BULL SHARK

 

Photographs courtesy of Rafa Flores all rights reserved.

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Common Names: Bull shark, Zambezi shark, Lake Nicaragua shark, Cub shark.

Latin Name: Carcharhinus leucas  

Family: Carcharhinidae  

Identification: Heavy set body. Broad, short snout. Eyes proportionately small. First dorsal large and pointed. Upper body uniformly grey fading to paler grey on the belly. Tips of all fins and trailing edge of caudal fin are sometimes dusky. No interdorsal ridge.

Size: Maximum length 340cm. Size at birth 56-81cm.   

Habitat:  Turbid inshore waters, lagoons, estuaries, freshwater rivers and lakes, coastlines, and reef environments down to 150m. The Bull shark is famous for its habit of swimming upstream hundreds of miles in some river systems such as the Mississippi, Amazon, Zambezi, and Lake Nicaragua.

Abundance and distribution: Circumtropical and subtropical.

Behavior:  Diet consists of many food types including bony fishes, turtles, seals, crabs, and squid. Adult Bull sharks are especially keen on other elasmobranchs. Hunting may take place in both salt and fresh water habitats.

Reproduction: Viviparous. Recorded litter size 1 - 13. Gestation period 10 - 11 months.

Observations: Bull sharks have been observed lying motionless on the seabed as if sleeping. No explanation for this desire to rest is immediately obvious.

Photographs: Fiji.

Similar species: In the Caribbean the Bull shark is often confused with the Caribbean reef shark (C.perezi) which is not as heavy bodied and has more distinct markings. Many carcharhinids are superficially similar to the bull shark and attention to fin coloration and overall body proportions are important clues to species identification. Of a similar size or even bigger than the bull shark is the Dusky shark (C.obscurus). The Dusky often has very little identifying markings but has a longer and more pointed snout than the Bull.

Reaction to divers: Although Bull sharks have been implicated in many attacks on bathers, divers are normally not harassed unless they are spear fishing. A leading researcher Dr Erich Ritter was bitten 'on camera' during a shark feed at Shark Beach in the Bahamas. The incident resulted in the lengthy documentary - Anatomy of a Shark Bite.

Diving logistics: Shark Beach AKA Bull shark Beach at Walkers Cay in the Bahamas was at one point the best location for viewing Bull sharks in the world. In 2003 it was closed whilst Dr Ritter restructures the encounter in such a way that the feedings are more regulated and the safety of the snorkellers is reassessed as well as the welfare of the sharks. Until this encounter reopens the best opportunity to dive with Bull sharks is probably with Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures aboard their dedicated live-aboard the Shearwater.  Jim and Anna have a talent for attracting big sharks and know some great spots where each species are likely to be found.

Another excellent area for Bull shark encounters is the Coastline of southern Africa around Protea Banks, and Aliwol Shoal. Many operators service these areas from South Africa and Mozambique and a list of companies can be found in the elasmodiver links section. Any recommendations from divers of specific outfits would be welcome.

Other diving locations submitted by readers: 

References and further reading:  

Sharks of Tropical and Temperate Seas. - R.H. Johnson - Pisces Books

Reef Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.

Sharks and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.

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