Identification guide to common sharks and rays of the Caribbean

7/25/2019 Identification guide to common sharks and rays of the Caribbean

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Identification Guide to

Common Sharks and Rays of theCaribbean


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Te designations employed and the presentation o material in this inormation product do not imply the

expression o any opinion whatsoever on the part o the Food and Agriculture Organization o the United Nations(FAO) concerning the legal or development status o any country, territory, city or area or o its authorities,or concerning the delimitation o its rontiers or boundaries. Te mention o specific companies or productso manuacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed orrecommended by FAO in preerence to others o a similar nature that are not mentioned.

Te views expressed in this inormation product are those o the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the viewsor policies o FAO.

FAO, 2016

ISBN 978-92-5-109245-3

FAO encourages the use, reproduction and dissemination o material in this inormation product. Except whereotherwise indicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed or private study, research and teachingpurposes, or or use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement oFAO as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAOs endorsement o users views, products or services

is not implied in any way.

All requests or translation and adaptation rights, and or resale and other commercial use rights should be madevia www.ao.org/contact-us/licence-request or addressed to [email protected].

FAO inormation products are available on the FAO website (www.ao.org/publications) and can be purchasedthrough [email protected].


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FAO. 2016. Identification guide to common sharks and rays of the Caribbean, byRamn Bonfil. FishFinder Programme. Rome, Italy.

Supervision:Kim Friedman (FAO, Rome), Raymon Van Anrooy (FAOSLC, Barbados).

Technical editor: Edoardo Mostarda (FAO, Rome).

Colour illustrations, images, graphic design and cover: Emanuela DAntoni (FAO,Rome).Technical revision: Nikola Simpson (FAOSLC, Barbados).

Tis guide was prepared under the CITES-FAO collaboration on immediate actionsin support of the implementation of CITES listings of sharks and manta rays project

and developed in close collaboration with the FishFinder Programme of theMarine and Inland Fisheries Branch, Fisheries Department, Food and AgricultureOrganization of the United nations (FAO).

It includes a selection of shark and ray species occurring in the Wider CaribbeanRegion, that is the waters of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the waters of theAtlantic Ocean adjacent thereto. In total, 41 shark and 20 ray species are included.

Tese species were selected because of their relevance to commercial fisheries orvulnerability to exploitation due to their life history characteristics. Of these, 29shark and 9 ray species are presented in a full species card and depicted with acolour illustration and photo. Short accounts of 12 shark and 11 ray species that areless common in the region and could be misidentified with more common species,are also included.

Tis guide is intended to help fishery workers collecting catch data in the field in theidentification of the sharks and rays they might encounter for the specific purposeof improving the quality of catch and landings data. Te guide is expected to beuseful also for fisheries inspectors, observers and enforcement officers of the navy,coastguard and customs.

FishFinder Programme, Marine and Inland Fisheries Branch (FIAF). Food andAgriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.

Website: www.fao.org/fishery/fishfinder/en

Email: [email protected]

1


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GUIDE O ORDERS INCLUDED IN HIS GUIDE

HEXANCHIFORMES Pages 10 and 11

SQUAINIFORMES Page 59CARCHARHINIFORMES Pages 22 to 58

SQUALIFORMES Pages 12 and 13

LAMNIFORMES Pages 14 to 19 ORECOLOBIFORMES Pages 20 and 21

Only one dorsal fin

6 or 7 gill slits No anal fin

Anal fin

No anal fin

Body flattened,raylike

Pectoral fins notattached to headEyes with a

movable lowereyelid

Eyes without amovable lower

eyelid

Mouthterminal

Mouth well inront o eyes

Te shark and ray species included in this guide belong to nine Orders and sixteenFamilies. Te species cards are colour coded by Order. Te user can check the caughtspecimen against the guide below and ollow the colour code or page numbers to

reach the species cards.

2


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PRISIFORMES Pages 60 and 61

RHINOBAIFORMES Pages 62 and 63

MYLIOBAIFORMES Pages 64 to 75

Snout with a long, flat, relativelywide rostrum surrounded by large

teeth on both sides

Tail slender to stout, with twodorsal fins and a rudimentary

caudal fin

Tail thin, mostly long

and whiplike, ofen withserrated sting on root

Gill slits onunderside o body

Body flattened,raylike

Body flattened

Body flattened

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HOW O USE HIS GUIDE

Bio-ecology, fishingmethods andmaximum depth

Similar speciesoccurring in the

area showing maindifferences with thespecies on the lef

card

Scientific nameand Autorship

FAO 3-alphacode

CIES listing (see page 9)

Scientific illustrationand field marks

Species size: maximum

(Max.), maleand emalematurity (Mat.), and birth

Coloration

Photo o reshly

caught specimen

Other helpuldetails oridentification

Familyname

FAO name in English,French and Spanish

4


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HABIA

Coastal,pelagic

Estuarineand rivers

Coastal,demersal

Demersal,over slope

Oceanic,epipelagic

Deep-water,around seamounts

1875 m

Bottom trawl

Longlines Hook-and-line

Gillnets

Harpoon

Purse seine

FISHING MEHODS

Deep-water,over slope

5


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Lateral view

Ventral view

Snout

Nostril

Eye

SpiracleDorsal-finspine (Ipresent

1stdorsal fin2nddorsal fin

Precaudal

pitKeel

Mouth

Labialurrow

Gill slits Pectoral fin

Caudal finCaudalpeduncle

Clasper(male sex

organ)

Pelvic fin

Anal fin

TailTrunk

Total length (TL)

Head

runk

Caudal fin

Anal fin

Precaudaltail

Anal-finridgesVent

Pelvic fin(emale, no

claspers)

Pectoralfin

Mouth

Gill slitsSnout

Nostril

GUIDE OF EXERNAL ERMINOLOGY OF SHARKS

6


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Dorsal viewo body Mouth corner

Pectoral fin

Dorsal fin

Caudal fin

Labial urrow

Labial old

Spine

Anteriormargin

Origin Insertion

Freerear tip

Posteriormargin

Apex

Base

Subterminal

notch

Lower origin

Upper origin

Dorsalmargin

Dorsal lobeTerminallobe

Ventral tipVentrallobe

Fin insertion

Fin origin

Inner

margin

Freerear tip

PosteriormarginAnterior

margin

Apex

Base

7

Interdorsal-finridge


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GUIDE OF EXERNAL ERMINOLOGY OF RAYS

orbitsnout

spiracle

tail

tail spine

pelvic fin

preorallength

pectoral fin

Disc width (DW)

8

Dorsal view o aDasyatidae species

Underside o head o aMobulaspecies


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HOW O SAFELY RELEASE SHARKSTe biological characteristic o sharks and rays render them very vulnerable to heavy exploitationand many species are already considered to be under threat o extinction. Considering this, it isimportant to ensure that sharks and rays that are released alive, survive the stress o capture and donot die shorty afer being released. Also, it is important or fishers to handle and release sharks and

rays without risking injury to themselves. Te rst recommendation is to make sure that everyone involved knows his or her role duringthe release, to increase saety or fish and fishers. It is very important to use circle hooks rather than J hooks. Since circle hooks usually embed inthe fishs jaw rather than the throat or stomach, they decrease lie-threatening injuries. Non-stainless steel hooks are also recommended because if le in the sh, they will eventually

corrode allowing fish to heal and continue to live healthy lives. Minimizing ght times and keeping sh in the water while removing hooks also help to increasesurvival rates. Do not use gas to secure sharks, and avoid liing sh out of the water. Use a de-hooking tool if possible. Tis avoids risk of being bitten during hook removal. Resuscitate sharks before release, by pulling them slowly while in the water so that oxygen goesthrough their gills.

