Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. However, a lot of the other features seem to argue for classifying the pup as a spinner. The blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) is a species of requiem shark, and part of the family Carcharhinidae.It is common to coastal tropical and subtropical waters around the world, including brackish habitats. Capt. They are frequently caught by anglers fishing from the beach. Since my shark was definitely under 70 cm, what I should have been looking for was a lack of any black tips at all. At this time the waters of Florida's most popular beaches literally teem with blacktip sharks, which migrate in search of warm water and food. Adult male spinner sharks have anal fins with black tips; blacktip sharks’ anal fins don’t have a black tip. Juveniles often lack the characteristics spots. Prominent, forward-pointing furrows occur at the corners of the mouth. In the Western Atlantic Ocean, it occurs from North Carolina to the northern Gulf of Mexico, including the Bahamas and Cuba, and from southern Brazil to Argentina. This species occurs in tropical and warm temperate waters worldwide, except for in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Read on for the pictures and particulars…. Greater amounts of total lipids were found in sharks from the Indian Ocean than in those from the Atlantic Ocean (spinner 0.431 g g −1 vs 0.324 g g −1, p = 0.004; blacktip 0.426 g g … Mating occurs from early spring to summer, and parturition in August off North Africa, from April to May off South Africa, and from March to April in the northwestern Atlantic. Spinner sharks are swift and gregarious predators that feed on a wide variety of small bony fishes and cephalopods. It is found from coastal to offshore habitats to a depth of 100 m (330 ft), though it prefers shallow water. The giveaway for me, besides the lack of body depth, is the origin of the second dorsal fin over the mid point of the anal fin. Adult females have a single functional ovary and two functional uteri; each uterus is divided into compartments, one for each embryo. Update – Looks like the consensus is that this shark is neither a blacktip or a spinner, but a mid-sized, dark-colored Atlantic sharpnose. [14], Ordinarily, spinner sharks do not pose a substantial danger to humans; they do not perceive large mammals as prey, as their small, narrow teeth are adapted for grasping rather than cutting. Blacktip sharks have distinctive black markings on the tips of their fins making them very easy to recognize, especially in one of their preferred habitats, the shallow waters of the Florida Keys. The spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, named for the spinning leaps it makes as a part of its feeding strategy. [8], The spinner shark has been reported from the ocean surface to a depth of 100 m (330 ft), though it prefers water less than 30 m (98 ft) deep, and occupies all levels of the water column. The northwest Atlantic subpopulation is known to be migratory; in spring and summer, they are found in warm inshore waters, and in winter, they move south into deeper water. The spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, named for the spinning leaps it makes as a part of its feeding strategy. I realized after we released it that the best way to tell the difference is that Spinner's have a black tip on the Anal fin, and unfortunately my hand is covering the Anal fin in … Uranga nasuta Whitley, 1943. In the Eastern Atlantic, it occurs from off North Africa to Namibia. brachyurus). You can find shark in soups, grilled, barbecued, in tacos, as steaks, on kebabs and even as jerky. This species is not usually dangerous to humans, but may become belligerent when excited by food. [9] Off South Africa, females are found close to shore year-round, while males only appear during the summer. For what it’s worth too, the spinner picture above would be at the extreme end in terms of lack of fin coloration. Blacknose Grey to black blotch on tip of snout. It also demonstrates how tough it can be to get species-specific data for some coastal shark species, and that I really need to get as much hands-on ID experience as I can before I really get going with this project. . Both spinner and blacktips 2nd dorsal is a little more inline with anal fin origin. [2], The first dorsal fin is relatively small and usually originates behind the free rear tip of the pectoral fins. These little sharpnose often fool observers too due to their lack of spots and black margins. In addition, the fins are used for shark fin soup in East Asia, the liver oil is processed for vitamins, and the skin is made into leather products. Was I right the first time? “We got some really great shots this year,” Jorgensen said. Another blacktip shark later in the video wasn’t so fortunate. [3] Off Madagascar, spinner sharks follow migrating schools of mackerel, tunas, and jacks. How to identify the Blacktip vs Spinner shark. The most obvious characters on this specimen are the generally dark grey color and black margins on the dorsal fins and tail. For the purposes of commercial quotas and recreational bag limits, the spinner shark is categorized as a "large coastal shark".