Species profile
Narrowtooth Shark
Carcharhinus brachyurus
Identify Narrowtooth Shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Narrowtooth Shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) is an IUCN Vulnerable shark or ray regulated in 2 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Listed under MSA and CITES — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Narrowtooth sharks can grow to 11 feet (3.3 meters) and are one of the largest requiem shark species.
- They are well-known participants in South Africa's annual sardine run, herding massive bait balls near the surface.
- Females give birth to litters of 7 to 24 live pups after roughly a 12-month gestation.
- Unlike most requiem sharks, they tolerate cooler temperate waters and range widely across both hemispheres.
- They can live more than 25 years and mature late, making populations slow to recover from fishing pressure.
Jurisdictions with rules for Narrowtooth Shark
Protected status
- Atlantic HMS prohibited — must release unharmed.
- 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 copper shark, bronze whaler, or narrowtooth shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) is a species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae, and the only member of its genus found mostly at temperate latitudes. It is distributed in a number of separate populations in the northeastern and southwestern Atlantic, off southern Africa, in the northwestern and eastern Pacific, and around Australia and New…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Narrowtooth Shark article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other sharks & rays on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Narrowtooth Shark?
Narrowtooth Shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) is an IUCN Vulnerable shark or ray regulated in 2 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Narrowtooth Shark?
Narrowtooth Shark is Carcharhinus brachyurus.
Is Narrowtooth Shark regulated for fishing?
Yes — Narrowtooth Shark has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Narrowtooth Shark?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Narrowtooth Shark along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.