9

Te Convention on International rade in Endangered Species oWild Fauna and Flora (CIES) is an international agreement betweengovernments aimed at protecting species o wild auna and flora romoverexploitation through international trade.

A specimen o a CIES-listed species may be imported into or exported

(or re-exported) rom a State party to the Convention only i the appropriate document has beenobtained and presented or clearance at the port o entry or exit. Te species covered by CIES arelisted in three Appendices, according to the degree o protection they need.

Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. rade in specimens o these species ispermitted only in exceptional circumstances (i.e. research).

Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade

must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Countries willonly allow trade in specimens o these species once the Scientific Authority o the State o exporthas advised that such export will not be detrimental to the survival o that species. Tese non-detriment findings (NDFs) guarantee that exports o products rom listed species covered by theNDF have not harmed wild populations or ecosystems.

Appendix III includes species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked otherCIES Parties or assistance in controlling the trade.

Hexanchus griseus (B t 1788)


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SizeMax.: 482 cm LMat.:309 cm L421 cm LBirth: 65 cm L

Bluntnose sixgill shark Requin grisetCaabota gris

Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788)

HEXANC

HIDAE

SBL

Colour: grey or tan toblackish with a conspicuouslighter lateral line.Underside ofen lighter.

Six gill slits

Only one

dorsal fin

Distance(a)slightly larger than

dorsalfin base length (b)Eye relativelysmall

Upper and lower teeth

Underside o head

Lower teethcomblike

6 rows o large teeth oneach side o mouth

1875 m

ab

Photo: Oddgeir Alvheim

10

Similar species


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Only onedorsal fin

Only onedorsal fin

Heptranchias perlo

Hexanchus nakamurai

Seven gillslits

Eye large

Six gill slitsEye relativelylarge



Lower teethcomblike

Lower teethcomblike

5 rows o large teeth on

each side o mouth

5 rows o large teeth oneach side o mouth

Distance(a)much larger thandorsalfin base length (b)

ab

Similar species

Size

Max.: 180 cm L

SizeMax.: 139 cm L

11

Squalus cubensis Howell Rivero 1936


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Cuban dogfish Aiguillat cubainGalludo cubano

Squalus cubensis Howell-Rivero, 1936

SQUAL

IDAE

QUC

380 m

Underside o head

Strongly concave pectoralfinposterior margins and very

pointed posterior tips

SizeMax.: 110 cm LMat.: and 50 cm LBirth: unknown

Colour: upper body brownto grey; white margins onpectoral fins and posterioredge o caudal fin.


1st dorsalfin spine verylong, almost equal to lengtho 1st dorsalfin base

Dorsal fins with

dark patches

Photo: D. Ross Robertson, www.stri.org/sgc

12

Squalus mitsukurii Jordan and Snyder 1903


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Shortspine spurdog Aiguillat pinetteGalludo espinilla

Squalus mitsukurii Jordan and Snyder, 1903

SQUAL

IDAE

QUK

954 m

Underside o head

Size

Max.: 125 cm LMat.: 4785 cm L50100 cm LBirth: 2130 cm L

Colour:upper body greyto brown; pectoral fins andposterior edge o caudal finwith thin white margins.


Spine on 1stdorsal fin short

Posterior tipso pectoral fins

rounded

No dark patches on

dorsal fins


13

Alopias superciliosus (Lowe, 1841)


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SizeMax.: 461 cm LMat.:279300 cm L

294355 cm LBirth: 100140 cm L

Bigeye thresher Renard gros yeuxZorro ojn

Alopias superciliosus (Lowe, 1841)

ALOPIIDAE

BTH

Colour: upper bodygreybrown to purplishgrey, white to grey below.No white patches abovepectoral or pelvicfin bases.

Strong groove

Eye large

Dorsal view o head

600 m

Origin o 1st dorsal fin ar

rom end o pectoral fins

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

14

Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788)


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SizeMax.: 573 cm L

Mat.:314 cm L315400 cm LBirth: 114160 cm L

Tresher RenardZorro

Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788)

ALOPIIDAE

ALV

Colour: upper body bluegreyto dark grey, underside white.

Noticeable white patches abovepectoral and pelvicfin basesextending rom ventral area.

Eye small

640 m

Origin o 1st dorsal fin closeto end o pectoral fins


15

Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758)


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Great white shark Grand requin blancJaquetn blanco

( , )

LAMN

IDAE

WSH

1200 m

Underside o head

SizeMax.: 640 cm L

Mat.: 350410 cm L,400500 cm LBirth: 109165 cm L

Colour: upper bodybluegrey to greybrown,

underside white.Boundary between thesetones is generally abrupt.

Pectoralfins broadlytriangular

2nd dorsal fin very

small

CITES

App. II

Caudal finhalmoon

shaped

Upper and lower teethserrated; upper broadly

triangular

Upper andlower tooth

Photo: G.H. Burgess

16

Similar species


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Underside o head

Upper teeth

Cetorhinus maximus

Isurus oxyrinchus

Isurus paucus

Gill openings reachingwell under head

Teeth verysmall

Upper and lowertooth


Pectoral finsnarrowlytriangular

Teeth daggerlike,not serrated

Teeth daggerlike,not serrated

Pectoral fins aslong as head

SizeMax.: 980 cm L

SizeMax.: 396 cm L

SizeMax.: 417 cm L

See also page 18

See also page 19

17

Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810


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Shortfin mako aupe bleueMarrajo dientuso

y

LAMNIDAE

SMA

620 m

Underside o head

SizeMax.: 396 cm LMat.: 203215 cm L,275293 cm LBirth: 6070 cm L

Colour: upper body brightbluepurplish, undersideusually white. Pelvic and analfins dark on anterior halves,white on posterior halves.

2nd dorsal fin verysmallHeadconical

Snout verynarrowlypointed

Teeth daggerlikenot serrated, with

bent tips


Pectoral finsnarrowlytriangular

Strong keel

Photo: P. Iglesias

18

Isurus paucus (GuitartManday, 1969)


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LAMNIDAE

N/A m

Underside o head

SizeMax.: 417 cm L

Mat.: 228245 cm L,245 cm LBirth: 97120 cm L

Colour: upper bodyslaty blue or greyblack;underside white, butunderside o snoutand jaws dark in large

juveniles and adults.

2nd dorsal fin very

small

Teeth daggerlikenot serrated, with

straight tips


Strong keel

Longfin mako Petite taupeMarrajo carite

LMA

Pectoral fins aslong as head

Snoutbroadlypointed

Photo: NOAA

19

Ginglymostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre, 1788)


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Nurse shark Requin-nourriceGata nodriza

GINGLYMOSTOMATID

AE

GNC

130 m

Underside o head


Colour: upper body yellowishto greybrown, underside lightwhitishbrown; young withsmall dark spots.

