Brazilian sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon lalandii)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Elasmobranchii · Order: Carcharhiniformes · Family: Carcharhinidae · Genus: Rhizoprionodon.

Accepted name: Rhizoprionodon lalandii · Authority: (Valenciennes, 1839) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 271326.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Carcharias lalandii Valenciennes, 1839; Rhizoprionodon lalandei (Valenciennes, 1839); Rhizoprionodon lalandi (Valenciennes, 1839); Scoliodon lalandei (Müller & Henle, 1839).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=271326 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Rhizoprionodon lalandii. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Common length: 55 cm · Depth range: 3–70 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 52 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Inhabits shallow coastal waters, on sandy and muddy bottoms, and not normally found in lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 244). Feeds on small bony fishes, including sardines and anchovies, also shrimp and squid (Ref. 244). Viviparous, with 1 to 4 young in a litter; size at birth 33 to 34 cm (Ref. 244). Its flesh is highly appreciated and is marketed dried salted.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 900) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Rhizoprionodon-lalandii.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

144 georeferenced occurrence records for Rhizoprionodon lalandii are published through GBIF from 9 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 37 distinct locations from a sample of 144 records, omitting 26 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Brazil (102); Colombia (12); Suriname (11); French Guiana (5); Trinidad and Tobago (4); Honduras (3); Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (3); Mexico (2); Philippines (2).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2417854) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2417854&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=271326 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Rhizoprionodon lalandii (Valenciennes in Müller & Henle, 1839) as Vulnerable (code VU). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 44666) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/44666/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2417854) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2417854/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The name Rhizoprionodon has latin origin, translating to root saw tooth, which refers to the sharks in this genus having rooted, serrated teeth. The name lalandii honors naturalist, taxidermist and explorer Pierre Antoine Delalande.

Taxonomy and Classification

Rhizoprionodon lalandii is a species in the family Carcharhinidae (order Carcharhiniformes), also known as requiem sharks, that are characterized as typically thriving in warmer waters, giving live birth, and often migrating. Lemon and Bull sharks are a few among the many species in this family along with the Brazilian sharpnose shark.

Description

The Brazilian sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon lalandii) is characterized by a slender fusiform body, with a grayish-brown dorsal and white underside. R. lalandii has relatively large eyes with a long snout and an inferior mouth. It has a heterocercal-shaped caudal fin with a black edge (or margin) that traces the shape of the tail when looking at its profile. It is a relatively small shark, with the length at birth about 33-34cm, and length at adulthood ranging from 50-80cm, with females tending to be slightly larger than males.

Like many different species of shark, the Brazilian sharpnose possesses dermal denticles, which are tooth-like in structure and cover the skin of the animal. This helps to prevent abrasion as well as improve the ability for these sharks to swim by reducing drag. Like all sharks in the Carcharhinidae family, Rhizoprionodon lalandii possesses a nictitating membrane over the eyes, which protects from damage potentially received from close encounters with prey or other threats.

Some sharks, like the great white, may not have this membrane, and instead roll their eyes into their head when attacking prey. The Brazilian sharpnose may be confused with others in the Rhizoprionodon genus, specifically the Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) which has a similar size and coloration, but does not have the same distribution.

Distribution

Rhizoprionodon lalandii can be found primarily in coastal Atlantic waters of South America, with its range extending from Panama in Central America to Southern Brazil and Uruguay. They are often found in bays, especially in shallower waters from only a few to 70 meters deep.

They tend to dwell and feed on the sea bottom in sandy and muddy substrate. The overall abundance of the species is not well known, and is relatively data deficient. It is a fish that is caught very often among artisanal fisheries, indicating higher frequency of the species as many fisheries rely on their abundance, but according to the IUCN red list, numbers are decreasing.

Life History

Female Rhizoprionodon lalandii are typically larger than their male counterparts. In one study, northeastern South American populations of the sharks were found to be smaller at first sexual maturity and first female gestation compared with those in southeastern regions, potentially due to water temperature (warmer in the northern and cooler in the southern areas). However, there are many environmental variables that may be influencing this difference.

