BLACKNOSE SHARK

 

View all available Blacknose Shark Pictures in the SHARKIVE

Common Names: Blacknose shark.

Latin Name: Carcharhinus acronotus.

Family: Carcharhinidae

Identification: Black spot on tip of nose - often just a vague smudge. Pectoral fins small. Trailing tips of pectorals, and first dorsal fin sometimes have thin light edge. Pelvic, second dorsal, anal, and caudal fins dusky. Leading edge of lower caudal light. Gill slits short. Overall coloration greyish brown with golden sheen. Underside  white.

Size: Maximum length 137cm. 38-50cm at birth. Maximum age 8 - 10.

Habitat: Reefs, rubble, and sand flats. 18-64m.

Abundance and distribution: North Carolina to Brazil. An abundant shark but rarely observed. Common in the Bahamas. A participant in shark feeds in St Maarten.

Behavior:  Cruises over sand and reefs in search of prey. Performs hunch display when threatened.

Reproduction: Viviparous. Gives birth to 3 - 6 pups after a 10 month gestation period. Possibly reproduces every other year.

Observations: When attending shark feeds, the Blacknose shark is a much faster swimmer than the Caribbean reef. This may reflect its personality or may be due to it being in close proximity to the Caribbean reef sharks.

Photographs: St Maarten.  

Similar species: Similar to many other carcharinids. Best identified by black nose but not always visible.

Reaction to divers: Unlikely to get close enough for divers to identify underwater, without the use of chum. In St Maarten, Blacknose sharks regularly approach the feeder, but hang back if larger sharks are present. When they have the feed to themselves, they sometimes become very aggressive.

Diving logistics: Blacknose shark are rarely seen. Doc Gruber's shark lab in Bimini, conducts a feed where Blacknose sharks are present, but the best location to reliably see them is the shark feed conducted by Dive Safaris in St Maarten, Netherland Antilles. The feed is in 65ft of water and is conducted by a chain mail sleeved shark feeder. Boats leave the dock for the short ride to Big Mamas Reef a few times a week. Dive Safaris is the pioneer of shark feeding in this area.

Other diving locations submitted by readers: 

References and further reading:  

     Sharks of the World - Leonard Compagno et al. Princeton Press / Collins.

     Reef Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.

     Sharks and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.

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