BULL SHARK

Carcharhinus leucas

To about 11.5 ft (3.5 m).

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

NY to Brazil, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Rare north of DE.

Primarily shallow coastal water; common in lagoons, bays, river mouths; often enters far into fresh water.

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.