Relevant synonyms* Carcharias acutus Scoliodon sorrakowa * Note: the English vernacular name "milk shark" refers to the use of its flesh to promote lactation (Compagno, 1984). Misidentification None  drawing : Tuvia Kurz

SHORT DESCRIPTION Elongated body with pointed snout (the segment before nostrils 4.4 - 5.1 % of total length). Teeth in 25/24 rows, characterized by a large base and one cusp, with medial side oblique, lateral side almost vertical, over a serrated basal extension. First dorsal fin origin over the posterior margin of pectoral fins; second dorsal fin smaller than anal fin, its origin behind the origin of anal fin. color : grey or grey-brown, pale or whitish on ventral surfaces; pectoral fins with a light margin. size : most adults less than 1 m (max. 178 cm in males; 165 cm in females). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS This shark is distinguished from all other Mediterranean species of the genus Cacharhinus by the position of the origin of its second dorsal fin, which begins behind the origin of the anal fin. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Viviparous, number of young generally 2 to 5 per litter, after a gestation period of about one year. Maturation at age 2. Feeds on a variety of fish and invertebrates. Harmless to man, given its small size. habitat : abundant in inshore and offshore waters from the beach to a depth of ca. 200 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Gulf of Taranto, Ionian Sea, 1985. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : eastern Atlantic, from Madeira to Angola. Indian Ocean and west Pacific, Red Sea, East Africa, India, Indonesia, China, Japan and North-East Australia. Mediterranean : recorded in Gulf of Taranto, Ionian Sea (Pastore and Tortonese, 1985). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare. Only a single specimen recorded in the Mediterranean. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Probably via Gibraltar. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None in the Mediterranean but of commercial importance throughout its range elsewhere.

KEY REFERENCES Compagno L.J.V., 1984. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2. Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish Synopsis, (125) Vol. 4, Pt.2 : 251-655. Pastore M. and Tortonese E., 1985. Prima segnalazione in Mediterraneo dello squalo Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppell). Thalassia Salentina, 14: 11-15. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: March 2001 ©ciesm 2002