Requiem sharks

Finetooth shark

Carcharhinus isodon

A slender schooling coastal shark named for its many small, narrow teeth.

CoastalSchoolingSeasonal

View recent sightings

3 observationsin our coverage data · past 365 days

Typical sizeAbout 5 ft

MaximumAbout 6 ft

Family size comparisonAbout 6 ft maximum

Dad, Daughter, Son & Mom

Family of fourFinetooth shark · About 6 ft

Every figure uses the same scale. The shark image is shown at the species’ published maximum length; individual animals vary.

Habitat

Shallow coastal water near estuaries, lagoons, bays, and river mouths.

Geographic range

Western Atlantic, seasonally ranging along the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico.

Depth

Often within 33 ft; recorded to about 498 ft

Diet

Schooling fish, especially menhaden and mullet.

How to recognize it

Pointed snout, unmarked fins, white pectoral undersides, and a small first dorsal fin set relatively far back.

Reproduction

Live-bearing; shallow warm coastal waters support juveniles and adults during seasonal movements.

Species facts

Did you know?

Large schools may chase menhaden and mullet into the surf.

Its similar-sized upper and lower teeth inspired its scientific name.

Awareness, not a live shark tracker.An observation is a report from a past time and place—not a prediction of where an animal is now. Species facts do not establish the size, age, behavior, or current location of the observed animal.