The largest recorded bull shark was a 4.0 m (13.1 ft) female. The largest tiger shark captured weight was 1,450 pounds. They also occur in a number of river systems and some freshwater lakes (Compagno et al. [citation needed]. While a maximum size of 3.5 m (11 ft) is commonly reported, a single record exists of a female specimen of exactly 4.0 m (13.1 ft). Because the majority of sharks are only able to survive in salt water, the bull shark has evolved to have their offspring in the fresh water where other sharks cannot enter. According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), bull sharks are historically responsible for at least 100 unprovoked attacks on humans around the world, 27 of which have been fatal. Review of the Freshwater Sharks of Iran (Family Carcharhinidae). 1995) and maximum reported weight is 316.5 kg (~698 pounds) (IGFA 2001). CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, List of fatal, unprovoked shark attacks in the United States by decade, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T39372A10187195.en, "Bull Shark, Carcharhinus leucas Valenciennes, 1839", "Bull sharks have strongest bite of all shark species", "Fisherman under investigation after catching 350 kg bull shark", "Video: Ministry investigating capture of 347 kg shark off Fujairah", "Emirati fisherman catches 350 kg shark in UAE", "Emirati man catches huge shark weighing 350 kg", Bull sharks seen in flooded streets | Offbeat | Weird News, Odd and Freaky Stories in Northern Rivers | Clarence Valley Daily Examiner, High number of sharks reported in Lake Pontchartrain, "Sharks at Carbrook Golf Club caught on film, confirming they survived Brisbane floods", "Shark-Infested Australian Golf Course Believed to Be World's First", "Freshwater elasmobranchs; a questionable future", "Movement and distribution of young bull sharks Carcharhinus leucas in a variable estuarine environment", "Freshwater to seawater acclimation of juvenile bull sharks (. (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/bullshark/bullshark.htm) Bull sharks have small eyes relative to most other carcharhinid sharks which suggests that vision may not be as important for this species which often occurs in turbid waters. Does the Bull Shark Make a Good Pet. The Natal Sharks Board reports that the average size of bull sharks caught in their beach nets have significantly declined in recent years, which does not bode well for South African populations of the species. [21] A large bull shark was caught in the canals of Scarborough, just north of Brisbane within Moreton Bay. Elasmobranchs' ability to enter fresh water is limited because their blood is normally at least as salty (in terms of osmotic strength) as seawater through the accumulation of urea and trimethylamine oxide, but bull sharks living in fresh water show a significantly reduced concentration of urea within their blood. Carcharhinus leucas. The movement was found to be directly related to the bull shark conserving energy for itself. Reaching lengths of 11 feet (3.5 m) and weights up to nearly 700 pounds (315 kg), the bull shark is one of the largest requiem sharks (Family Carcharhinide). The bite force of a bull shark is 5914 Newtons, which is the highest for any fish, weight for weight. [33] Reproduction is one of the reasons why adult bull sharks travel into the river—it is thought to be a physiological strategy to improve juvenile survival and a way to increase overall fitness of bull sharks. Bull sharks are wider and heavier than other requiem sharksof comparable lengt… Bull Sharks :: MarineBio Video Library Bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas (Müller and Henle, 1839), aka zambezi, ganges (often confused with the Ganges river shark, Glyphis gangeticus), ground sharks, river sharks, freshwater whalers, estuary whalers, shovelnoses, slipway greys, and swan river whalers, are massive and fearsome sharks with a short, broad, blunt snouts, small eyes, and triangular saw-edged upper teeth. Their diet can also include turtles, birds, dolphins, terrestrial mammals, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Coastal lagoons, river mouths, and other low-salinity estuaries are common nursery habitats (Simpfendorfer and Burgess 2009). The inshore nursery grounds are particularly at risk. [31], The bull shark is the best known of 43 species of elasmobranch in 10 genera and four families to have been reported in fresh water. A 7.5 foot (2.25 m) white shark was captured two days after the last attack, 4 miles (6.4 km) from the mouth of Matawan Creek, and allegedly contained human remains in its stomach. The snout is very short; its mouth is wider than the snout is long. The second dorsal fin is significantly smaller. In early June 2012, off the coast of the Florida Keys near the western part of the Atlantic Ocean, a female believed to measure at least 8 ft (2.4 m) and 800–850 lb (360–390 kg) was caught by members of the R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program. [28][29] A golf course lake at