Dorsal fins o

similar size

Teethvery

small


1st dorsal fin above

pelvic fins

Caudal fin with very smallor no lower lobe

Small mouth withwhiskers, placed

almost all the way tothe ront o the snout

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

20

h l h k b lRhincodon typus Smith, 1828

CITES


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RHINCODONTIDA

E

1928 m

Lateral view ohead

SizeMax.: 1370 cm LMat.: 705 cm L,1060 cm LBirth: 55 64 cm L

Colour: upper body grey,bluish or greenishbrown,with a noticeable pattern o

white or yellow spots andvertical stripes; undersidewhite or yellowish.

1st dorsal fin abovepelvic fins

Whale shark Requin baleineiburn ballena

RHNCITES

App. II

Mouth very wideand in ront o

head

Noticeable ridges

on sides

Upper body covered with

lightcolored dots

Photo: H.B. Osmany

21

D k th h d i l dMustelus canis (Mitchill, 1815)


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Dusky smoothhound missole douceBoca dulce

TRIAK

IDAE

CTI

150 m

Underside o head

Dermal denticle


Colour: upper bodyolive grey or slaty grey,underside yellowish orwhitish grey, posteriormargin o first dorsalfin white in youngerspecimens.

Upper labialurrowslonger

than lowerurrows

Ventral lobe o caudalfin small and rounded

Teeth

Dermal denticleson back between

dorsal andpectoral fins, with

a single cusp

22


M t l hi iUpper labial urrows

Similar species

S l 24


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Underside o head

Underside o head

Underside o head

Dermal denticles

Dermal denticle

Dermal denticle

Mustelus higmani

Mustelus minicanis

Mustelus norrisi

Upper labial urrowsabout as long as lower

urrows


urrows


urrows

Ventral lobe ocaudal fin small and

pointed

Ventral lobe o caudalfin small and rounded

Ventral lobe ocaudal fin moderate

and pointed

Dermal denticles onback between dorsal

and pectoral finswith three cusps

Dermal denticles oback mostly with a

single cusps


single cusps

Size

Max.: 65 cm L

Size

Max.: 57 cm L

SizeMax.: 98 cm L

See also page 24

23

Smalleye smooth hound missole ti yeuxMustelus higmani Springer and Lowe, 1963

CT


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Smalleye smoothhound missole ti-yeuxMusola amarilla

TRIAKIDAE

CTJ

900 m

Underside o head


Colour: upper bodypale grey or bronze,with golden to brassyreflections, undersidewhitish.

Upper labial urrowsabout as long aslower urrows

Dermal denticles

Dermaldenticles o

back mostlywith three

cusps


pointed

24


Mustelus canis

Similar species

See also page 22


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Underside o head

Dermal denticle

Dermal denticle

Dermal denticle

Mustelus canis

Mustelus minicanis

Mustelus norrisi

Upper labial urrowslonger thanlower

urrows

Ventral lobe ocaudal fin small

and rounded


rounded

Ventral lobe ocaudal fin moderate

and pointed


single cusps


single cusps


single cusps

SizeMax.: 150 cm L

Size

Max.: 57 cm L

SizeMax.: 98 cm L

Underside o head


urrows

Underside o head


urrows

See also page 22

25

Scalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewini (Griffith and Smith, 1834)

SPLCITES


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Scalloped hammerheadRequin-marteau halicorne Cornuda comn

980 m

Size

Max.: 420 cm LMat.: 140165cm L,212 cm LBirth: 4255 cm L

Colour: upper bodygrey, greyish brown orolivaceous, undersidewhite; pectoral finstipped dusky below.

Underside o head

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

SPLApp. II

Head hammer-like inshape, with eyes on

sides o hammer-likeprojections

Anterior margin ohead convex, with astrong notch in the

middle

Posterior margino pelvic fins nearly

straight

Free rear tip o 1st

dorsal fin ar ahead opelvicfin origins

Free rear tip o 2nd dorsal

fin almost touchingcaudalfin origin

Posterior margino anal fin deeply

concave

SPHYR

NIDAE

26

Sphyrna mokarran

Similar species

See also page 28 Anterior margin o head


29/80

Underside o head

Underside o head

Underside o head

Sphyrna tudes

Sphyrna mokarran

Sphyrna zygaena

SizeMax.: 610 cm L

SizeMax.: 400 cm L

See also page 28

See also page 32

Dorsal finhigher and

strongly alcate

Anterior margin o headnearly straight

2nd dorsal finhigher

Posterior margin o pelvicfins strongly concave

CITES

App. II

Anterior margin o head convex,without a notch in the middle

Free rear tip o 2nddorsal fin ar romcaudalfin origin

Lateral head expansionswider, with more straight

posterior margins

Posterior margin o pelvicfins slightly concave

SizeMax.: 150 cm L

Free rear tip o 1stdorsal fin over or behind

pelvicfin origins

Posterior margin o analfin nearly straight

Sizesmaller

27

Great hammerhead Grand requin-marteauSphyrna mokarran (Rppel, 1837)

SPKCITES


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Great hammerhead Grand requin marteauCornuda gigante

SPHYR

NIDAE

80 m

SizeMax.: 610 cm LMat.: 234269cm L,250300 cm LBirth: 5070 cm L

Colour: upper body

grey or grey-brown,paler below; fins withdusky tips in young.

Underside o head

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

SPKApp. II

Head hammer-like inshape, with eyes on

sides o hammer-likeprojections

Anterior margin ohead straight, with astrong notch in the

middle

Posterior margin opelvic fins deeply concave

1st dorsal fin

very high andstrongly alcate

Free rear tip o 1st

dorsal fin ar ahead opelvicfin origins

Posterior margino anal fin deeply

concave

2nd dorsal fin high,with a short ree

rear tip

28

Sphyrna lewini

Similar species

See also page 26A t i i


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Underside o head

Underside o head

Sphyrna tudes

p y

Sphyrna zygaena

SizeMax.: 150 cm L

SizeMax.: 420 cm L

SizeMax.: 400 cm L

p g

See also page 32

CITES

App. II

Anterior margin o head convex,without a notch in the middle


2nd dorsal fin low

Free rear tip o 1stdorsal fin over or behind

pelvicfin origins

Lateral headexpansions wider

Posterior margin o analfin nearly straight

Underside o head

Anterior margin ohead nearly convex

1st dorsal fin lowerand not strongly

alcate

2nd dorsal fin low, with reerear tip almost reaching

caudalfin origin

Posterior margin o pelvicfins nearly straight

1st dorsal fin lower,with narrowlyrounded tip

Sizesmaller

29

Bonnethead Requin-marteau tiburoSphyrna tiburo (Linnaeus, 1758)

SPJ


32/80

qCornuda tiburo

SPHYR

NIDAE


Colour: upper bodygrey or grey-brown,light below, ofenwith small dark spotson sides o body.

Underside o head

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

SPJ

Posterior margin opelvic fins nearly straight

Origin o 1st dorsal finwell behind pectoralfin

insertion

Posterior margino anal fin nearly

straight

Posterior margino 2nd dorsal findeeply concave

Head shovel-like inshape, with eyes onsides o shovel-like

projections

80 m

30

Sphyrna tudes

Similar species

Anterior margin oSee also page 32


33/80

Underside o head

p y

SizeMax.: 150 cm L

Origin o 1st dorsal finjust behind pectoralfin

insertion

Origin o 1st dorsal finjust behind pectoralfin

insertion

Lateral headexpansionsmallet-like

Lateral headexpansionsmallet-like

Headexpansionsnarrower

Underside o head

Sphyrna media

SizeMax.: 150 cm L


Sphyrna lewini

SizeMax.: 420 cm L

See also page 26

Underside o head

Anterior margin ohead deeply notched

in the middle2nd dorsal fin lower, with

longer ree rear tip

Posterior margin o analfin deeply notched

ghead deeply notched

in the middle

Anterior margino head shallowly

notched or notnotched in the middle

Sizelarger

Headhammer-like

in shape

31

Smalleye hammerheadSphyrna tudes (Valenciennes, 1822)

SPQ


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Requin-marteau petits yeux Cornuda ojichica

SPHYR

NIDAE

12 m

Size

Max.: 150 cm LMat.: 110134cm L,120148 cm LBirth: 30 cm L

Colour: upper body grey-brown to golden, undersidelight; fins without markings.

