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Sandbar shark

Carcharhinus plumbeus

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Fun Facts

Females and males of this species travel in separate groups when migrating to cooler waters. 

Species Type:

Fishes, Sharks & Rays

Common Name(s):

Sandbar shark

Size:

On average, these sharks grow to be six feet (1.83 meters) long.

Diet:

As opportunistic feeders, sandbar sharks feed on many things including fishes, eels, rays, octopus, shrimp and crabs.

Range & Habitat:

Throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, these sharks can be found in shallow, coastal waters.

Details:

Sandbar sharks are gray-brown with a tall, triangular dorsal fin and long, broad pectoral fins, helping them glide efficiently through coastal waters. They prefer sandy or muddy bottoms in shallow areas like estuaries and bays and rarely venture into the open ocean. Juveniles are often found in shallow nurseries in estuaries and bays, protected from larger predators.