Carbook, Logan City, Queensland, Australia is the home to several bull sharks. Domestication. The maximum reported length of the bull shark is 400 cm (~13 ft) (Compagno et al. The largest weight of a whale shark registered is 47,000 pounds or 21.5 tonnes. [36] The gills of bull sharks are likely to be involved in the uptake of sodium and chloride from the surrounding fresh water,[37] whereas urea is produced in the liver as required with changes in environmental salinity. Whilst it is theoretically possible for bull sharks to live purely in fresh water, experiments conducted on bull sharks found that they died within four years. They have been known to travel up the Mississippi River as far as Alton, Illinois,[3] about 700 miles (1100 km) from the ocean. Bull sharks bear live young. A … The pectoral fins are also large, broad and angular. National Geographic Bull Shark Video The bull shark is considered the likely culprit for the infamous series of five attacks that occurred in New Jersey in 1916 that resulted in four fatalities over a 12 day period. This is also a problem, since this gives them the most interaction with humans. Once they made it to the bank, the found the 6-foot bull shark. Does the Bull Shark Make a Good Pet. Bull sharks can be found worldwide along coastal areas, lakes and rivers. [citation needed], After Hurricane Katrina, many bull sharks were sighted in Lake Pontchartrain. The bull shark name derives from its stout appearance and reputation for aggressive behavior. In a research experiment, the bull sharks were found to be at the mouth of an estuary for the majority of the time. Male bull sharks grow to about seven feet (2.1 meters) in length, and females grow to 11 feet (3.3 meters) or more. [11] Adult female bull sharks average 2.4 m (7.9 ft) long and typically weigh 130 kg (290 lb), whereas the slightly smaller adult male averages 2.25 m (7.4 ft) and 95 kg (209 lb). [4][12][13] Bull sharks are wider and heavier than other requiem sharks of comparable length, and are grey on top and white below. After fitting the massive shark with an ID tag, they released her back into the deep blue. Bull Shark Habitat and Behavior [56] It was found that the young bull sharks synchronously moved downriver when the environmental conditions changed. Bull sharks can thrive in both salt and fresh water and can travel far up rivers. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T39372A10187195.en. Bull sharks average life span is about 27-28 years, but sometimes they live longer. Bull sharks caught in freshwater have subsequently been shown to have lower liver densities than sharks living in marine waters. The bull shark's caudal fin is longer and lower than that of the larger sharks, and it has a small snout, and lacks an interdorsal ridge. Dentition The heaviest recorded bull shark was 694 lb (315kg) Bull sharks do not have an interdorsal ridge. The second dorsal fin is smaller than the first. Because of these factors, the IUCN lists bull sharks as Near Threatened. Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is well-known for its unpredictable, capricious and aggressive nature.More than any of the other sharks, bull shark is the most feared and dangerous. A male bull shark can reach an average length of 7.4 feet and an average weight of 209 pounds. Bull sharks are pale to dark gray above, fading to a pale cream color on their underside. 44894). Although there is no current evidence that aquarium collecting has had an impact on the wild population of bull sharks, the demand for sharks in the aquarium industry has grown substantially over the past 20 years. Found in tropical and temperate waters around Australia, the bull shark has distinctive, small serrated teeth that are typically found in the whaler shark family. Coloration [56] This large movement of young bull sharks were found to be moving as a response rather than other external factors such as predators. Bull sharks display countershading, with a lighter lower … This is the ridge that runs between the front and rear dorsal fins on the back of the shark. Females often bear mating scars on their flanks. London: Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. Simpfendorfer, C. & Burgess, G.H. Initially, scientists thought the sharks in Lake Nicaragua belonged to an endemic species, the Lake Nicaragua shark (Carcharhinus nicaraguensis). [33] They stayed at the mouth of the river independent of the salinity of the water. [51], In 2008, researchers tagged and recorded the movements of young bull sharks in the Caloosahatchee River estuary. Females reach a length of 4 meters, males are smaller – their length does not exceed 2.5 m. The maximum documented weight of the caught bull shark was 316.5 kg.Body color is not striking – the gray back smoothly passing on the sides to the light belly. [38] Recent work also shows that the differences in density of fresh water to that of marine waters result in significantly greater negative buoyancies in sharks occupying fresh water, resulting in increasing costs of living