Underside o head

Q

Head mallet-like inshape, with eyes onsides o mallet-like

projections

Origin o 1st dorsal fin

just behind pectoralfininsertion

Anterior margino head deeplynotched in the

middle

Preoral length

0.25-0.30 ohead width

Free rear tip o 1st

dorsal fin over or behindpelvicfin origins

Posterior margin oanal fin nearly straight

32

Similar species

Sphyrna media Anterior margin


35/80

Underside o head

Sphyrna tiburo

SizeMax.: 150 cm L


insertion

Sphyrna lewini

SizeMax.: 420 cm L

See also page 26

See also page 30

Underside o head

1st dorsalfinrear tip ar

ahead o pelvicfin origins

Free rear tip o 2nddorsal fin almost

touching caudalfinorigin

Posterior margin o analfin deeply notched

Head much widerand hammer-like

in shape

1st dorsalfinmore alcate

Underside o headSize

Max.: 150 cm L

o head shallowlynotched or not

notched in the middle

Preoral length0.33-0.40 ohead width

Headshovel-like

in shape

Anterior margin ohead not notched in

the middle

33

iger shark Requin tigre communi i

Galeocerdo cuvier (Peron and LeSueur, 1822)

TIG


36/80


intorera tigre

Colour: upper body darkgrey or greyish brown,underside whitish;young with dark verticalbars and spots on sides,ading in adults.

Spiracle

behind eye

A keel on each side o

caudal peduncle

920 m

Snout short and

bluntly rounded,preoral length0.71.1 times

internarial width

Upper labialurrows verylong, almost

reaching eye

Upper and lowerteeth coarselyserrated, with

large cusplets oninner base and adeep notch on the

inside margin

Upper and lower tooth

CARCHARHINIDAE

Underside o head

Photo: NOAA

34

Blue shark Peau bleueib l

Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758)

BSH


37/80


iburn azul

Colour: dark blue ontop, bright blue on sides

(purple blackish aferdeath), underside white.ips o pectoral and analfins dusky.

980 m


CARCHARHINIDAE

1st dorsal fin relativelysmall, closer to pelvic

fins than to pectoral fins

Weak keel on sideso caudal peduncle

No ridge on back

between dorsal fins

Snout long and

narrow

Upper teethheavily

serrated, andtriangularly

curved inwards

Underside o head

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

35

Lemon shark Requin citronib rn galano

Negaprion brevirostris (Poey, 1868)

NGB


38/80

iburn galano

CARCHARHINIDAE

92 m

Underside o head



Colour: olive greyor yellowish brown,but ofen darker; bellyyellowish or whitish.

2nd dorsal fin almost aslarge as 1st dorsal fin

1st dorsal fin in ronto pelvic fins

Snout short andbluntly rounded,preoral length

almost equal tointernarial width

Upper teeth

serrated andnotched onboth sides

Photo: K. Bondy

36

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Similar species

See also page 20

d l fi b


39/80

Small mouth withwhiskers, very close to

the ront o the snout

Carcharhinus acronotus

SizeMax.: 200 cm L

SizeMax.: 304 cm L

Origin o 1st dorsalfin over pectoralfin

ree rear tip

See also page 42

Underside o head

Teethverysmall


1st dorsal fin abovepelvic fins

Caudal fin with

very small or nolower lobe

2nd dorsal fin muchsmaller than 1st dorsal fin

Preoral length1.4-1.7 timesinternarial

space

Upper teeth deeplynotched on innerside Size smaller

Underside o head Upper and lower tooth 37

Brazilian sharpnose shark Requin aiguille brsilienCazn picudo chino

Rhizoprionodon lalandii (Valenciennes, 1839)

RHL


40/80

Cazn picudo chino

CARCHARHINIDAE

70 m



Colour: upper body

greyish brown, undersidewhite, pectoral fins withwhite posterior margins,caudal fin with darkmargins.

Underside o head

Apex o pectoral fin not reaching 1stdorsalfin midbase when pectoral fin

is pressed to the side o the body

Origin o 1st dorsal finabove or slightly behind

pectoralfin ree rear tip

Origin o 2nd dorsal fin

over analfin midbase

Base o anal fin with twostrong preanal ridges

Upper labialurrowslong and

noticeable

Teeth small,strongly

oblique,and withoutserrations


38

Rhizoprionodon porosus

Similar species

See also page 40


41/80




Underside o head

Underside o head

Underside o head

Carcharhinus falciformis

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

SizeMax.: 330 cm L

SizeMax.: 110 cm L


rear tip

See also page 44 Upper teeth stronglynotched in one side,

lightly notched in theother, and heavily

serrated

Apex o pectoral fin reaching or passing1st dorsalfin midbase when pectoralfin is pressed to the side o the body

Origin o 2nddorsal fin overanalfin origin

Largermaximum size

Base o anal fin withouttwo strong pre-anal ridges

Upper labialurrows

very small,unnoticeable

SizeMax.: 110 cm L

Apex o pectoral fin reaching or passing1st dorsalfin midbase when pectoral fin


Largermaximum size

Body usually withwhite spots

39

Caribbean sharpnose shark Requin aiguille antillaisCazn picudo antillano

Rhizoprionodon porosus (Poey, 1861)

RHR


42/80

Cazn picudo antillano

CARCHA

RHINIDAE

500 m



Colour: upper body brown

or greyish brown withoutlight spots, undersidewhitish, posterior margins opectoral fins white, o dorsaland caudal fins blackish.

Underside o head

Apex o pectoral fin reaching or passing1st dorsalfin midbase when pectoralfin is pressed to the side o the body

Origin o 1st dorsal finabove or slightly behind


Origin o 2nd dorsal fin

over analfin midbase

Base o anal fin with twostrong preanal ridges

Upper labialurrowslong and

noticeable

Teeth small,strongly

oblique,and withoutserrations

Photo: Uriel Mendoza-Vargas

40

Rhizoprionodon lalandii

Similar species

See also page 38


43/80




Underside o head

Underside o head

Underside o head


Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

SizeMax.: 330 cm L

SizeMax.: 77 cm L

SizeMax.: 110 cm L


rear tip

See also page 44 Upper teeth stronglynotched in one side,

lightly notched in theother, and heavily

serrated

Apex o pectoral fin not reaching 1stdorsalfin midbase when pectoral fin


Apex o pectoral fin reaching or passing1st dorsalfin midbase when pectoral fin


Origin o 2nddorsal fin overanalfin origin

Smallermaximum size

Body usually withwhite spots

Base o anal fin withouttwo strong preanal ridges

Upper labialurrows

very small,unnoticeable

41

Blacknose shark Requin nez noiriburn amarillo

Carcharhinus acronotus (Poey, 1860)

CCN


44/80

CARCHA

RHINIDAE

64 m

Underside o head


SizeMax.: 200 cm L

Mat.: 97106cm L,103 cm LBirth: 50 cm L

Colour: upper body grey,

yellowishbrow, or brown;underside whitish;Fins not black tipped.