[14]. Aprionodon caparti Poll, 1951 So that’s the story of how my Carcharhinus limbatus may have become a Carcharhinus brevipinna. Blacktips usually have a much taller dorsal fin than a spinner shark. Carcharhinus johnsoni Smith, 1951 It is often mistaken for the spinner shark because both species have torpedo-shaped bodies and are known for spinning out of the water while feeding. This species has the smallest ova relative to the fully developed embryo of any viviparous shark known. Sometimes confused with blacktipped sharks, spinner sharks are common in Florida fishing waters. This behavior is quite similar to another shark species, the spinner shark.
Mating occurs during the summer and after approximately 11 months of gestation, females give birth to live young in shallow coastal areas. Blacktip shark at 70.9 cm. [10] Spinner sharks are relatively fast-growing sharks: 30 cm (12 in) per year for newborns, 25 cm (9.8 in) per year for one-year-olds, 10 cm (3.9 in) per year for adolescents, and 5 cm (2.0 in) per year for adults. The eyes are small and circular. This slender shark is often mistaken for a blacktip shark because its fins have gray or black tips. Time of year makes sense as well, we don’t see blacktips or spinners in SC until water temp tops 17 C. Hey Chuck, I haven’t been in the field much, but I’ve seen a bunch of juvenile blacktips and a few spinners. Longmania calamaria Whitley, 1944 [11] Individual prey are seized and swallowed whole, as this shark lacks cutting dentition. Chuck, another thing to look for on the blacktip/spinner is the characteristic “Z line” or “racing stripe”, it’s a little faded in the pictures above, but very prominent when you have an individual in hand. Normally wary of humans, blacktip sharks can become aggressive in the presence of food and have been responsible for a number of attacks on people. Thanks to Bryan, Melissa, and Simon for clearing it up. The position of the second dorsal and anal fin does strongly suggest a sharpnose. [4], Based on similarities in morphology, tooth shape, and behavior, the closest relatives of the spinner shark were originally believed to be the blacktip shark and the graceful shark (C. Spinner shark, C. brevipinna (anal fin has a black tip and first dorsal fin … 1 The shark's momentum at the end of these spiraling runs often carries it into the air, giving it its common name. If anyone else has any horror stories about species ID, feel free to share them in the comments. The spinner shark was originally described as Carcharias (Aprion) brevipinna by Johannes Peter Müller and Friedrich Gustav Jakob Henle in their 1839 Systematische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen, based on the mounted skin of a 79-cm-long specimen collected off Java. It is likely also caught by other fisheries across its range, going unreported owing to confusion with the blacktip shark. Blacktip sharks are generally stockier than spinner sharks, with a shorter snout and a dorsal fin that starts slightly before the rear margin of the pectoral fins. Total length is the straight line distance from the most forward part of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed together while the fish is lying on its side. Behavior of the Blacktip Shark. [2] As of 2008, the International Shark Attack File listed 16 unprovoked attacks and one provoked attack attributable to the spinner shark, none of them fatal. on whether my species ID is sound. Interestingly, the adult spinner shark bears a close resemblance to the blacktip shark (Carcharinus Limbatus) because of its black-tipped fins. Now, after looking over the picture in better detail and consulting the literature, I’m not so sure. But the fin tips still bothered me. [10] Spinner sharks generally do not reproduce until they are 12–14 years old. Thresher – upper lobe of caudal fin extremely … [10] This species employs an unusual tactic when feeding on schools of small fish; the shark charges vertically through the school, spinning on its axis with its mouth open and snapping all around it. Their diet consists mostly of bony fish. [10] Smaller spinner sharks may be preyed upon by larger sharks. Best Hook For Shark Fishing. I’d hate to say it Chuck, but I’m voting neither. Still not perfect, but now classifying the pup as a spinner made a lot more sense. Complicating the ID is the fact that morphology and coloration can change