128 Commercial Shark Fishing in the Caribbean Area 



Figure 46 



Family Eulamidae. 



Genus Scoliodon, No spiracles ; and no longitudinal ridges on 

 the caudal peduncle; mid-point of base of first dorsal about equi- 

 distant between the origin of the pelvics and the axil of the pec- 

 toral ; furrow on upper jaw (if present) is much shorter than the 

 snout in front of mouth ; upper and lower teeth alike, those along 

 side of jaw broad, oblique, with their outer margins deeply notched, 

 their edges smooth or at most only slightly wavy. 



Figure 46. Scoliodon terrae-novae, Sharp-Nosed Shark. 



Description: Trunk slender; the snout flattened above, tapering 

 to narrowly rounded tip and varying considerably in shape in 

 different specimens; gill openings a little longer than the diameter 

 of the eye, the fourth over the origin of the pectoral; a well-marked 

 furrow, extending around the corner of the mouth and for a short 

 distance along each jaw, is a distinctive character among similar 

 species ; the teeth, similar in the two jaws, are also distinctive in 

 shape — those along the sides of the jaws being broader than 

 high, smooth edged and very oblique, with the outer margins 

 deeply notched. The base of the second dorsal fin about 1/3 as long 

 as that of the first dorsal but similar to it in shape, its origin 

 about over the mid-point of the base of the anal ; lower lobe of the 

 caudal a little more than 1/3 as long as the upper lobe; the anal 

 similar to the second dorsal in shape but about 1-1/3 as long at 

 the base ; the pelvics a little longer at the base than the anal, being 

 only about as long as the front edge of the first dorsal ; the pec- 

 torals noticeably small with moderately concave distal margin 

 and well rounded tip. 



Color: Brownish to olive gray above, with the dorsal and caudal 

 fins more or less dark-edged ; white below. 



Size: About 11 to 16 inches at birth; adults commonly 26 to 30 

 inches long; maximum recorded length about 36^ inches. 



Habits: Often taken right along the beach. Also in enclosed 

 bays, sounds, harbors and occasionally in brackish or even in tidal 

 fresh water. It has never yet been reported more than a mile or 

 two out at sea. It feeds chiefly on small fish of whatever kinds are 

 available, also on shrimps and mollusks. It bites freely on almost 

 any bait. Young are born chiefly in late spring and summer in 

 the northern part of its range, but their season is not known for 

 tropical waters. 



Range: Both sides of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic; 

 Uruguay to North Carolina along the American Coast and occa- 

 sionally stray i. » as far north as the Bay of Fundy. This little 

 shark occurs generally throughout the West Indian-Caribbean 

 regions and is so plentiful locally as to be a nuisance because of 

 its habit of taking the baits intended for more desirable fish. 