Dark spot on tipo snout

No ridge on backbetween dorsal fins

Origin o 1st dorsal finover pectoralfin ree

rear tip

Preoral length1.41.7 times

internarial width

Upper teeth serratedand deeply notched on

inner side

Photo: NOAA

42

Carcharhinus porosus

Similar species

Upper teethstrongly serrated,Origin o 1st dorsal fin

See also page 54


45/80

Origin o 2nd dorsalfin over analfin

midbase




Underside o head

Underside o head

Negaprion brevirostris


with oblique cusps

Upper teethserrated and

notched on bothsides

Size

Max.: 134 cm L

Size

Max.: 340 cm L

SizeMax.: 110 cm L

gover pectoralfin inner

margin

2nd dorsal fin almost aslarge as 1st dorsal fin

Preoral lengthalmost equalto internarial

width

Teeth notserrated,

with stronglyoblique cusps

See also page 36

See also page 40

43

Silky shark Requin soyeuxiburn jaquetn

Carcharhinus falciformis (Muller and Henle, 1839)

FAL


46/80

Upper teeth stronglynotched in one side,

lightly notched

in the other, withheavily serratedcusps and large

serrations on bases

1st dorsal fin o moderatesize, with narrowly to broadly

rounded tip, its origin wellbehind pectoralfin rear tip

j

CARCHA

RHINIDAE

500 m

Underside o head


SizeMax.: 330 cm L


Colour: upper bodynearly black to dark greyor brown grey; lowerbody whitish. Pectoralfins blacktippedunderneath, pelvic finsofen dusky but notblacktipped.

A ridge on backbetween dorsal fins

2nd dorsal fin very low,and with very long inner

margin and ree rear tip

Preoral length1.21.6 timesinternarial width

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

44

Carcharhinus obscurusUpper teeth nearlytriangular in shapeand serrated, butwithout coarse

1st dorsal finwith pointed

Origin o 1st dorsal fint p i t

Similar species


47/80




Underside o head

Underside o head

Underside o head

Carcharhinus galapagensis


serrations on base

Upper teeth nearlytriangular in shapeand serrated, butwithout coarse

serrations on base

Size

Max.: 400 cm L

Size

Max.: 370 cm L

SizeMax.: 110 cm L

with pointedor narrowlyrounded tip

1st dorsal fin large withpointed or narrowly

rounded tip

Snout short androunded, preoral

length1.01.3 timesinternarial width

Preoral length1.01.4 times

internarial width

Origin o 2nd dorsalfin over analfin

midbase

Teeth notserrated, with

strongly obliquecusps

on top or in ront opectoralfin rear tip

Origin o 1st dorsal finon top o pectoralfin

inner margin

See also page 40

45

Bull shark Requin bouledogueiburn sarda

Carcharhinus leucas (Valenciennes, 1839)

CCE


48/80

Origin o 1st dorsal finon top o just behind

pectoralfin insertion

CARCHA

RHINIDAE

152 m

Underside o head


SizeMax.: 340 cm L


Colour: upper bodygreyish, belly whitish;

tips and edges o finsdusky to black in veryyoung individuals.


2st dorsal fin largeand triangular, its

origin on top or inront o analfin

origin

Snout very short andbroadly rounded, preoral


Teeth heavilyserrated; uppers

broadly triangular,lowers with poorly

defined bases

Body stocky

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

46

Carcharhinus limbatusDorsal fins, pectoral finsand lower lobe o caudal

Upper teeth withnarrow, straight,

serrated cusps, andcoarsely serrated bases

Similar species

See also page 48


49/80




Underside o head

Underside o head

Underside o head


Carcharhinus plumbeus

Upper teethwith long, nearly

triangular serratedcusps; lower teeth

with narrow straightcusps and welldefined bases

SizeMax.: 250 cm L

Size

Max.: 370 cm L

SizeMax.: 239 cm L





Body not stocky orspecially heavy


and lower lobe o caudalfin, blacktipped

Snout long andnarrowly pointed,

preoral length1.31.7 times

internarial width

1st dorsal finvery large and

high

Snout broadlyparabolic, preoral


See also page 52

47

Blacktip shark Requin borediburn macuira

Carcharhinus limbatus (Valenciennes, 1839)

CCL


50/80

Origin o 1st dorsal finon top o just behind

pectoralfin insertion

CARCHA

RHINIDAE

30 m

Underside o head


SizeMax.: 250 cm L

Mat.:5572cm L,120190 cm LBirth: 5572 cm L

Colour: upper bodygrey or greybrown,underside white; dorsal

fins, pectoral fins, pelvicfins and lower lobe ocaudal fin, blacktipped.

No ridge onback between

dorsal fins

1st dorsal fin relativelylarge and alcate, with

pointed or narrowlyrounded tip

Snout relatively longand narrowly pointed,preoral length1.31.7times internarial width

Upper teeth withnarrow, straight,

serrated cusps, andcoarsely serrated

bases

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

48

Carcharhinus brevipinna1st dorsal fin relativelysmall, its origin over

Snout long andnarrowly pointed,

preoral length1.51.8 times

i i l id h

Similar species


51/80

Origin o 1st dorsal finover or slightly anterior

to pectoralfin reerear tip


Carcharhinus perezi

SizeMax.: 278 cm L

Size

Max.: 330 cm L

SizeMax.: 295 cm L

Dorsal fins, pelvic finsand lower lobe o caudal

fin without black tips

A ridge onback between

dorsal fins


Anal fin blacktipped

small, its origin overpectoralfin rear tips



Underside o head

Underside o head

internarial width

Underside o head


Upper and lowerteeth with fineserrations and

very similar insize and shape

Upper teethstrongly

notched inone side

Snout shorter,preoral length1.21.6 times

internarial width

Origin o 1st dorsalfin well behind

pectoralfin rear tip

2nd dorsal fin verylow, and with verylong inner margin

and ree rear tip


length 1.01.1 timesinternarial width

Upper teethserrated andnotched onboth sides

See also page 44

See also page 50

49

Caribbean ree shark Requin de rciiburn coralino

Carcharhinus perezi (Poey, 1876)

CCV


52/80

CARCHA

RHINIDAE

30 m

Underside o head


SizeMax.: 295 cm L


Colour: upper bodydark grey or greybrown, white below;

undersides o pairedfins, anal and ventralcaudalfin lobe dusky.

A ridge onback between

dorsal fins

1st dorsal finmoderately high

and alcate

Origin o 1stdorsal fin over or

slightly anteriorto pectoralfin

ree rear tip



Upper teethserrated and

notched on bothsides

50

Photo: Brian Gratwicke - Flickr

Carcharhinus plumbeus

A low ridge on backbetween dorsal fins

Upper teethbroadly triangular

and serrated1st dorsal fin

very large and

Similar speciesSee also page 52


53/80




Underside o head

Underside o head

Underside o head


Carcharhinus leucas

Upperteeth nearlytriangular

in shape and

serrated

Size

Max.: 370 cm L

SizeMax.: 340 cm L

SizeMax.: 239 cm L



Snout longer androunded, preoral


Snout very shortand broadly

rounded, preorallength0.71.0 times

internarial width

Upper teethlarge, broadly

triangular, andheavily serrated

Body stocky


high




insertion

1st dorsal fin higher,its origin on top opectoralfin inner

margin

See also page 46

51

Sandbar shark Requin grisiburn trozo

Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827)CCP


54/80

CARCHA

RHINIDAE

280 m

Underside o head


SizeMax.: 239 cm L


Colour: upper body greyto greybrown, underside

white; posterior edges ofins ofen dusky; a aintwhite band on flank.



