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BULL SHARK
Carcharhinus leucas
SIZE
To about 11.5 ft (3.5 m).
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
- First dorsal fin large, triangular, rearward sloping, originating over or slightly behind pectoral insertion
- Snout much shorter than width of mouth and bluntly rounded
- Eyes small
- Body stocky to heavy, especially in adults
- Color pale to dark gray above, white below
- No interdorsal ridge
DISTRIBUTION
NY to Brazil, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Rare north of DE.HABITAT
Primarily shallow coastal water; common in lagoons, bays, river mouths; often enters far into fresh water.SIMILAR SPECIES
Sandbar shark, dusky shark, and bignose shark have interdorsal ridges; do not occur in fresh water. Sandbar shark and blacktip shark have first dorsal fins that are erect, not rearward sloping. Blacktip shark has black-tipped fins; does not occur in fresh water.MORE INFORMATION
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Text descriptions taken from Guide to Sharks, Tunas, & Billfishes of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico |
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(File Modified Sep. 13 2011)
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