Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827)

Scientific name: plumbeus Carcharhinus
Alternative name/s:
Northern Whaler Shark, Sand Shark, Thickskin Shark
<i>Carcharhinus plumbeus</i> Click to enlarge image
IB.6010 Carcharhinus plumbeus Image: Tony Healy
© Tony Healy

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    plumbeus
    Species
    Carcharhinus
    Family
    Carcharhinidae
    Order
    Carcharhiniformes
    Class
    Chondrichthyes
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to about 2.4 m in length.

Introduction

The Sandbar Shark has a tall first dorsal fin.

Identification

The species is grey to brownish above and pale below. There may be a pale stripe along the side of the body. The caudal and anal fins sometimes have pale tips. The pale tips are visible on some of the fish in the above video that was filmed at a depth of 51 m, off the coast of Carnarvon, Western Australia. The footage was captured with a pelagic baited remote underwater stereo-video system. Thank you to Julia Santana Garcon, Marine Ecology Group University of Western Australia.

Habitat

The species occurs from the intertidal to depths of at least 280 m.

Distribution

The Sandbar Shark has a patchy worldwide distribution in tropical and warm temperate marine waters.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Edition 2. CSIRO. Pp. 644, Pl. 1-91.