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The shark species "Sandbar shark"

Photo
Sandbar shark
Sandbar shark
Photo © Doug Perrine

Photo © Doug Perrine

Range Map
North America South America Africa Australia Europe Asia Coming soon Coming soon
North America South America Africa Australia Europe Asia Coming soon Coming soon
Sandbar shark

Rough area of distribution

Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Animals (Animalia)
Phylum:
Vertebrates (Chordata)
Class:
Cartilagenous fishes (Chondrichthyes)
Order:
Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)
Family:
Requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae)
Genus:
Carcharhinus
Names
Scientific:
Carcharhinus plumbeus
English:
Sandbar shark , Thickskin shark
German:
Sandbankhai , Grossflossenhai , Atlantischer Braunhai
French:
Requin gris
Spanish:
Tiburón trozo
Appearance
Medium-sized requiem shark. Round snout. First dorsal fin prominent, very high, with a rounded apex. Origin over or slightly anterior to pectoral insertions (ends). Second dorsal fin moderately high as well (2.1 to 3.5 % of total body length). Origin over or slightly anterior to anal fin origin. Large pectoral fins, semi-falcate with narrowly rounded or pointed apices. Interdorsal ridge is present.
Coloration
Grey-brown upper body, white ventral surface. Tips and posterior edges of fins can be dusky colored but no conspicuous markings.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts to Florida. Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Cuba, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Venezuela, southern Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Mediterranean, Portugal, Canary Islands, Morocco, Senegal, Cape Verde Islands, Gulf of Guinea, Zaire. Western Indian Ocean: South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Mauritius, Seychelles, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman. Western Pacific: Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Australia, New Caledonia. Central Pacific: Hawaiian Island. Eastern Pacific: Galapagos and Revillagigedo Islands.
Biology
Abundant. Lives inshore and offshore, over continental and insular shelves. Common in harbours, inside shallow muddy and sandy bays. Depths range from surface (intertidal zone) down to approximately 280 m. Most live close to the bottom.
Diet
Small bottom fishes and, to a much lesser extent, crustaceans and molluscs.
Size
Maximum size about 300 cm, average size between 200 and 250 cm.
Reproduction
Viviparous, with yolksac-placenta. 1 to 14 pups per litter. Gestation period estimated between 8 and 12 months (seems to vary with location). Size at birth between 56 and 75 cm. Males reach maturity with a minimum of approximately 30 cm, females with a minimum of approximately 145 cm.
Similar Species
Similar species exist but the prominent first dorsal fin makes this species easy to recognise.
Vulnerability
Category: Endangered (EN)
Criteria: A2bd
Last evaluated: 2021
Trend: Decreasing




© IUCN Red List 2024. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Version 2024-2.

Danger to Humans
Harmless.

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