Species profile
Caribbean Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon porosus
At a glance
Caribbean Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon porosus) is an IUCN Vulnerable invertebrate regulated in 3 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Listed under CITES — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- One of the smaller requiem sharks, typically reaching about 110 cm (3.5 feet) at maturity.
- Found in shallow coastal waters throughout the Caribbean and western Atlantic.
- Gives birth to 2–6 live pups after roughly 11 months of gestation.
- Reaches sexual maturity in as little as 2–3 years — unusually fast for a shark.
- Its long, pointed snout is the key feature distinguishing it from similar small coastal sharks.
Jurisdictions with rules for Caribbean Sharpnose Shark
Protected status
- CITES Appendix II (Carcharhinidae — all requiem sharks, CoP19 effective Nov 2023).
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The Caribbean sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon porosus) is a requiem shark, and part of the family Carcharhinidae. It is found in the tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, between latitudes 28° N and 40° S, from the surface to a depth of 500 m. It can reach a length of about 1.1 m.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Caribbean Sharpnose Shark article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other invertebrates on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.