Carcharhinus cerdale
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_smalltail_shark
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Pacific smalltail shark faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive artisanal and commercial fishing pressure throughout its limited range in the Eastern Pacific. As a coastal species with slow reproductive rates typical of sharks, it is particularly vulnerable to overexploitation from gillnet fisheries and targeted fishing for its fins and meat. Habitat degradation in nearshore waters from coastal development and pollution further compounds the species' decline.
Habitat
The Pacific smalltail shark inhabits shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and nearshore marine environments along the Eastern Pacific coast. It typically occurs in waters less than 36 meters deep, preferring sandy and muddy bottoms in bays and coastal lagoons.
