Daggernose Shark

Protected Status

ESA Endangered - Foreign

Throughout Its Range

CITES Appendix II

Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

Weight

Unknown

Length

Up to 5 feet

Lifespan

Up to 20 years

Threats

Artisanal fishing

Region

Foreign

About the Species

The daggernose shark is a cartilaginous fish. The species once occurred in the shallow tropical waters of the central western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, from Venezuela to northern Brazil, making it one of the smallest ranges of any elasmobranch species. It no longer occurs in areas of Brazil where it was previously common. Recent records of the species throughout the rest of its range are scarce. The main threat to the daggernose shark is bycatch in unregulated artisanal gillnet fisheries operating throughout its range. In 2017, NOAA Fisheries listed the species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Appearance

Like its name implies, the daggernose shark can be identified by its long and prominent snout. It has a uniform gray or gray-brown color and white underside, and the pectoral fins of the species are very large and paddle-shaped.

Behavior and Diet

There is limited information on the daggernose shark’s diet and feeding behavior, but some studies suggest the species feeds on schooling fishes, such as clupeids, sciaenids, herring, anchovies, and croakers. Given their small eyes and long snout, it is thought the species relies more heavily on sensory organs in the snout than its eyesight when hunting in turbid waters.

Where They Live

The daggernose shark lives in shallow, tropical, and often turbid waters in coastal areas such as estuaries, river mouths, and mangrove coastlines. The daggernose shark can be found in the central western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea and has been reported along the coasts of Venezuela, Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil.

World map providing approximate representation of the daggernose shark's range.

Lifespan & Reproduction

Female daggernose sharks live to be approximately 20 years old, while males live to be approximately 12 years old. Females are thought to give birth on alternate years to litters of approximately 3 to 7 pups. Pupping occurs during the rainy season in Brazil (January to June) after a gestation period of 12 months.

Threats

Artisanal fishing

The primary threat to the daggernose shark is unregulated artisanal fisheries. The species is caught as bycatch in artisanal gillnet fisheries for Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus brasiliensis) and king weakfish (Cynoscion acoupa) in Brazil. Similar artisanal fisheries operate throughout the species restricted range.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Chondrichthyes
Order	Carcharhiniformes
Family	Carcharhinidae
Genus	Isogomphodon
Species	oxyrhynchus

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 11/21/2024

Management Overview

The daggernose shark is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Additionally, the daggernose shark is listed under:

Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Regulatory History

In 2013, NOAA Fisheries received a petition to list the daggernose shark as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. In our 90-day finding, we concluded that the petitioned action may be warranted. After completing a Status Review, we proposed to list the species as endangered and requested comments from the public. In 2017, NOAA Fisheries listed the daggernose shark as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents

Initiation of a 5-Year Review for Daggernose Shark

We, NOAA Fisheries, announce initiation of the 5-year review of the endangered daggernose shark (Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus). The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires us to conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years to determine…

Notice of Initiation of 5-year review; request for information (89 FR 107109, 1…

Information Gathering,

Foreign

Published

December 31, 2024

Final Rule To List Six Foreign Elasmobranchs Under the Endangered Species Act

We, NOAA Fisheries, issue a final rule to list six foreign marine elasmobranch species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These six species are the daggernose shark (Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus), Brazilian guitarfish (Rhinobatos horkelii), striped…

Final Rule,

Foreign

Effective

June 9, 2017

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 11/21/2024

Documents

Document

Endangered Species Act Status Review of Daggernose Shark (Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus)

This status review report summarizes the biology, distribution, and abundance of and threats to the…

Southeast

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 11/21/2024

Daggernose Shark