- Tagging Program
- Research
- Management
- Species Descriptions
- Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
- Basking Shark
- Bigeye Thresher
- Bignose Shark
- Blacknose Shark
- Blacktip Shark
- Blue Shark
- Bonnethead
- Bull Shark
- Dusky Shark
- Finetooth Shark
- Great Hammerhead
- Lemon Shark
- Longfin Mako
- Night Shark
- Nurse Shark
- Oceanic Whitetip Shark
- Porbeagle
- Sandbar Shark
- Sand Tiger
- Scalloped Hammerhead
- Shortfin Mako
- Silky Shark
- Smooth Dogfish
- Smooth Hammerhead
- Spinner Shark
- Spiny Dogfish
- Thresher Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Whale Shark
- White Shark
- Publications
- Other Links
SANDBAR SHARK
Carcharhinus plumbeus
SIZE
To about 8 ft (2.4 m).
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
- First dorsal fin large, triangular, originating over or slightly before pectoral insertion
- Pectoral fins large, broad
- Snout shorter than width of mouth
- Color brownish-gray or brown above, white below
- Interdorsal ridge
DISTRIBUTION
Cape Cod, MA, to FL, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
HABITAT
Inshore shallow coastal waters, including bays, harbors, and estuaries; typically in waters 5-180 ft (2-55 m); also offshore, occasionally to 600-810 ft (183-247 m); bottom dwelling.
SIMILAR SPECIES
Blacktip shark, spinner shark, and bull shark lack interdorsal ridges. Dusky shark, most difficult to distinguish, attains larger maximum size (12 ft (3.7m)); has proportionally smaller, swept-back fins, with first dorsal fin farther back over free tips of pectoral fins. Bignose shark has longer snout, smaller first dorsal fin. Silky shark has smaller first dorsal fin, which is rounded, swept back, and set farther behind free tips of pectoral fins; second dorsal fin free tip length usually more than twice fin height.
MORE INFORMATION
![]() |
Text descriptions taken from Guide to Sharks, Tunas, & Billfishes of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico |
Sandbar length-weight relationship
www.nefsc.noaa.gov |
Search |
Link Disclaimer |
webMASTER |
Privacy Policy |
Survey |
(File Modified Sep. 13 2011)
|