Spinner sharks, Carcharhinus brevipinna, are often confused with the blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) and can be found in the tropical and warm temperate seas around the world such as the Florida coast.
Order – Carcharhiniformes
Family - Carcharhinidae
Genus - Carcharhinus
Species -brevipinna
Spinner sharks get their name from the action they are often seen doing when chasing their prey rapidly through the water then spinning through the air as they leave the water in chase.
Identified by their long slender body and small eyes this bronze colored shark is often mistaken for the blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) and the difference is difficult to detect.
The blacktip shark lacks the black tip on the anal fin which is easily seen on young spinner sharks but can fade on adult spinners.
Growth
The average size of an adult is around 6-7ft which they reach after 10-20 years. With an average weight of 120-130lbs at adulthood this is one of the smaller sharks to be found off the Florida coast.
Habitat
This shark can be found both inshore and offshore happy in depths of up to 300ft.
When scuba diving around Florida, you may find this shark around coral reefs during the spring and summer when it comes inshore to breed.
They will not be found around river mouths and similar freshwater outlets as this shark will not tolerate any waters with low salinity.
Behavior
As you watch this shark moving through the water the first thing you will notice is this is a fast swimming shark which adds to the difficulty of taking one of those underwater photos you were trying to capture!
This is not an aggressive shark and should pose no threat to your scuba diving exploration. It is fascinating to watch this shark move rapidly through and out of the water as it attacks schools of fish near the surface, spinning several times before it re-enters the waters.
Eating Habits
A diet predominately made up of pelagic fishes such as sardines, herrings, mullet, bluefish, tunas, jacks, grunts, stingrays and squid.
This shark is often seen swimming rapidly through schools of fish spinning its body and snapping in all directions at the fish as they disperse. As they chase the prey they leap out of the water in a similar manner to the blacktip shark (C. limbatus) but the spinner is seen carrying out this action far more often.
Shark Videos
In this brief video below you have the opportunity to see a spinner shark that was beached and rescued by some people. It's a great opportunity to see the size and shape of this fascinating shark. (Press the button second right on the bottom of the video player to see it in full screen)..
Terence's Tip
This shark is none aggressive towards scuba divers however historically they have been responsible for 13 unprovoked attacks on people around the world.
None of these incidents were fatal and it is extremely rare for these sharks to attack larger targets such as scuba divers.
However they have been known to show more than a passing interest when amongst spear fishing.
As I keep emphasizing the majority of Florida sharks are no threat but demand respect.
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