Blacknose Shark Videos

Species - Blacknose Shark

Scientific Name - (Carcharhinus acronotus)

Physical Description - Blacknose sharks are a relatively small species of shark. The color on their back and sides ranges from gray to gray-green to brown, and because of this coloration blacknose sharks are often confused with lemon sharks. There is a distinctive dark spot on the tip of the snout, though it tends to fade with age. The second dorsal fin and tail fin have dark tips. They have the elongate, sleek bodies common of the requiem family of sharks. Both the first dorsal fin and the pectoral fins are small, and the upper lobe of the tail fin is longer than the lower lobe. The snout is long and the gill slits are short.

Range - Blacknose sharks are found in the western Atlantic from North Carolina to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico. They are most common in the Caribbean.

Habitat - Blacknose sharks are an inshore species that inhabit areas over the continental or insular shelf. They are a shallow water species that will rarely be found at depths greater than 32 feet. They are associated with areas over sandy, shell and coral bottoms. Blacknose sharks commonly form large schools and prefer warm waters.

Spawning Habits - Blacknose sharks spawn from March through May, giving live births to between three and six pups. The pups are usually between 17 and 20 inches long at birth and are, like most sharks, immediately independent of their parents. In a rare instance of blacknose sharks producing offspring in captivity, the newly born were eating chopped fish and squid within minutes of their birth.

Food Usage/Selection - Blacknose sharks are carnivores, with small fishes the main part of their diet, including pinfish and porcupine fish. They also commonly consume octopus.

Sporting Qualities - Blacknose sharks are much less sought after than blacktip, sharpnose, bull and other shark species, mainly because they are not known as aggressive strikers or great fighters. However, they are often caught by inshore anglers fishing for other species and will provide a decent battle on light tackle. They are typically caught while drifting cut bait near chum lines. There is a minor commercial fishery for blacknose sharks, and their meat is utilized dried salted.