as sharks grow (though usually they’re recognizable down to species). [13] Females give birth to three to 20 (usually seven to 11) pups every other year, after a gestation period of 11–15 months. Chuck, Bryan is right. I’ve seen a bunch that were lacking a blacktip on the anal fin, but that one is lacking black tips on several fins…could just be the photo though. This species is of importance to both commercial and recreational fisheries across many parts of its range, with its meat, skin, fins, and liver oil used. Is it something completely different? According to The Sharks of North America (my review here), the way those problematic spots develop differs between the two species. The black tipped fins are also a giveaway; ironically, blacktip sharks often have less obvious black tips than spinners, and lack a black tip on the anal fin. The meat is marketed under the name "blacktip shark" in the United States, due to that species being considered superior in quality by consumers. The dominant species of these migratory sharks are blacktip and spinner sharks, but other large predators follow this annual migratory pattern, including: hammerheads and bull sharks. Blacktip sharks start with very vivid black tips that fade with age, while spinners under 70 cm in length may lack spots entirely and then darken with age. Young individuals have unmarked fins; the tips of the second dorsal fin, pectoral fins, anal fin, and lower caudal fin lobe (and sometimes the other fins, as well) are black in larger individuals. The spinner also has black pigment on its anal fin that the blacktip does not have. [2] The body is densely covered with diamond-shaped dermal denticles with seven (rarely five) shallow horizontal ridges. Traumatogenic. Some fishermen know it by its slender shape, long pointed snout and small eyes. Young individuals prefer cooler water temperatures than adults. Appears to be an Atlantic sharpnose, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae. [14] The spinner shark is also highly regarded by recreational fishers, being described as a "spectacular fighter" that often leaps out of the water. Here’s where it pays to do a thorough search of the literature. A fast and agile predator, the spinner shark feeds unlike any other shark species by spinning out of the water in quick bursts of speed to catch a meal. When feeding on schools of forage fish, they speed vertically through the school while spinning on their axis, erupting from the water at the end. Thanks Bryan, Melissa, and Simon. The spinner is a seldom recognized shark, and it is frequently confused with the blacktip. Isogomphodon maculipinnis Poey, 1865 [3] The tooth shape and coloration of this species varies significantly with age and between geographical regions, which caused much taxonomic confusion. [2] Groups of spinner sharks are often found pursuing schools of prey at high speed. This species can be distinguished from the blacktip shark by the first dorsal fin, which has a different shape and is placed further back, and by the black tip on the anal fin (in adults only). The answer is yes. We caught 20+ small Blacktip Sharks off the beach, then I caught this bigger shark that had far more pronounced Blacktips on it's fins. Time of year makes sense as well, we don’t see blacktips or spinners in SC until water temp tops 17 C. Thanks Bryan. Tagging in Bull Shark Country | Ya Like Dags. [15], The meat of the spinner shark is of high quality and sold fresh or dried and salted. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this species as near threatened worldwide and vulnerable off the Southeastern United States. Like blacktip sharks, they congregate around shrimp trawlers to feed on the discarded bycatch, and may be incited into feeding frenzies. [14] Off South Africa, males mature at 1.8 m (5.9 ft) and females at 2.1 m (6.9 ft). Spinners also tend to be more slender than blacktip sharks. I’m considering reclassifying the little guy, but I’m still not 100% on it. In the Indian Ocean, it is found from South Africa and Madagascar, to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, to India and nearby islands, to Java and Sumatra. . The maximum lifespan has been estimated at 15–20 years or more. Most of the sharpnoses I’ve seen have either been neonates (which are almost always white or light grey) or adults with the green/grey coloration and spots. The water temp was about 58 F (14 C) and we were getting some warmwater fish in the net. This little feature is probably the easiest way to tell the two sharks apart… when they’re adults. A blacktip will usually have much stronger contrast in their skin color than a spinner. Both spinner and blacktips 2nd dorsal is a little more inline with anal fin origin. Blacktip Shark. 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