Milk shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus) fish species and Milk shark information

Scientific Name
Rhizoprionodon acutus

Common Name
Milk shark

Biology
Found on continental shelves, often on sandy beaches and rarely in estuaries (Ref. 244). Reported to enter freshwater and recorded several times from Cambodia as far upstream as the Great Lake (Ref. 12693). Occurs near the surface in shallow waters (Ref. 12693). Feeds mainly on small pelagic and benthic bony fishes, also cephalopods and other invertebrates (Ref. 244). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Utilized fresh and possibly dried salted for human consumption and for fishmeal (Ref. 9997). The 178 cm specimen recorded off Africa is possibly based on some other species (Ref. 9997).

Classification

Classified By

R?ppell, 1837

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)

Family

Requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Madeira and Mauritania to Angola; reported from the Gulf of Taranto (Ref. 231). Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia, north to Japan, south to Australia.

Range

35°N - 30°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

200 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 200 m (Ref. 244)

Trophic Level

4.33 s.e. 0.76 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

175 cm

Common Length

110 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (47 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=1)

Threat To Humans

Harmless (Ref. 244)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)

Milk shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus) fish species and information / pictures of Milk shark - Rhizoprionodon acutus

Milk shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population