The grey sharpnose shark is a requiem shark living in the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific. It is similar in appearance to the Australian sharpnose shark.
Grey Sharpnose Shark Scientific Classification |
|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family | Carcharhinidae |
| Genus | Rhizoprionodon |
| Scientific Name | R. oligolinx |
Description
On average, these sharks reach lengths of 2.3 ft, though the record for the longest specimen is 2.9 ft. Inside the shark’s short-furrowed mouth are a series of oblique, narrow-cusped teeth in both jaws. Its snout is long and pointed, with small nostrils spaced apart and large eyes.
Dorsally, this shark is bronze or grey, while it appears very pale ventrally. There are dark marks on the edges of its fins.
Where do they live
Map Of The Grey Sharpnose Shark’s Habitat
Grey sharpnose sharks swim in the Indo-west Pacific, ranging between 30° N and 18° S, i.e., from the eastern part of the Persian Gulf to China, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand. There have been sightings in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Palau.
It dwells in shallow waters, often spotted between the surface and depths of up to 118 ft.
Behavior
Feeding
This shark feeds on cephalopods, crustaceans, and fish.
Reproductive
Grey sharpnose sharks are viviparous, giving live birth to a litter of 3-5 pups.
Interactions with humans
The shark’s population remains steady despite being commonly fished for its meat and fins by inshore demersal gillnet fisheries. As a result, the IUCN classifies this shark as “Near Threatened” or “NT”.
