Carcharhinus leucas
Bull Shark
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Elasmobranchii
Order
Carcharhiniformes
Family
Carcharhinidae
Genus
Carcharhinus
Species
Carcharhinus leucas
Colours
Distinguishing features
Bull sharks have a heavy build and a broad, blunt snout. They have two dorsal fins, the rear one being shorter than the main one. Young sharks have dark tips on the fins but adults have no fin markings.
Size
- Up to 350 cm (Length of specimen) - applies to Typical mature females are around 2.4 metres long but specimens in excess of 3.5 metres have been recorded. Females are normally larger than males.
Depth range
- From 0 m to 30 m - applies to They have been recorded at depths up to 150 metres.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Bull Shark are typically encountered in shallow water along coasts and in estuaries. They are tolerant of brackish and fresh water though they are not freshwater sharks.
Behaviour
Bull sharks mate during late summer and early autumn, usually in brackish river mouths. Bull sharks usually hunt in shallow waters, using their quick acceleration to catch prey.
Web resources
Danger
- rarely fatal - Their ability to survive in brackish and freshwater systems and their preference for warm shallow waters causes them to come into contact with humans more often than do other shark species.