In northeastern South America, mating likely occurs between March and June, with baby Brazilian sharpnose sharks being born mainly between December and March. In southeastern waters, birth may actually occur between July and September during the winter months. Many shark species are migratory, including those in the Rhizoprionodon genus like the Atlantic sharpnose shark. While not as much is known about the migratory patterns of the Brazilian sharpnose, scientists know they move to specific areas to produce offspring.

Being sharks from the Carcharhinidae family, Rhizoprionodon lalandii are viviparous, meaning they give live birth. Shark nurseries are often noted along shallow, protected coastal waters that do not have as high of a predator risk. These areas may also be high in food availability and especially suitable for young sharks.

Nurseries can often be divided into primary (where females give birth and young develop into juveniles) and secondary (where juveniles mature and eventually migrate away from the area). Primary and secondary nurseries may be in different locations, but in the case of Rhizoprionodon lalandii, both types of nurseries often occur in the same area. Sharks in general have low fecundity, longer gestation and late sexual maturity, but the Rhizoprionodon genus of sharks has a relatively faster metabolism than other families.

There is also evidence of female sharks accumulating reserve nutrients in the liver that may be provided to newborn sharks in the first months of life. In regards to feeding, this species is primarily ichthyophagous, meaning they prey on fish. In one study analyzing the stomach contents of the shark species, they were found to primarily feed on teleosts that were demersal, or bottom-dwelling, as well as cephalopods. Juvenile sharpnose sharks have also been found to rely upon eating crustaceans, sciaenids (also known as drum fish) and clupeids (family consisting of ray-finned fishes like herrings and sprats).

According to the IUCN red list for Rhizoprionodon lalandii, the species is listed as vulnerable and numbers are currently in decline. Brazilian sharpnose sharks are well known to be a source of food for many in various South American countries, along with being a large source of income for artisanal fisheries. The sharks are often consumed after being dried and salted, which is a popular way to prepare a variety of different fish types. Local fisheries do not typically have as wide of an impact compared to larger scale fisheries because they tend to use less intensive gear, discard less fish, and do not have as much of an effect on the seafloor.

While these local fisheries do not operate at a large scale like many industrial fisheries, the potential for overfishing these sharks is still apparent. This makes the conservation efforts for Brazilian sharpnose sharks more complex as it is simultaneously essential to protect the species while ensuring the livelihoods of local fishers and subsequently consumers. In addition to the vulnerability of R. lalandii due to overfishing, the species is also subject to ingesting microplastics.

The impact of plastic on marine ecosystems is a vast and growing issue in the 21st century, affecting not only the oceanic environment but the marine life that may mistake plastic for food. In a study analyzing plastic pellets in species of popularly-consumed fish, one of which being R. lalandii, the plastic pellets were found in 7 of the 32 fish specimens considered (22%). These results additionally show the impact that plastic may have on consumers since the sharpnose sharks are a popular source of food for human consumption.

In addition to consuming plastics, the sharks have also been found with plastic rings of debris around their gills and mouths, which is a significant hindrance to their ability to swim and breathe.

This plastic ring entanglement is likely due to fishing discard or recreational boating in which debris can also be lost or tossed off the vessels. This kind of plastic entrapment is not exclusive to the shark species, but instead another effect of oceanic pollution.

Plastic is not the sole contributor to shark consumption-related endangerment. In a study performed in 2014, POPs, or Persistent Organic Pollutants, were found in the livers of 14 juvenile Brazilian sharpnose sharks. Given that Rhizoprionodon lalandii is a coastal species that does not often perpetuate deeper waters, the likelihood of there being more pesticidal pollutants apparent in their bodies is higher when compared to sharks that inhabit deeper waters (waters further away from human influence).

Source: Wikipedia: Brazilian sharpnose shark — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_sharpnose_shark (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.