The Spinner shark

Carcharhinus brevipinna

The genus name Carcharhinus is derived from the Greek “karcharos” = sharpen and “rhinos” = nose.

Spinner sharks are found in warm waters—mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. They are commonly spotted near the coast, in places like beaches and bays, and can swim at depths of 1 to 100 meters. These sharks like to travel in groups and are known for migrating over long distances.

Known for their speed, spinner sharks are famous for jumping and spinning out of the water while chasing fish. It’s a pretty incredible sight!

Spinner sharks have a long, slender body with a pointed nose and small, round eyes. They are often confused with blacktip sharks, but you can tell them apart by their fins: spinner sharks have black tips on their anal fin, while blacktip sharks do not.

Their coloring is gray or bronze on top, fading to white underneath. The second dorsal fin, anal fin, pectoral fins, and the bottom part of the tail all have distinct black tips. Other fins, like the pelvic and first dorsal fins, may also have black tips

Spinner sharks give birth to live young, which is known as being “viviparous.” Their reproductive cycle happens every two years. After birth, the young sharks head into shallow waters to stay safe from predators and find food. They carry their babies for about 11 to 15 months before giving birth in inshore areas.

Spinner sharks eat a variety of small fish like sardines, anchovies, and mullet, as well as squid and even stingrays. What’s unique about them is their feeding method: they swim quickly through schools of fish while spinning in circles to catch their prey. They often leap out of the water as they hunt!

Sometimes, spinner sharks will gather in groups when feeding or scavenging. They’ve also been seen taking advantage of fish thrown overboard from fishing boats.