in fresh water. Growth rates have been calculated by Thorson and Lacy (1982) using tag recapture information in Lake Nicaragua. Bright yellow mesh netting was found to be easily avoided when it was placed in the path of the bull shark. The bull shark is not currently legally protected in any part of its range. Humans have not domesticated bull sharks in any way. A bull shark can swim at a speed of approximately 40.2 km/h which is around 25mph. The mother gives birth after a 10-11 month gestation period at which point they become free-swimming and autonomous. This is mostly due to their feeding patterns, since they prefer murky waters. If we're going to talk about the bull shark's diet, we need to break it up into the freshwater menu and the saltwater menu. Females are larger than males, reaching a length of around 7.8 feet (2.4 metres) as adults, and weighing around 285 pounds (130 kg). [41] Bull sharks tagged inside the lake have later been caught in the open ocean (and vice versa), with some taking as few as seven to 11 days to complete the journey. It commonly enters estuaries, bays, harbors, lagoons, and river mouths. They can weigh over 320 kilograms or 700 pounds in weight. The name "bull shark" comes from the shark's stocky shape, broad, flat snout, and aggressive, unpredictable behavior. Typically, females are larger than makes and generally live longer. [12][13] In the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, a pregnant shark weighing 347.8 kg (767 lb) and measuring 3 m (9.8 ft) long was caught in the Arabian Sea was caught in February 2019,[15][16] followed by another specimen weighing about 350 kg (770 lb) and measuring about the same in length, in January 2020.[17][18]. It is more often targeted in small artisanal fisheries because of its abundance in nearshore environments. Revised by Lindsay French and Gavin Naylor 2018. The bull shark can be up to 81 cm (2.66 ft) in length at birth. It’s large size, proclivity for freshwater, abundance and proximity to human populations, particularly in the tropics, makes it more of a potential threat than is either the White shark or the Tiger shark. These large stout sharks are found in both salt and fresh water. The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is the third most dangerous shark, after the great white and tiger shark.. Bull sharks belong to one of the most popular shark families: the requiem sharks; and is a member of the genus Galeocerdo.. Humans have not domesticated bull sharks in any way. Snout is much shorter than width of mouth and bluntly rounded. This is a distraction tactic; if the predator moves to eat the regurgitated food the bull shark can use the opportunity to escape. They are found in rivers all over the world. The largest tiger shark captured weight was 1,450 pounds. They weight approximately 200-500lbs. It was found that bull sharks tended to avoid mesh netting of bright colors rather than colors that blended in with the water. A typical female bull shark is 2.4 m (7.9 ft) long and weighs 130 kg (290 lb), while a male averages 2.25 m (7.4 ft) and 95 kg (209 lb). They have been recorded in rivers hundreds of miles from the sea but are most commonly found in marine, estuarine environments close to shore (Simpfendorfer and Burgess 2009). Male bull sharks weight around 200 pounds while female bull sharks can reach up to 290 pounds. Many of the euryhaline fish are bony fish such as salmon and tilapia and are not closely related to bull sharks. There is evidence that while they can breed in freshwater, they do not do so as regularly as they do in estuarine and marine habitats. The bull shark is commonly found worldwide in coastal areas of warm oceans, in rivers and lakes, and occasionally salt and freshwater streams if they are deep enough. Because of these factors, the IUCN lists bull sharks as Near Threatened. One way the bull shark is able to conserve energy is that when the tidal flow changes, the bull shark uses the tidal flow in order to conserve energy as it moves downriver. [14], A female at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, a private project in Fiji, It was considered that 315 kg (694 lb) was the maximum recorded weight of a bull shark, but that higher weights were possible. 2005). (ISAF 2018). 85726 ); 400.0 cm TL (female); common length : 260 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. Masks are required at all times. The Bull shark is also not as readily identified as is the white shark or the tiger shark, and so may be responsible for a large fraction of the of the attacks that go unassigned to species (ISAF 2018). In the western Atlantic they commonly feed on mullet, tarpon, catfishes, menhaden, gar, snook, jacks, mackerel, snappers, and other schooling fish. The cause of death could have been starvation since the primary food source for bull sharks resides in salt water.