 It has since been listed under several different genera, including "Carcharhinus" and "Scoliodon", before finally being placed in the genus "Rhizoprionodon" via synonymization with the type species, "R. crenidens".As Rüppell did not mention a type specimen, in 1960, Wolfgang Klausewitz designated a -long male caught off Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as the lectotype for this species.The common name "milk shark" comes from a belief held in India that eating this shark's meat enhances lactation.