Upper teeth broad,high, triangular

and serrated

1st dorsal finvery large, fin

heightabout 1/2predorsal space

A low ridge onback between

dorsal fins

Pectoral finslarge

Body stocky


insertion

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

52

Carcharhinus altimus

Similar species

1st dorsal fin not as large,fin heightmuch less than A high ridge on back

b t d l fi

Upper teethwith longer

blades


55/80




Underside o head

Underside o head

Underside o head

Carcharhinus obscurus

Carcharhinus leucas

SizeMax.: 300 cm L

SizeMax.: 400 cm L

SizeMax.: 340 cm L


Snout very short andbroadly rounded,

preoral length0.71.0 times internarial

width

Snout long androunded, preoral


Snout broadlyrounded, preoral


Stocky body

g1/2 predorsal space

1st dorsal fin muchsmaller, fin heightmuch less than 1/2

predorsal space

1st dorsal fin muchsmaller, fin heightmuch less than 1/2

predorsal space

between dorsal fins

Origin o 1st dorsal finon top or in ront opectoralfin rear tips

See also page 46

53

Smalltail shark Requin tiqueueiburn poroso

Carcharhinus porosus (Ranzani, 1839)CCR

O i i 1 d l fi N id b k Origin o 2nd dorsal fin


56/80

CARCHA

RHINIDAE

36 m

Underside o head


SizeMax.: 134 cm L


Colour: upper bodygrey, underside light; tipso pectoral, dorsal andcaudal fins requentlydusky or blackish.

Origin o 1st dorsal fin overpectoralfin inner margin

No ridge on backbetween dorsal

fins

Origin o 2nd dorsal finover or slightly behind

analfin midbase

Base o anal fin withouttwo long preanal ridges

Labialurrows notnoticeable

Snout long andmoderately pointed,

preoral length1.21.8times internarial width

Upper teethstrongly

serrated, with astrongly oblique

cusp


54

Carcharhinus acronotus

Similar species


See also page 42


57/80

Underside o head

Underside o head




SizeMax.: 200 cm L

SizeMax.: 110 cm L

ree rear tip

Origin o 1st dorsal fin over orbehind pectoralfin ree rear tip

Upper teeth higher,

with erect blades deeplynotched on inner side

Upper andlower teeth

small, stronglyoblique,

and withoutserrations

See also page 40

Upper labialurrows long and

noticeable

Base o anal finwith two strongpreanal ridges

Dark spot on tip

o snout

55

1st dorsal fin relatively small

Night shark Requin de nuitiburn nocturno

Carcharhinus signatus (Poey, 1868)CCS

A ridge on back


58/80

1st dorsal fin relatively small,origin over or just behind


CARCHA

RHINIDAE

600 m


SizeMax.: 280 cm LMat.: 160190cm L,

159194 cm LBirth: 6072 cm L

Colour: upper bodydark grey, greyishbrown, or bluish black

(in lie); undersidegreyish or white.


Upper teethwith large

oblique cuspand strongcusplets on the

base

Snout very longand narrowly

rounded,preoral length1.71.9 times

internarialwidth

Underside o head

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

56



i

Similar speciesSee also page 44

Upper teeth stronglynotched in one side,

lightly notched in theother, with heavily

serrated cusps and largeserrations on bases


59/80




Underside o head

Underside o head

Underside o head

Carcharhinus obscurus


Upper teethnearly triangular

in shape andserrated

Size

Max.: 400 cm L

SizeMax.: 330 cm L

SizeMax.: 110 cm L

Origin o 2nd dorsalfin over anal fin

midbase

Teeth notserrated, with

strongly obliquecusps

Origin o 1st dorsal finon top or in ront opectoralfin rear tip

rear tip

See also page 40


internarial width


internarial width

Snoutshorter and

broader

serrations on bases

57

Oceanic whitetip shark Requin ocaniqueiburn ocenico

Carcharhinus longimanus (Poey, 1861)OCS

A low ridge on1st dorsal fin very large, Black spots,

CITES

App. II


60/80

1082 m

Underside o head


SizeMax.: 395 cm LMat.: 175198cm L,

180200 cm LBirth: 6065 cm L

Colour: upper body

dark grey to brown,underside whitish.

back between

dorsal fins

y gbroadly rounded, with

white blotches on tip

Pectoral fins very long,1929% o TL, broad and

broadly rounded, withwhite blotches on tips

Snout short,

broadly roundedpreoral length1.0 to 1.1 times

internarial width

Upperteeth large,triangular

and coarselyserrated

all ading in

adults

Lower lobe ocaudal fin ofen

with white

blotch

CARCHA

RHINIDAE

Photo: NOAA

58

Sand devil Ange de mer de sableiburn ngel

Squatina dumeril Lesueur, 1818SUD

Head not usedGill slits on the side behind


61/80

SizeMax.: 152 cm LMat.: 93 cm L,86 cm L

Birth: 2530 cm L

1290 m

SQUATINIDAE

Frontal view o head

Colour: upper body bluishgrey or ashy grey when

resh; underside white.

Mouth all theway in ront o

the head

Body flattenedlike a ray

Head not usedwith pectoral fins

head, not on the underside

Back without darkspots, rings or

markings

Photo: NOAA

59

Smalltooth sawfish Poisson-scie tidentPejepeine

Pristis pectinata Latham, 1794RPP

CITES

App. I


62/80

PRISTIDAE

88 m

SizeMax.: 550 cm L


Colour: upper body greyish brown,olive-brown or blackish brown; ventralsuracewhite to greyish white.

Photo: Ramn Bonfil

Snout with a long, flat, relatively

narrow rostrum surrounded bylarge teeth on both sides

20-30 teeth on eachside o rostrum


above pelvicfin origins

Caudal fin with nolower lobe, or weaklydeveloped lower lobe

60

CITES

App. I

S i h l fl l i l

Common sawfish Poissonscie communPez sierra comn

Pristis pristis (Linnaeus, 1758)RPR


63/80

PRISTIDAE

26 m


Colour: upper body uniormilybrownish, underside uniormilywhitish.

