brazilian sharpnose shark
Rhizoprionodon lalandii
Small shark from shallow waters of the western Atlantic, from Panama to southern Brazil. It appears in commercial fishing, and its meat is highly valued.
Also called: cação-frango, figuinho, cazón, tollo, brazilian sharpnose shark
- maximum
- 80 cm
- depth
- 3–70 m
who is the brazilian sharpnose shark
The sharpnose shark is a small shark of the family Carcharhinidae, with a slender body and a pointed snout. It reaches 80 cm, and the usual size is 55 cm. It lives in shallow coastal waters, between 3 and 70 m, over sand and mud bottoms, and does not usually enter lagoons and estuaries. It feeds on small fish, such as sardines and anchovies, and also on shrimp and squid. It is viviparous, and pups are born at 33 to 34 cm. It appears in commercial fishing, and its meat is highly valued.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the brazilian sharpnose shark.
identification
Small shark with a slender body and pointed snout, common in the shallow waters of the Brazilian coast. Like other sharks of the family, it has two dorsal fins and an anal fin. There is another sharpnose shark on the same coast, Rhizoprionodon porosus, which is hard to tell apart by eye. From Panama to southern Brazil and Uruguay, it lives in coastal waters down to 70 m.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Western Atlantic, from Panama to southern Brazil and Uruguay, including the Guianas.
Habitat: Shallow coastal waters, over sand and mud bottoms, down to 70 meters deep.
coast
rules for the brazilian sharpnose shark
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Small shark with sharp teeth: hold it by the base of the tail and the head, away from the mouth, and release it with minimal handling.
in the kitchen
The meat is highly valued and reaches the market dried and salted.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00275, b = 3.07; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Rhizoprionodon lalandii (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Rhizoprionodon lalandiiNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.