Sandbar shark

The sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus), also known as the brown shark or thickskin shark, is a species of requiem shark, and part of the family Carcharhinidae, native to the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific. It is distinguishable by its very high first dorsal fin and interdorsal ridge. It is not to be confused with the similarly named sand tiger shark, or Carcharias taurus.

Distribution

The sandbar shark, true to its nickname, is commonly found over muddy or sandy bottoms in shallow coastal waters such as bays, estuaries, harbors, or the mouths of rivers, but it also swims in deeper waters (200 m or more) as well as intertidal zones. Sandbar sharks are found in tropical to temperate waters worldwide; in the western Atlantic they range from Massachusetts to Brazil. Juveniles are common to abundant in the lower Chesapeake Bay, and nursery grounds are found from Delaware Bay to South Carolina. Other nursery grounds include Bonjuk Bay in Marmaris, Muğla/Turkey and the Florida Keys.

Behaviour

Natural predators of the sandbar shark include the tiger shark and, rarely, great white sharks.

The sandbar shark itself preys on fish, rays, crabs, and molluscs. They have also been found to primarily consume osteichthyes, or bony fish, octopuses, european squid, and cuttlefish when in areas such as the Mediterranean or the Gulf of Gabés. Sandbar sharks have been described as being a top predator in their ecosystem's food chain.