Spinner Shark
Spinner Shark
Inkytail Shark, Smoothfang Shark, Long-nose Grey Shark
Carcharhinus brevipinna

Description:

No interdorsal ridge. Grayish-bronze elongate body with white belly. Upper caudal tail lobe is longer than the lower portion. Snout is pointed, moderately long, and either as long or longer than the mouth is wide. Origin of first dorsal fin sits behind the back of pectoral fins. Has black tips on all fins, including anal fin. The black tip on the anal fin may be absent in juveniles.

Average Maximum Size:

245 cm (8 ft)

Adults Distinguishing Characteristics:

Spinner Sharks can be differentiated from other sharks without an interdorsal ridge by the black tips on its fins. Spinner sharks have an additional black tip on its anal fin. Atlantic Black Tip Sharks also have black tips on fin, but its anal fin will be white, with no black tip. Bull sharks have black tipped fins, and black-tipped anal fins, but its snout is blunt and rounded (shorter than the mouth is wide). Spinner sharks insertion of the first dorsal fin is well behind the back of the pectoral fin.

Juveniles Distinguishing Characteristics:

Range:

North Carolina to Cuba

Habitat:

Coastal to offshore. Will leap out of the water and spin.

Notes:

Regulated Species:

Yes
Species: Carcharhinus brevipinna
Family: Carcharhinidae
Family Description: Requiem Shark
Mouth Type: Subterminal
Tail Type: Heterocercal
Dorsal Type: Split

Similar Species

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Bull Shark
Bull Shark
Blacktip Shark
Blacktip Shark