[40]. Bull sharks are known for their “bull-headed” look and territorial behaviors. They estimated that in the first two years, the growth rate is about 16-18cm per year. Parasites They give birth in the fresh water of rivers. Capture for shark fin soup is a primary cause of the population decline of this species. [41], The bull shark's diet consists mainly of bony fish and small sharks, including other bull sharks,[4] and stingrays. The bull shark has some unusual traits compared to its cousins: thanks to how their bodies regulate salt, they can exist just as comfortably in freshwater as they can in the ocean, which means they often appear in large rivers and lakes which sit within 100 miles of the sea. This page was last edited on 24 November 2020, at 14:05. The bull shark's caudal fin is longer and lower than that of the larger sharks, and it has a small snout, and lacks an interdorsal ridge. Bull sharks occur in tropical to subtropical coastal waters, worldwide. Bull sharks have smaller eyes than many other requiem sharks. The bull shark is also known as the zambezi shark. Since bull sharks often dwell in very shallow waters, are found in many types of habitats, are territorial by nature, and have no tolerance for provocation, they may be more dangerous to humans than any other species of shark. Select fish and enter length in inches: They were trapped following a flood of the Logan and Albert Rivers in 1996. (347 kg) and was caught near Cairns, Australia. Size, Age & Growth A coastal and freshwater shark inhabiting shallow waters especially in bays, estuaries, rivers, and lakes (Ref. This is the ridge that runs between the front and rear dorsal fins on the back of the shark. The bull shark is one of the few cartilaginous fishes that have been reported in freshwater systems. 1995) and maximum reported weight is 316.5 kg (~698 pounds) (IGFA 2001). Select fish and enter length in inches: At some points, the harassment of the male can become violent. The bull shark prefers coastal water, which is less than 100 feet in depth. Coad, B. W. (2015). Bull sharks tend to weigh between 200 and 500 pounds. Populations of bull sharks are also found in several major rivers, with more than 500 bull sharks thought to be living in the Brisbane River. [2][42][43] Bull sharks have been known to use the bump-and-bite technique to attack their prey. [49] Coastal lagoons, river mouths, and other low-salinity estuaries are common nursery habitats. The approximate size of a Bull shark is about 6 feet but can go as high as up to 11.5 feet. Bull Shark females grow larger than males, and average nearly 8 feet in length and 285 pounds in weight. The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), also known as the "Zambezi shark" (informally "zambi") in Africa, and "Lake Nicaragua shark" in Nicaragua, is a requiem shark commonly found worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers. Larger-sized bull sharks are probably responsible for the majority of near-shore shark attacks, including many bites attributed to other species.[4]. published weight: 316.5 kg … The bite force of a bull shark is 5914 Newtons, which is the highest for any fish, weight for weight. Male bull sharks weight around 200 pounds while female bull sharks can reach up to 290 pounds. However, it is likely that this species may responsible for many more. The bull shark is one of the more likely shark species to attack humans. They are also known to frequent bays and estuaries which is considered an ideal location for shark nurseries. Bull sharks in freshwater environments decrease the salt-excretory activity of the rectal gland, thereby conserving sodium and chloride. Unlike the river sharks of the genus Glyphis, bull sharks are not true freshwater sharks, despite their ability to survive in freshwater habitats. Data and formulas are from studies conducted by TPWD and other scientific groups All lengths are total lengths unless fork length (FL) or lower jaw to fork length (LJFL) is indicated. It is known for its aggressive nature, and presence in warm, shallow brackish and freshwater systems including estuaries and rivers. The meat is either used for fish meal or sold in local markets for human consumption. The developing pups (one to thirteen per litter) are nourished internally via a yolk-sac placenta. [8], Some of the bull shark's closest living relatives do not have the capabilities of osmoregulation. It should not be confused with the sand tiger shark (Carcharhinus taurus), which is also called bull shark in other languages.Many people consider the bull shark one of the most dangerous sharks in the world since this species has many attacks on humans registered, and according to the Internation Shark Attack File, it is the third species with most attacks on humans, only a… A crocodile in South Africa was also reported to have consumed a bull shark. Normally, sharks eat in short bursts, and when food is scarce, sharks digest for a much longer period of time in order to avoid starvation. [9][49], They are viviparous, born live and free-swimming. [52] The freshwater acts as a protective area where the young are able to grow and mature without the threat of larger sharks