Smooth-tooth Blacktip shark

About the Smooth-tooth Blacktip shark

The Smoothtooth Blacktip Shark is a shark endemic to the Arabian Sea. It was just rediscovered in 2009. The species is rare and localised. They are caught in gill nets, long longline and trawl fisheries in inshore waters.

Carcharhinus species have had significant declines in the Arabian Gulf/Persian Gulf, Smoothtooth Blacktip Shark has been known from the southern Oman and eastern Yemen region and has been a prey of intensive fishing, which makes its population decline up to 50-80 per cent. Kuwait is known to have abundant numbers of these sharks but due to the habitat degradation and water management policies in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the numbers are declining. Modifications and loss of coastal habitats in the Gulf is a prominent concern for inshore species like these sharks.

Smoothtooth Blacktip Shark measures bewteen 75 cm to 165 cm. There is limited number of specimens recorded and therefore minimum information is available on this species. Females reach maturity by 131 cm and are viviparous with litters of 4-6 embryos. Smoothtooth Blacktip Sharks are similar to Spottail Shark from Australia and hence it is estimated to live for 8.25 years of age.

A reduction in their number is suspected due to the current levels of exploitation. It is considered endangered due to increased risks in similar species. Further research and examining is required to understand the distribution, ecology, biology and population of Smoothtooth Blacktip Sharks.

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