Cartilaginous fish · Carcharhiniformes · Carcharhinidae

Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

It is one of the few sharks able to survive and breed in entirely fresh water, and has been recorded more than 4,000 km up the Amazon.

Weight

91 kg – 230 kg

Size

55 cm – 3.4 m

Lifespan

16 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

OceanFreshwaterCarnivore Variable activity Solitary Near Threatened Fish Ocean Freshwater

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Fun facts

It can survive and breed in entirely fresh water.
It has been recorded more than 4,000 km up the Amazon.
It accounts for a significant number of attacks on people, because it frequents murky inshore water.
fisiologíaIt is one of the few sharks able to tolerate both salt and fresh water, and has been recorded hundreds of kilometres up rivers inland.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - cartilaginous skeleton (fish)
Habitat & environment: Warm, shallow coastal waters, estuaries and rivers; the only shark able to live for long periods in fresh water
Birth weight: 55 - 81 cm long at birth (figures vary slightly between sources)
Size at birth: 55 - 81 cm long
Sexual maturity: Female: ~18 years | Male: 14-15 years (some sources give lower figures of 5-6 years, depending on the region)
Gestation / incubation: 10-11 months
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 13 young per litter (average 6-8)

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; FishBase; Spectacular Sciences; Australian Museum; Wikipedia (Bull shark); Biology Insights; Shark Research Institute; A-Z Animals; NSW Department of Primary Industries