Photo: SFU University Communications - Flickr

Snout with a long, flat, relatively

wide rostrum surrounded by largeteeth on both sides



well in ront pelvicfinorigins

Caudal fin with with adeveloped lower lobe

61

Chola guitarfish Poissonguitare cholaGuitarra chola

Rhinobatos percellens (Walbaum, 1792)GUD

Pectoral fins usedt h d i t


64/80

RHIN

OBATIDAE

110 m

SizeMax.: 100 cm L


Colour: upper body olive greyto brown or reddish, with darkerbrown blotches occasionally

present, and cream colouredspots about equal to eye diameter;underside pale yellowish.

to head into a

wedgeshapedstructure Tail sharklike

Rostral cartilage notexpanded near tip

Upper body coloration usually withwhitish spots about equal to eye diameter


62

Dorsal view o head

Similar speciesRhinobatos lentiginosus

Enlarged tubercles ondorsal side o snout

(except small juveniles)

Rostral cartilageexpanded near tip and

t l h d


65/80

Pristis pectinata

SizeMax.: 550 cm L

Pristis pristis

SizeMax.: 700 cm L

See also page 61

See also page 60

Dorsal view o headSizeMax.: 76 cm L

Dorsal surace ash-grey tochocolate brown, with numerous

very small white spots

Snout with a long, flat, relativelynarrow rostrum surrounded by

large teeth on both sides



Snout with a long, flat, widerostrum surrounded by large

teeth on both sides

63

spatula-shaped

C l b d li h

Southern stingray Pastenague amricaineRaya ltigo americana

Dasyatis americana Hildebrand and Schroeder, 1928RDA

Anterior margino disc angular

Snout not orminga small triangular


66/80

DASY

ATIDAE

Size

Max.: 150 cm DWMat.: 51cm DW,7580 cm DWBirth: 1718 cm DW

Colour: upper body light

brown, grey, or olive, withpale spot on midline osnout in ront o eyes.Underside white withgrey or brown margins.

53 m

Discrhomboidal

in shape

o disc angular

Outercorners o

disc narrowlyrounded

Preorbital lengthbetween 1 and

2 times distancebetween eyes

Pelvic fins notlaterally expanded,

about as wide aslong

a small triangular

protuberance

Tail withoutnoticeable

tubercles or

thorns

Longitudinal fin-old under tailabout as deep as height o tail

Photo: D. Ross Robertson

Lateral viewo tail

64

Snout orming asmall triangular

protuberance

Similar speciesDasyatis guttata Dasyatis centrouraSee also page 66


67/80

Tail withnoticeable

tubercles orthorns

Broad patch o

blunt tubercles onback, rom eyes to

tail (larger juvenilesand adults)

Dasyatis geijskesi

Size

Max.: 200 cm DW

Size

Max.: 210 cm DW

SizeMax.: 150 cm DW

Longitudinalfin-old under tailabout hal as deep

as height o tail

Pelvic fins greatlyexpanded laterally, more

than twice as wide as long

Preorbital lengthmore than 4 times

distance between eyesSnout long

and narrowly

pointed

Outer cornerso disc broadly

rounded

Lateral viewo tail

65

Longnose stingray Pastenague longnezRaya-ltigo hocicona

Dasyatis guttata (Bloch and Schneider, 1801)RDU

Anterior margin di l

Snout orming asmall triangular


68/80

DASY

ATIDAE

SizeMax.: 200 cm DWMat.: 4146cm DW,5055 cm DW

Birth: 1215 cm DW

Colour: upper body grey,brown, or olive, eitheruniorm or with dark spots;underside whitish; keel and

ridge o tail black.

36 m

Disc rhomboidalin shape

o disc angular

Outercorners o

disc narrowlyrounded

Preorbital lengthbetween 1 and

2 times distancebetween eyes

g

protuberance

Tail withoutnoticeable

tubercles or

thorns


Broad patch oblunt tubercles onback, rom eyes to

tail (larger juvenilesand adults)

Lateral viewo tail

Longitudinal fin-old under tailabout as deep as height o tail

66

Dorsal suraceuniormly covered

with numerous smalltubercles

Anterior margino disc broadly

angular

Anterior margin odisc nearly straight or

evenly convexPreorbital length

shorter thandistance between

Similar speciesDasyatis say Himantura schmardae


69/80

Outor cornerso disc broadly

rounded

spiracles

Pteroplatytrygon violacea

SizeMax.: 100 cm DW

SizeMax.: 120 cm DW

SizeMax.: 80 cm DW

Underside o tailwith a very low

and indistinct keel

Dorsal suracenearly naked

Underside o tail witha high fin-old, usually

taller than tail

Anterior margin odisc evenly convex

67

Spotted eagle ray Aigle de mer leopardChucho pintado

Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen, 1790)MAE

Disc rhomboidal ordiamond-shaped

A narrowly parabolicsubrostral lobe in

ront o head


70/80

SizeMax.: 230 cm DWMat.: 100-115cm DW,150160 cm DWBirth: 1836 cm DW

Colour: upper body grey tobrown, with variable whitishspots (rounded, elliptical, orannular); underside white.

60 m

diamond shaped

Head elevatedrom disc

Eyes and spiracleson sides o head

ront o head

A small dorsalfin between the

pelvic fins

Dental plate witha single series o

large teeth

Lateral viewo head

eeth

MYLIO

BATIDAE

Photo: D. Ross Robertson

68

Similar speciesMyliobatis freminvillii Myliobatis goodei

Sub-rostrallobe broadly

parabolic

Upper body not coveredwith noticeable whitishspots, rings or irregularblotches; at most a ew

diff ll t

Sub-rostrallobe broadlyarched and

short

See also page 70


71/80

Gymnura micrura

SizeMax.: 86 cm DW

SizeMax.: 99 cm DW

SizeMax.: 120 cm DW

Dorsal fin closebehind the

posterior marginso pelvic fins

Dental plate with

more than 1, usually7 rows o teeth

Dental plate withmore than 1, usually

7 rows o teeth

eeth eeth

diffuse small spots

Upper body

uniormly chocolatebrown to greyish,not covered with

whitish spots, ringsor irregular blotches

Disc extremelywide, at least

1.5 times widerthan long

Eyes andspiracles ondorsal side

Head not elevated anddifferentiated rom disc

An extremelysmall tail

Tail withoutany serrated

spines69

Southern eagle rayRaya guila chata

Myliobatis goodei Garman, 1885MYO

Disc rhomboidal ordiamond-shaped

A subrostral lobe,broadly arched and


72/80

MYLIO

BATIDAE

SizeMax.: 99 cm DWMat.:45cm DW,N/ABirth: N/A

Colour: upper body uniormlychocolate brown to greyish,without spots; undersidebrownish white with duskyedges on disc.

N/A

p

Head elevatedrom disc

y

short, in ront o head

A small dorsalfin ar behind theposterior margins

pelvic fins

Dental platewith more than1, usually 7 rows

o teeth

eeth

Eyes and spiracleson sides o head

Lateral viewo head

70

Photo: www.boldystems.org

Similar speciesMyliobatis freminvillii Aetobatus narinari

Sub-rostral lobelonger and broadly

parabolic

Sub-rostral lobelonger and broadly

parabolic

Upper body lightbrown and covered

with aint small spots

See also page 68

Upper bodycovered with white

spots, rings orirregular-shaped


73/80

Gymnura micrura

SizeMax.: 86 cm DW

SizeMax.: 230 cm DW

SizeMax.: 120 cm DW

Dorsal finclose behindthe posterior

margins o pelvicfins

Dorsal finbetween thepelvic fins

A single serieso large teethin each jaw

eeth

blotches

Disc extremelywide, at least

1.5 times widerthan long

Eyes andspiracles ondorsal side

Head not elevated anddifferentiated rom disc

An extremelysmall tail

Tail withoutany serrated

spines

eeth

71

Cownose ray Mourine amricaineMancha

Rhinoptera bonasus (Mitchill, 1815)MRB

Head elevatedrom discA short sub-rostral


74/80

RHINO

PTERIDAE Size

Max.: 107 cm DWMat.:6470cm DW,7585 cm DWBirth: 2540 cm DW

Colour:dorsal suraceuniormly olive-brown toyellowish-brown; underside

white to yellowish.

