Carcharhinus

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Carcharhinus
Temporal range: Lutetian-recent
~42–0  Ma [1] [2]
Grey5b.jpg
Grey reef shark (C. amblyrhynchos)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Division: Selachii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Genus: Carcharhinus
Blainville 1816
Type species
Carcharias elegans
Quoy & Gaimard 1824
Synonyms
  • AprionodonGill 1861
  • EulamiaGill 1862
  • GaleolamnaOwen 1853
  • GillisqualusWhitley 1934
  • HypoprionMüller & Henle 1838
  • IsogomphodonGill 1862
  • PlatypodonGill 1862
  • PterolamiopsSpringer 1951
  • UrangaWhitley 1943

Carcharhinus is the type genus of the family Carcharhinidae, the requiem sharks. One of 12 genera in its family, it contains over half of the species therein. It contains 36-38 extant and eight extinct species to date, with likely more species yet to be described. [3]

Contents

Species

Extant

The following species are placed in this genus: [4]

Genus Carcharhinus Blainville 1816 - 36 extant species
Common nameScientific nameGeographic rangeConservation status
IUCN Red List
LengthImage
Blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus
(Poey, 1860)
Carcharhinus acronotus distmap.png Endangered1.3 m (4.3 ft) Blacknose shark nmfs.jpg
Silvertip shark Carcharhinus albimarginatus
(Rüppell, 1837)
Cypron-Range Carcharhinus albimarginatus.svg Vulnerable2–2.5 m (6.6–8.2 ft)
maximum 3 m (9.8 ft)
Carcharhinus albimarginatus in UShaka Sea World 1100.jpg
Bignose shark Carcharhinus altimus
(S. Springer, 1950)
Carcharhinus altimus distmap.png Near threatened2.7–2.8 m (8.9–9.2 ft)
possibly 3 m (9.8 ft)
Carcharhinus altimus nefsc.jpg
Graceful shark Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides
(Whitley, 1934)
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides distmap.png Vulnerable1.7 m (5.6 ft) Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides phuket.JPG
Grey reef shark Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
(Bleeker, 1856)
Cypron-Range Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos.svg EndangeredMostly less than 1.9 m (6.2 ft)
maximum 2.6 m (8.5 ft)
Grey5b.jpg
Pigeye shark Carcharhinus amboinensis
(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
Carcharhinus amboinensis distmap.png Vulnerable1.9–2.5 m (6.2–8.2 ft)
max. 2.8 m (9.2 ft)
Carcharhinus amboinensis csiro-nfc.jpg
Borneo shark Carcharhinus borneensis
(Bleeker, 1858)
Carcharhinus borneensis distmap.png Critically endangered0.7 m (2.3 ft)
Copper shark Carcharhinus brachyurus
(Günther, 1870)
Carcharhinus brachyurus rangemap.png Vulnerable3.3 m (11 ft) Carcharhinus brachy.JPG
Spinner shark Carcharhinus brevipinna
(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
Carcharhinus brevipinna distmap.png Vulnerable2 m (6.6 ft)
maximum 3 m (9.8 ft)
Spinner shark (Duane Raver).png
Nervous shark Carcharhinus cautus
(Whitley, 1945)
Carcharhinus cautus distmap.png Least concern1.0–1.3 m (3.3–4.3 ft)
possibly 1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Carcharhinus cautus csiro-nfc.jpg
Pacific smalltail shark Carcharhinus cerdale
C. H. Gilbert, 1898
Carcharhinus cerdale range.png Critically endangered1.4 m (4.6 ft) Carcharhinus cerdale SI.jpg
Australian blackspot shark Carcharhinus coatesi
(Whitley, 1939)
Least concern0.8 m (2.6 ft) Carcharhinus coatesi csiro.jpg
Whitecheek shark Carcharhinus dussumieri
(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
Carcharhinus dussumieri distmap.png Endangered1 m (3.3 ft) Carcharhinus dussumieri terengganu.jpg
Silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis
(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
Carcharhinus falciformis rangemap.png Vulnerable2.5 m (8.2 ft)
maximum 3.3 m (11 ft)
Silky shark (Duane Raver).png
Creek whaler Carcharhinus fitzroyensis
(Whitley, 1943)
Carcharhinus fitzroyensis distmap.png Least concern1.0–1.3 m (3.3–4.3 ft)
possibly 1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Carcharhinus fitzroyensis csiro-nfc.jpg
Galapagos shark Carcharhinus galapagensis
(Snodgrass & Heller, 1905)
Carcharhinus galapagensis distmap.png Least concern3 m (9.8 ft)
maximum 3.3 m (11 ft)
Carcharinus galapagensis 1.jpg
Pondicherry shark Carcharhinus hemiodon
(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
Carcharhinus hemiodon rangemap.png Critically endangered1 m (3.3 ft) Carcharhinus hemiodon nmfs 2.png
Human's whaler shark Carcharhinus humani
W. T. White & Weigmann, 2014
Data deficient0.8 m (2.6 ft)
Finetooth shark Carcharhinus isodon
(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
Carcharhinus isodon distmap.png Near threatened1.6–1.7 m (5.2–5.6 ft)
maximum 1.9 m (6.2 ft)
Carcharhinus isodon.jpg
Smoothtooth blacktip shark Carcharhinus leiodon
Garrick, 1985
Carcharhinus leiodon distmap.png Endangered1.2 m (3.9 ft) Carcharhinus leiodon nmfs 2.png
Bull shark Carcharhinus leucas
(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
Cypron-Range Carcharhinus leucas.svg Vulnerable2.3–2.4 m (7.5–7.9 ft)
maximum 3.6–4.0 m (11.8–13.1 ft)
Bull shark (Duane Raver).png
Blacktip shark Carcharhinus limbatus
(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
Carcharhinus limbatus distmap.png Vulnerable1.5 m (4.9 ft)
maximum 2.6 m (8.5 ft)
Blacktip shark (Duane Raver).png
Oceanic whitetip shark Carcharhinus longimanus
(Poey, 1861)
Cypron-Range Carcharhinus longimanus.svg Critically endangered3 m (9.8 ft) Oceanic whitetip shark (Duane Raver).png
Hardnose shark Carcharhinus macloti
(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
Carcharhinus macloti distmap.png Near threatened1.1 m (3.6 ft) Carcharhinus macloti csiro-nfc.jpg
Blacktip reef shark TCarcharhinus melanopterus
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Carcharhinus melanopterus distmap.png Vulnerable1.6 m (5.2 ft)
maximum 1.8 m (5.9 ft)
Carcharhinus melanopterus mirihi.jpg
Dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus
(Lesueur, 1818)
Carcharhinus obscurus distmap.png Endangered3.2 m (10 ft)
maximum 4.0 m (13.1 ft)
Dusky shark (Duane Raver).png
Lost shark [5] Carcharhinusobsoletus
White, Kyne, & Harris, 2019
Critically endangered (possibly extinct)0.37–0.43 m (15–17 in)
(juvenile length only)
Daggernose shark Carcharhinus oxyrhynchus

