Carcharhinus perezii (Poey, 1876)
Caribbean reef shark
photo by Palavicini, G.

Family:  Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks)
Max. size:  300 cm TL (male/unsexed); 295 cm TL (female); max.weight: 70 kg
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 65 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Florida, USA to southern Brazil, including the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Antilles.
Diagnosis:  A large, gray shark with an interdorsal ridge and short blunt snout. 1st dorsal fin small with short rear tip (Ref. 26938).
Biology:  Found on continental and insular shelves, often near drop-offs on the outer edges of reefs. May rest on the bottom (Ref. 9710). Usually found in reefs, at less than 30 m deep (Ref 26938). Feed on bony fishes, including bigeyes (Priacanthidae). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Size at birth below 73 cm. A dangerous species implicated in an abortive attack on divers in the Caribbean. Meat is prepared dried salted for human consumption, hides for leather, liver for oil, carcasses for fish meal.
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 01 July 2019 (A2bcd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


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