Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body elongate; snout moderately long and pointed; color dusky gray or blue above, white or yellowish below, light band (z-line) on sides; dorsal fins, pectoral fin and caudal fin with dark tips, anal fin has no dark tip; origin of 2nd dorsal fin above or slightly in front of origin of anal fin; labial folds (in corners of mouth) short; no interdorsal ridge; upper and lower teeth flat, narrow, nearly symmetrical, serrated. |
Similar Species |
Coloration of fin tips similar to the spinner shark except the blacktip shark has no black tip on its anal fin, the spinner does; blacktips also have a distinct Z-pattern in coloration on its sides; bull sharks may have dark tips on fins but have a distinctly short, blunt snout. |
Habitat |
Gulf, enters bay occasionally to feed |
Maximum Size |
275 cm (9 ft), common to 150 cm (5 ft) |
Fin Element Counts |
none (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
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State size/bag limits |
Minimum size 24 in.; bag limit is 1 shark/day, including sharpnose, blacktips, bonnetheads, and all other allowable shark species; See Shark Regulations; Check for state record. |