22 m

Dental plate with 6-8,

usually 7 rows o teeth,and only one centralrow o wider teeth

eeth

Discrhomboidalor diamond-

shaped

Eyes andspiracles onsides o head

lobe deeply divide intwo, in ront o head

A small dorsalfin betweenpelvic fins

Photo: George Burgess

72

Similar speciesRhinoptera brasiliensis Myliobatis goodei See also page 70

Sub-rostral lobebroadly archedand short, notdivided in two


75/80

Myliobatis freminvilii

SizeMax.: 102 cm DW

SizeMax.: 99 cm DW

SizeMax.: 86 cm DW

eeth

Sub-rostral lobenarrowly parabolic,

not divided in two

Dorsal fin behind theposterior margins o

pelvic fins

Upper bodycovered with aintsmall light spots

Dental plate with 810,usually 9 rows o teeth,

including 3 rows owider central teeth

Dorsal finar behind

the posteriormargins opelvic fins

eeth

73

Colour:upper bodyblack to charcoal grey;

Giant manta Mante ganteManta gigante

Manta birostris (Walbaum, 1792)RMB

CITES

App. II

Head broad, morethan 17% o disc


76/80

MOB

ULIDAE

SizeMax.: 700 cm DWMat.:380cm DW,413 cm DW

Birth: 100 cm DW

g ywhite shoulder patches;V-shaped patch in ronton dorsal fin; white edgeson pectoral fin tips.Underside white, withwide dusky bands on

posterior edge o pectoralfins.

1000 m

Disc rhomboidal ordiamond-shaped,2.22.3 times as

wide as long

width, with twocephalic fins onthe sides

Mouth in ronto head

A small dorsalfin beore

pelvicfinorigins

A small spineinside a cartilagecapsule, behind

dorsal fin

Whip-liketail

Underside o headPhoto: Jon Hanson - Flickr

74

Similar speciesMobula hypostoma

Head narrower,less than 17% o

disc width

Preoral length lessthan 4.0 % o disc

width


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Mobula tarapacana

SizeMax.: 120 cm L

SizeMax.: 305 cm L

Head narrower,less than 17% o

disc width

Disc narrower,1.7-2.0 times as

wide as long

One or twodusky bands onback just behindanterior margin

o head

Mouth not reachingront o head

Mouth not reachingront o head

Size muchsmaller

Size smaller

No spine behinddorsal fin

Disc narrower,1.51.75 times aswide as long

Upper bodywithout white

patches

Upper bodywithout white

patches

No dusky bands on

back just behindanterior margin ohead

Preoral length equalor more than 5.0 %

o disc width

No spine behinddorsal fin

Underside o head

Underside o head 75

SHARK SPECIES INCLUDED IN HE GUIDEOrder

HEXANCHIFORMES

Family HEXANCHIDAE

Family SQUALIDAE

Pag. 10Hexanchus griseus - Bluntnose sixgill shark


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Order

CARCHARHINIFORMES

OrderSQUALIFORMES

OrderORECOLOBIFORMES

OrderLAMNIFORMES

Family RIAKIDAE

Family SPHYRNIDAE

Family CARCHARHINIDAE

Family GINGLYMOSOMAIDAE

Family RHINCODONIDAE

Family ALOPIIDAE

Family LAMNIDAE

Pag.

Pag. 12Squalus cubensis - Cuban dogfishPag. 13Squalus mitsukurii - Shortspine spurdog

Pag. 14Alopias superciliosus - Bigeye thresherPag. 15Alopias vulpinus - Tresher

Pag. 16Carcharodon carcharias - Great white sharkPag. 18Isurus oxyrinchus - Shorfin makoPag. 19Isurus paucus - Longfin mako

Pag. 22Mustelus canis - Dusky smooth-hound

Pag. 24Mustelus higmani - Smalleye smooth-hound

Pag. 26Sphyrna lewini - Scalloped hammerheadPag. 28Sphyrna mokarran - Great hammerheadPag. 30Sphyrna tiburo - Bonnethead

Pag. 32Sphyrna tudes - Smalleye hammerhead

Ginglymostoma cirratum - Nurse shark Pag. 20

Pag. 21Rhincodon typus - Whale shark

Pag. 34Galeocerdo cuvier - iger sharkPag. 35Prionace glauca - Blue shark

Negaprion brevirostris - Lemon shark Pag. 3676

Carcharhinus leucas - Bull shark Pag. 46

Rhizoprionodon porosus - Caribbean sharpnose Pag. 40Rhizoprionodon lalandii - Brazilian sharpnose Pag. 38

Pag. 42Carcharhinus acronotus - Blacknose sharkPag. 44Carcharhinus falciformis - Silky shark


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RAY SPECIES INCLUDED IN HE GUIDE

OrderCARCHARHINIFORMES

Order

SQUAINIFORMES

OrderPRISIFORMES

Order

RHINOBAIFORMES

Order

MYLIOBAIFORMES

Family SQUAINIDAE

Family PRISIDAE

Family RHINOBAIDAE

Family DASYAIDAE

Carcharhinus porosus - Smalltail shark Pag. 54

Carcharhinus limbatus - Blacktip shark Pag. 48

Carcharhinus signatus - Oceanic whitetip shark Pag. 56

Carcharhinus plumbeus - Sandbar shark Pag. 52Carcharhinus perezi - Caribbean ree shark Pag. 50

Carcharhinus longimanus - Blacktip shark Pag. 58

Pag. 60

Pag. 68

Pag. 62

Pag. 64Pag. 66

Pag. 72

Pag. 74

Pag. 61

Pag. 70

Pag. 59Squatina dumeril - Sand devil

Pristis pectinata - Smalltooth sawfishPristis pristis - Common sawfish

Rhinobatos percellens - Chola guitarfish

Dasyatis americana - Southern stingrayDasyatis guttata - Longnose stingray

Aetobatus narinari - Spotted eagle rayMyliobatis goodei - Southern eagle ray

Rhinoptera bonasus - Cownose ray

Manta birostris - Giant manta

Family MYLIOBAIDAE

Family RHINOPERIDAE

Family MOBULIDAE

77


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Tis identification guide includes a selection of shark and rayspecies occurring in the Wider Caribbean Region, that is the

waters of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the waters ofthe Atlantic Ocean adjacent thereto. In total, 41 shark and 20 rayspecies are included. Tese species were selected because of theirrelevance to commercial fisheries or vulnerability to exploitationdue to their life history characteristics. Of these, 29 shark and 9ray species are presented in a full species card and depicted witha colour illustration and photo. Short accounts of 12 shark and11 ray species that are less common in the region and could be

misidentified with more common species, are also included.

Tis guide is intended to help fishery workers collecting catch datain the field in the identification of the sharks and rays they might

encounter for the specific purpose of improving the quality ofcatch and landings data. Te guide is expected to be useful also for

fisheries inspectors, observers and enforcement officers of the navy,coastguard and customs.

I5691E/1/05.16

ISBN 978-92-5-109245-3

9 7 8 9 2 5 1 0 9 2 4 5 3

Identification guide to common sharks and rays of the Caribbean

Documents

Transcript of Identification guide to common sharks and rays of the Caribbean