, including bigeyes (Priacanthidae). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Size at birth below 73 cm. A dangerous species implicated in an abortive attack on divers in the Caribbean. Meat is prepared dried salted for human consumption, hides for leather, liver for oil, carcasses for fish meal.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.3 - 28, mean 27.2 °C (based on 396 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00514 - 0.02450), b=3.04 (2.87 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.5 ±0.8 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 3.45 [0.66, 18.50] mg/100g; Iron = 0.348 [0.085, 1.010] mg/100g; Protein = 23 [20, 25] %; Omega3 = 0.145 [0.054, 0.363] g/100g; Selenium = 14.6 [4.6, 45.9] μg/100g; VitaminA = 28.1 [9.3, 88.8] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.333 [0.154, 0.655] mg/100g (wet weight);
