Atlantic sharpnose shark: Small requiem shark of the western Atlantic coast

The Atlantic sharpnose shark is a small coastal predator found in warm shallow waters from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. It feeds on bony fish and crustaceans, matures quickly, and is valued in public aquaria for its active schooling behaviour.

Share on WhatsApp

Max length reaches 120 cm
Prefers water less than 10 m deep
Litters of 1 to 7 live pups
Juveniles have black fin edges
Lives up to 19 years in wild

What it is

This small requiem shark belongs to the family Carcharhinidae. Adults typically measure between 91 and 99 centimetres, though they can reach up to 120 centimetres. A key visual trait is the black edging on the dorsal and tail fins of young sharks. They are streamlined swimmers built for life in shallow marine environments.

Where it lives

Its range extends across the north-western Atlantic Ocean, from New Brunswick in Canada down to the southern Gulf of Mexico. These sharks prefer warm, shallow coastal zones, often staying in water less than 10 metres deep. While reports exist of specimens at depths of 280 metres, they are primarily coastal dwellers. Records from Brazil likely refer to a different species.

How it lives

Diet consists mainly of bony fish such as menhaden, eels, and silversides, along with worms, shrimp, crabs, and mollusks. They are highly active swimmers that perform best in small schools of at least three individuals. In the wild, they may live up to 19 years. Their growth rate varies by season, slowing in winter and spring before increasing again.

Breeding and life cycle

Females give birth to live young after a gestation period of 10 to 11 months. Litters usually contain four to six pups, ranging from one to seven. Newborns measure 29 to 37 centimetres. Growth is rapid in the first three months, then slows until the shark reaches about 65 centimetres. Males mature at two to three years, while females mature slightly later.

A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

This species is generally suited for public aquaria or experienced private keepers who can provide ample space. Round or oval tanks are recommended to accommodate their swimming patterns. They are not typically targeted for food in the provided text, but their active nature makes them notable in captivity, where they have lived for at least four years.

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, Florida. Photo: D Ross Robertson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae. Photo: D Ross Robertson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Atlantic sharpnose shark

How big does the Atlantic sharpnose shark get?

Adults average between 91 and 99 centimetres in length. The maximum recorded size for this species is approximately 110 to 120 centimetres.

What do Atlantic sharpnose sharks eat?

Their diet includes bony fish like menhaden and eels, as well as invertebrates such as worms, shrimp, crabs, and mollusks found in coastal waters.

Are these sharks suitable for home aquariums?

They are better suited for public aquaria or very experienced private keepers. They require large, round or oval tanks and thrive in small schools of at least three sharks.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Atlantic sharpnose shark", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.