Rhizoprionodon

Atlantic sharpnose ( Rhizoprionodon terraenovae )

The sharp-nose shark ( Rhizoprionodon ) are a genus of requiem sharks ( Carcharhinidae ). It comprises 7 species and is found on all tropical and subtropical coasts. The widespread among other things, in the eastern Atlantic Milchhai (R. acutus ) very rarely comes here as the only kind in the Mediterranean, where it migrates across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Appearance and characteristics

The usually between one and a maximum of 1.75 meters long species of sharp-nose sharks have a slim body and are very similar to members of the genus Carcharhinus in shape. They have a long snout and have 5 gill slits, an injection hole is missing. Like other requiem sharks they have an anal fin and two dorsal fins, of which the front is larger than the rear. The eyes are large and relatively small teeth in both jaws obliquely and perforated.

Way of life

Sharp-nose sharks live as shallow-water species, especially over the continental shelf or other shallow marine areas. They feed mainly on fish. The sharks are viviparous and form a yolk sac placenta ( placental viviparous ).

Dissemination

The sharp-nose sharks are found in all tropical and subtropical coastal areas. Here, some species occur in very large areas such as the Milchhai, which has spread from the eastern Atlantic along the entire African coast, with the exception of the extreme south and the shores of the Indian Ocean to the Pacific coasts of Southeast Asia and Australia. Other species are restricted to smaller distribution areas, so there is the Pacific sharpnose only on the East Pacific coast from California to Peru.

System

The genus The sharp-nose sharks consists of seven recognized species:

  • Milchhai ( Rhizoprionodon acutus )
  • Brazilian sharpnose ( Rhizoprionodon lalandii )
  • Pacific sharpnose ( Rhizoprionodon longurio )
  • Caribbean sharpnose ( Rhizoprionodon porosus )
  • Gray sharpnose ( Rhizoprionodon oligolinx )
  • Australian sharpnose ( Rhizoprionodon taylori )
  • Atlantic sharpnose ( Rhizoprionodon terraenovae )
Atlantic sharpnose shark Gilbert Percy Whitley Milk shark Fish fin Brazilian sharpnose shark Pacific sharpnose shark Caribbean sharpnose shark Grey sharpnose shark Australian sharpnose shark
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