Given Names / Appearance / Size / Distribution / Biology / Feeding / Similar Species / Endangerment / Danger to Humans

 

Given Names

French : Requin-pointes noires German : Schwarzspitzen-Riffhai Spanish : Tiburon de puntas negras Italian : Squalo pinna nera Other Scientific Names :  N/A

Diagnosis

A rather small shark (under 1.6m) with conspicuous, black-marked fin tips.  Snout rather short and rounded with prominent nasal flaps; eyes oval;  no interdorsal ridge; 1st dorsal fin medium-sized (height 8 - 11.4% of TL) with its origin above or just posterior to the inner corner of the pectoral fins; 2nd dorsal moderately large with a short rear tip, anal fin of similar size and positioned directly below. Upper teeth rather narrow, generally oblique, with serrated margins and enlarged serrae and cusplets at the bases.  Colour light grey-brown dorsally, fading to white ventrally; darker horizontal band invading the white flanks.  Tip of 1st dorsal and lower caudal fin marked with conspicuous black blotches, surrounded into the fin interior with white; other fins with less marked black or dark apexes; trailing edge of caudal fin often clearly lined in black.

Size

Exceptionally to 180cm TL;  mostly under 160cm TL; size at birth 33 to 52 cm.

Distribution

Océan Atlantique : N/A Mer Méditerranée : A tropical Indo-Pacific species which may be considered a recent addition to the Mediterranean fauna (Tortonese, 1964), where it is rare or occasional with a range perhaps increasing in warmer southern areas.  Currently found from Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel to at least Cape Bon, Tunisia, originally as migrants via Suez Canal from Red Sea. Reported (very infrequently) from Maltese fishmarkets, probably as specimens taken by fisheries operating towards the Libyan coast where these sharks are apparently not uncommon in the Gulf of Sidra.  Not yet recorded from the fishery at Mazara del Vallo (Sicily) but a likely addition giving the extensive geographical remits of the fishing-fleet based there. Océan Indien : Frequent Océan Pacifique : Frequent

Biology

A coastal or littoral shallow-water species typically associated with coral reef communities; within Mediterranean waters it tends to occur in clearer waters in bays and along the margins or sandy flats of shallow banks, also around islets and headlands, over rocky or sandy substrate and often adjacent to drop-offs or channels to a maximum depth of 100m but more commonly in depths under 20m.  These sharks are active swimmers, generally near the bottom but sometimes visible cruising at the surface in very shallow, wading-depth waters; either singly or in small, loose aggregations. Activity levels increase markedly at night and tagging studies in Pacific waters suggest that these sharks may inhabit the same microsites for at least 2 years.  Biology and ecology in Mediterranean waters poorly known.  Viviparous.  Litter size 2 - 5 pups, generally 4 or less; gestation period perhaps as much as 16 months.  Females mature at 96 - 112cm TL; males between 91 - 100cm.

Feeding

Preys upon a wide range of smaller demersal or inshore bony fish, including jacks, mullet, sea breams and smaller groupers; also octopi, squid, cuttlefish and occasionally shrimps.

Similar Species

The "Blacktip shark" (Carcharhinus limbatus) which don't have a black tip on its first dorsal fin.  The "blacktail reef shark" ( Carcharhinus wheeleri )  have a whit tip on its first dorsal fin.

Endangerment

Endangered. Regularily caught in fisherie.

Danger to humans

Not a dangerous species because of its small size.