Carcharhinus sharks are a genus of sharks that have lived from the Eocene epoch, 42 million years ago, to the present day. They live in tropical and temperate waters, mostly near continental coasts, but also offshore. The genus name (Carcharhinus) derives from the Greek words karcharos, meaning “sharp”, and rhinos, meaning “nose”, because many species have pointed snouts.
Carcharhinus sharks have a robust body, with a rounded or triangular snout, and can reach up to approximately 3.3 meters in length. Their upper teeth are triangular and serrated, allowing them to slice, while their lower teeth are narrow with few serrations, well-suited for grasping prey. Most species feed on small fish and crustaceans, but larger requiem shark species can also prey on marine mammals.