(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)

Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus distmap.png Critically endangered1.5 m (4.9 ft) Carcharias oxyrhynchus by muller and henle.png
Caribbean reef shark Carcharhinus perezi
(Poey, 1876)
Cypron-Range Carcharhinus perezii.svg Endangered2–2.5 m (6.6–8.2 ft)
maximum 3 m (9.8 ft)
Carcharhinus perez.JPG
Sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus
(Nardo, 1827)
Carcharhinus plumbeus distmap.png Endangered2–2.5 m (6.6–8.2 ft) Sandbar shark (Duane Raver).png
Smalltail shark Carcharhinus porosus
(Ranzani, 1839)
Carcharhinus porosus distmap2.png Critically endangered0.9–1.1 m (3.0–3.6 ft)
maximum 1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Carcharhinus poro.JPG
Blackspot shark Carcharhinus sealei
(Pietschmann, 1913)
Carcharhinus sealei distmap.png Vulnerable1 m (3.3 ft) Carcharhinus sealei terengganu.jpg
Night shark Carcharhinus signatus
(Poey, 1868)
Carcharhinus signatus rangemap.png Endangered2 m (6.6 ft)
maximum 2.8 m (9.2 ft)
Carcharhinus signatus nmfs.jpg
Spot-tail shark Carcharhinus sorrah
(J. P. Müller & Henle, 1839)
Carcharhinus sorrah distmap.png Near threatened1.6 m (5.2 ft) Carcharias sorrah by muller and henle.png
Australian blacktip shark Carcharhinus tilstoni
(Whitley, 1950)
Carcharhinus tilsoni distmap.png Least concern1.5–1.8 m (4.9–5.9 ft)
maximum 2 m (6.6 ft)
Carcharhinus tilstoni csiro-nfc.jpg
Indonesian whaler shark Carcharhinus tjutjot
(Bleeker, 1852)
Vulnerable0.9 m (3.0 ft) Carcharhinus tjutjot in an aquarium 2.jpg