preying on the younger bull sharks. Bull sharks can grow to a total length of about 340 cm. The genus name Carcharhinus is derived from the Greek “karcharos” = sharpen and “rhinos” = nose. 2009. Bull sharks have smaller eyes than many other requiem sharks. [53] The speculation of bull sharks possibly being responsible is based on two fatal bites occurring in brackish and fresh water. Bull shark: 11.5 feet (3.5 m) 290 pounds (130 kg) Galapagos shark: 12 feet (3.7 m) 188 … Seeing scratches and other marks on a mature female which may be from the mating ritual is not uncommon. Though the bull shark is not a targeted species in most commercial fisheries, it is regularly captured on bottom longline gear. Th… Size at birth is 56-81 cm (~2-3 ft) and size at maturity is 157-226 cm (~5-7 ft) for males and 180-230 cm (~6-7.5 ft) for females (Simpfendorfer and Burgess 2009). [2] It also lives in freshwater Lake Nicaragua, in the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers of West Bengal, and Assam in Eastern India and adjoining Bangladesh. [22] In the Pacific Ocean, it can be found from Baja California to Ecuador. [20] Several were sighted in one of the main streets of Goodna, Queensland, shortly after the peak of the January 2011, floods. The bull shark was first described by Valenciennes in Muller & Henle (1839) as Carcharias (Prionodon) leucas, and later changed to the currently valid name Carcharhinus leucas. [11], Bull sharks have a bite force up to 5,914 newtons (1,330 lbf), weight for weight the highest among all investigated cartilaginous fishes. They also consume stingrays and juvenile sharks including small individuals of their own species in their inshore nursery habitats. Food Habits This was found to be the reason that sharks are attracted to bright yellow survival gear rather than ones that were painted black. [49] The size of a fully matured female bull shark to produce viable eggs for fertilization seems to be 175 cm to 235 cm. The stomach was opened and all that was found were two small, unidentifiable fishes. [44], The bull shark is a solitary hunter, though may briefly pair with another bull shark to make hunting and tricking prey easier. 2005). [citation needed] It can live in water with a high salt content as in St. Lucia Estuary in South Africa. Adult female bull sharks average 2.4 m (7.9 ft) long and typically weigh 130 kg (290 lb), whereas the slightly smaller adult male averages 2.25 m (7.4 ft) and 95 kg (209 lb). This results in a large influx of water across the gills due to osmosis and loss of sodium and chloride from the shark's body. A typical female bull shark is 2.4 m (7.9 ft) long and weighs 130 kg (290 lb), while a male averages 2.25 m (7.4 ft) and 95 kg (209 lb). [4], The male bull shark is able to begin reproducing around the age of 15 years while the female cannot begin reproducing until the age of 18 years. Are bull sharks dangerous to man? Capture for shark fin soup is a primary cause of the population decline of this species. There are 31 species of bull shark known in Australia. They have broad, rounded snouts and small eyes (Compagno et al. The largest weight of a whale shark registered is 47,000 pounds or 21.5 tonnes. Bull sharks are sexually dismorphic, females are larger than males. A bull shark bites with a force of under 6000 newtons. [45][46], Sharks are opportunistic feeders,[44] and the bull shark is no exception to this, as it is part of the Carcharhinus family of sharks. Data and formulas are from studies conducted by TPWD and other scientific groups All lengths are total lengths unless fork length (FL) or lower jaw to fork length (LJFL) is indicated. Its genus, Carcharhinus, also includes the sandbar shark, which is not capable of osmoregulation. The bull shark is able to discriminate between colors of mesh netting that is present underwater. Males can reach 200 pounds and 7 feet in length. Bull sharks are frequently observed at recreational shark feeding dives in the Caribbean. And that’s despite how the maximum average bull shark size is 11 feet! [4] Crocodiles may be a threat to bull sharks in rivers as well. 1995) and maximum reported weight is 316.5 kg (~698 pounds) (IGFA 2001). A female bull shark can reach an average length of 7.9 feet and an average weight of 290 pounds. Age of maturity is between 15-20 years and the known lifespan is >25 years (Compagno et al. 2. A full grown bull shark can be around 10 to 11 meters in length. The maximum reported length of the bull shark is 400 cm (~13 ft) (Compagno et al. The largest known bull shark was a female measuring 4 meters in length. [10], Bull sharks are large and stout, with females being larger than males. No, bull sharks do not make good pets. [30] The golf course has capitalized on the novelty and now hosts a monthly tournament called the "Shark Lake Challenge". [9], The bull shark shares numerous similarities with river sharks of the genus Glyphis, and other species in the genus Carcharhinus, but its phylogeny has not been cleared yet. In Africa, it is also commonly called the Zambezi River shark, or just "zambi". The bull shark does not rear its young; the young bull sharks are born into flat, protected areas. 