 The bignose shark ( Carcharhinus altimus ) is a species of requiem shark , in the family Carcharhinidae . Distributed worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters , this migratory shark frequents deep waters around the edges of the continental shelf . It is typically found at depths of 90 – 430 m ( 300 – 1 @,@ 410 ft ) , though at night it may move towards the surface or into shallower water . The bignose shark is plain @-@ colored and grows to at least 2 @.@ 7 – 2 @.@ 8 m ( 8 @.@ 9 – 9 @.@ 2 ft ) in length . It has a long , broad snout with prominent nasal skin flaps , and tall , triangular upper teeth . Its pectoral fins are long and almost straight , and there is a ridge on its back between the two dorsal fins . 