T Type species

In addition, Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes recognizes two species of uncertain validity: [4]

Fossil

AgeSpeciesAuthorityFormationLocationImageNotes
Montehermosan C. egertoni Agassiz 1843 Onzole Ecuador [6]
Pliocene Luanda Angola
Villamagna Italy
Huayquerian Camacho Uruguay
Late Miocene Penedo Portugal
Middle Miocene Sekinobana Japan
Suso
Hannoura
Langhian Higashi-innai
Colhuehuapian Pirabas Brazil [7]
Burdigalian Calvert Maryland [6]
Early Miocene Baripada India
Early Piacenzian C. priscus Agassiz 1843 Oosterhout Netherlands [8]
Montehermosan Onzole Ecuador
Pliocene Luanda Angola
Hemphillian Curré Costa Rica
Huayquerian Pisco Peru
Late Miocene Penedo Portugal
Uscari Costa Rica
Fujina Japan
Takakubo
Badenian Hrušky Czech Republic
Korytnica Poland
Serravallian Moulin de Débat France
Kurahara Japan
Wajimazaki
Horimatsu
Middle Miocene Sekinobana
Suso
Hannoura
Maenami
Langhian Higashi-innai
Florianer Schichten Austria
Grund
Weissenegg
Middle Miocene Punta Judas Costa Rica
Burdigalian Dera Bugti Pakistan
Dam Saudi Arabia
Colhuehuapian Pirabas Brazil [7]
Aquitanian Trent North Carolina [8]
Early Miocene Filakovo Slovakia
Chasicoan C. caquetius Carrillo Briceño et al. 2015 Urumaco Venezuela
Carcharhinus caquetius - Urumaco Formation - Venezuela.jpg
[9]
Santacrucian C. ackermani Santos & Travasos 1960 Cantaure Venezuela [10] [11]
Colhuehuapian Pirabas Brazil [7]
Burdigalian C. gibbesi Woodward 1889 Trent North Carolina
Carcharhinus gibbesi - Chandler Bridge Formation - USA.jpg
[2] [12]
Chattian Chandler Bridge South Carolina
Priabonian Clinchfield Georgia
Yazoo Alabama
Louisiana
Jackson Gp. Arkansas
Bartonian Gosport Sand Alabama
Moodys Branch Louisiana
Mississippi
Lutetian Crockett Texas
Rupelian C. balochenisis Adnet et al. 2007 Chitarwata Pakistan [13] [14]
Rupelian C. perseus Adnet et al. 2007 Chitarwata Pakistan [13] [15]
Minqar Tabaghbagh Egypt
Bartonian C. nigeriensis White 1926 Ameki Nigeria [16] [17]

See also

References

  1. Carrier, J.C.; J.A. Musick & M.R. Heithaus (2004). Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives. CRC Press. p. 52. ISBN   0-8493-1514-X.
  2. 1 2 Cicimurri & Knight, 2009
  3. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Carcharhinus". FishBase . February 2011 version.
  4. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Carcharhinus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  5. Harris et al., 2019
  6. 1 2 Carcharhinus egertoni at Fossilworks.org
  7. 1 2 3 De Aráujo Távora et al., 2010
  8. 1 2 Carcharhinus priscus at Fossilworks.org
  9. Carrillo Briceño et al., 2015
  10. Aguilera & De Aguilera, 2001
  11. C. ackermani at Fossilworks.org
  12. C. gibbesi at Fossilworks.org
  13. 1 2 Adnet et al., 2007
  14. C. balochenisis at Fossilworks.org
  15. C. perseus at Fossilworks.org
  16. C. nigeriensis at Fossilworks.org
  17. Halstead & Middleton, 1974

Bibliography