Spinner Shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna)

Fast and fluid, the spinner shark lives up to its name — leaping and twisting through the water in bursts of pure motion. Beneath the surface, it moves with the same energy, sleek and silver against the open blue, built for both speed and spectacle.

Scientific Snapshot

A spinner shark twisting gracefully through sunlit water, its sleek silver body catching the light as it rises toward the surface.

Scientific Name: Carcharhinus brevipinna

Common Names: Spinner shark

Average Size: Typically 2 to 2.5 meters (6.5–8 feet)

Habitat: Coastal and offshore waters, often near the surface in tropical and subtropical seas

Diet: Small schooling fish, squid, and crustaceans

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (IUCN Red List)

Range: Worldwide in warm waters, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Indo-Pacific

From the Field

The story…