The Australian sharpnose shark is a species of requiem shark living in the western Pacific.
Australian Sharpnose Shark Scientific Classification |
|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family | Carcharhinidae |
| Genus | Rhizoprionodon |
| Scientific Name | R. taylori |
Description
On average, the Australian sharpnose shark reaches about 1.3-1.5 ft, with females generally larger than males. The largest known specimen recorded was about 2.3 ft.
Counter-shading can be observed in these sharks as they are bronze to grey dorsally and white ventrally. The tips and margins of the dorsal and caudal fins are dark, while the rest are light-edged.
Where do they live
Map Of The Australian Sharpnose Shark’s Habitat
This shark has a small range in the western Pacific Ocean between latitudes 8°N and 28°S, encompassing Papua New Guinea and northern Australia.
It swims from the surface to depths of up to 360 ft in the coastal, tropical waters of the continental shelf.
Behavior
Reproductive
These sharks are viviparous, giving live birth to a litter of 1-10 pups. The gestation period of this shark is around a year. However, there appears to be a period of embryonic diapause for about seven and a half months, where the embryo’s development stops for some reason.
Once born, they mature quickly in about a year. The average lifespan of these sharks is about seven years.
Interactions with humans
Despite being caught quite frequently as bycatch, the population of this shark has not declined by much and remains resilient. As a result, the IUCN lists this shark as “Least Concern” or “LC”.
