- Back dark gray to gray-brown, fading to a white belly
- Snout short and bluntly rounded
- First dorsal fin starts over pectoral fin free tip
- Fins dusky-colored, with very short free tip on second dorsal fin
- Interdorsal ridge present
Similar Species: Dusky shark, C. obscurus (longer free tip on second dorsal fin); bull shark, C. leucas (no interdorsal ridge); and sandbar shark, C. plumbeus (first dorsal fin starts in front of pectoral fin insertion)
Habitat & Range
Found near coral reefs in the Caribbean and off South America; rarely found north of the Florida Keys.Β Sometimes found lying motionless in coral caves and resting on the bottom of the sea floor.
Life History
After approximately 1 year of gestation, females give birth to live young in shallow bays and coastal lagoons. Broods contain 4-6 pups. Size at birth about 2.4 feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Size
Maximum size is approximately 8-9 feet.Β Recent studies have aged mature individuals at approximately 4-5 years of age (about 5 feet) and they are estimated to live up to 14+ years.