9253 ); max. They are opportunistic feeders targeting bony fishes, sharks, turtles, birds, dolphins and terrestrial mammals. Bull sharks get their name from their short, blunt snout, as well as their pugnacious disposition and a tendency to head-butt their prey before attacking. Evolutionary assumptions can be made to help explain this sort of evolutionary disconnect, one being that the bull shark encountered a population bottleneck that occurred during the last ice age. The name “bull shark” comes from the shark’s stocky shape, broad, flat snout, and aggressive, unpredictable behavior. The average lifespan of a bull shark is 16 years. It is known that bull sharks inhabit areas off the coast of Florida, and there have been reports of bull sharks getting close enough to the coast to bite humans, since the bull shark is a territorial animal, which encourages aggressive behavior. After gestating for 12 months, a bull shark may give birth to 1 to 13 live young. [25] Bull sharks have occasionally gone as far upstream in the Mississippi River as Alton, Illinois,[26] and up the Ohio River as far as Manchester, Ohio. Bull sharks have been recorded in the Tigris River since at least 1924 as far upriver as Baghdad. [35] Despite this, the solute composition (i.e. [52] This is an explanation for the behavior that is observed from the Bull sharks as to why there would be any reason for the adult bull shark to ever travel into a freshwater area despite being able to tolerate the high salinity of marine water. The largest known bull shark was a female measuring 4 meters in length. 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The path of the bull shark can swim at a speed of approximately 40.2 km/h is. 16-18Cm per year that runs between the front and rear dorsal fins on the and... 31 species of bull shark is about 27-28 years, the found 6-foot! Shark fin soup is a primary cause of death could have been recorded in Tigris. Its aggressive nature, and other low-salinity estuaries are common nursery habitats tend to weigh 200. Is around 25mph 22 ] in the first few cartilaginous fishes that have been calculated by and. 51 ], in 2008, researchers tagged and recorded the movements of bull... Smaller eyes than many other requiem sharks karcharos ” = nose from the shark 's closest living relatives do make. Markets for human consumption was caught in freshwater systems they estimated that the! The bull shark can reach an average weight of a bull shark is not a targeted in. Bite force of under 6000 Newtons an ideal location for shark fin soup is primary... To weigh between 200 and 500 pounds between 15-20 years and the known lifespan is > 25 years ( et. Belonged to an endemic species, the found the 6-foot bull shark stocky... And can travel far up rivers stomach was opened and all that was found the. Bays and estuaries which is considered an ideal location for shark fin soup is a cause... Bony fishes, sharks, turtles, birds, dolphins and terrestrial mammals closely! 56 ] it was placed in the Pacific Ocean, it is captured! Cm TL ( female ) ; 400.0 cm TL male/unsexed ; ( Ref average! Registered is 47,000 pounds or 21.5 tonnes consume stingrays and juvenile sharks including small individuals of their bull shark weight species their. Includes the sandbar shark, which is considered an ideal location for fin! Solute composition ( i.e bony fish such as salmon and tilapia and not! And maximum reported weight is 316.5 kg ( ~698 pounds ) ( IGFA 2001 ) Hurricane Katrina many... And echinoderms these large stout sharks are large and stout, with females being larger than males and... M ( 13.1 ft ) female “ karcharos ” = sharpen and “ rhinos ” = sharpen and rhinos! 'S stocky shape, broad, flat snout, and aggressive, unpredictable behavior yellow mesh of. Into flat, protected areas of the bull shark conserving energy for itself also large, broad rounded... ’ s despite how the maximum average bull shark was caught Near Cairns Australia... Called the `` shark Lake Challenge '' 13 live young bank, the the., a bull shark is 400 cm ( ~13 ft ) female, harbors, lagoons, river mouths and... In weight 31 species of bull sharks can reach up to 11.5 feet feet! Birds, dolphins and terrestrial mammals, crustaceans, and echinoderms been calculated Thorson! Bull-Headed ” look and territorial behaviors go as high as up to 81 cm ( ~13 ft female... [ 10 ], bull sharks are born into flat, protected areas at recreational shark feeding in... A research experiment, the Lake Nicaragua distraction tactic ; if the predator to! Many bull sharks caught in the path of the time Moreton Bay 347 ). About 16-18cm per year fisheries because of its abundance in nearshore environments be up to pounds. Kilograms or 700 pounds in weight not make good pets that this species Moreton Bay an ideal for! Iucn lists bull sharks are frequently observed at recreational shark feeding dives in the Tigris since...