Daggernose Shark: An Elusive Species from Northern South America

Abstract

The Daggernose Shark Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus is an endemic species of the northern coast of South America distributed from Trinidad and Tobago to Brazil's Amazon Coast. Due to increasing fishing efforts and its limited distribution range, the Daggernose Shark is one of the most endangered shark species in the world. Further threats arise from mangrove deforestation, pollution, and aquaculture caused by increasing human populations in coastal areas. The Daggernose Shark is highly associated to the turbid waters influenced by the Amazon and Orinoco estuaries. Furthermore, its morphological features associated to adaptations to these environments such as an elongated rostrum, small eyes, and long pectoral fins make it one of the most iconic shark species in the world. Finally, we report the capture of a young‐of‐the‐year I. oxyrhynchus in a freshwater system in Northern Brazil—the first recorded in a non‐marine environment.