126 Commercial Shark Fishing in the Caribbean Area 



Figure 45 



Family Eulamidae 



Genus Aprionodon, Smooth-Toothed Sharks. No spiracles; no 

 longitudinal ridges on the caudal peduncle; mid-point of base of 

 first dorsal as near to axil (armpit) of pectoral as to origin of 

 pelvics or nearer; furrow around the corner of the mouth and on 

 to each jaw; teeth alike in the two jaws, very slender, erect, with 

 smooth edges. 



Figure 45. Aprionodon isodon, Smooth-Toothed Shark. 



Description: Trunk rather slender; snout moderately pointed; 

 gill openings noticeably large (the species' most obviously distinc- 

 tive character), the longest being more than twice as long as the 

 diameter of the eye and 2/3 as long as the snout in front of the 

 mouth ; furrows on the jaws very short, the lower usually con- 

 cealed when the mouth is closed ; teeth very slender, needle-sharp. 

 onWoad bases, rather widely spaced, about 13 to 15 in each side of 

 the mouth on each jaw. The second dorsal fin about 1/2 as long 

 at the base as the first dorsal and stands over the anal ; lower lobe 

 of the caudal between 1/3 and 1/2 as long as the upper lobe; 

 anal with posterior margin much more deeply concave than that of 

 the second dorsal; pectorals small, being only about 1/2 as long 

 as the head (snout to fifth gill opening), with only slightly con- 

 cave distal margin and a narrow tip. 



Color: Slate blue above; pure white below. 



Size: The largest so far reported was about 4 feet long but it 

 may grow considerably larger. 



Habits: Nothing definite is known of its habits or diet. 



Range: Both sides of the Atlantic; Cuba to New York along 

 the American coast. While this shark has seldom been reported, 

 it is to be expected throughout the Caribbean area, for it appears to be a 

 tropical species and is known from Southwestern Florida, from 

 Cuba and from the northern and northwestern shores of the Gulf of 

 Mexico. 



