Sandbar shark
Sandbar shark | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Subdivision: | Selachimorpha |
Order: | Carcharhiniformes |
Family: | Carcharhinidae |
Genus: | Carcharhinus |
Species: | C. plumbeus
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Binomial name | |
Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827)
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Range of the 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.[2] It is not to be confused with the similarly named sand tiger shark, or Carcharias taurus.
Description and growth
The sandbar shark is one of the largest coastal sharks in the world, and is closely related to the
Females can grow to 2–2.5 m (6.6–8.2 ft), males up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft). The maximum recorded weight is 240 kg (530 lb).[3] Female sandbar sharks have an average fork-length (tip of the nose to fork in the tail) of 154.9 cm with the males' average fork-length being 151.6 cm.[4] Its body color can vary from a blue-ish brown, grey or bronze, with a white or pale underside. Sandbar sharks swim alone or gather in sex-segregated schools that vary in size.
Distribution and habitat
The sandbar shark, true to its nickname, is commonly found over muddy or sandy bottoms in shallow coastal waters such as bays,
Predators and diet
Natural predators of the sandbar shark include the
The sandbar shark itself preys on
Maturity and reproduction
There are disagreements about when exactly sandbar sharks reach sexual maturity, but most studies conclude that females reach sexual maturity around 13 years of age, while males tend to reach maturity around age 12 years old.
Interactions with humans
Fishing restrictions
Sandbar sharks have been disproportionately targeted by the U.S. commercial shark fisheries in recent decades due to their high fin-to-body weight ratio, and U.S. fishing regulation requiring carcasses to be landed along with shark fins. In 2008, the
Danger to people
In spite of their large size and similar appearance to other dangerous sharks such as bull sharks, sandbar sharks are not considered to be dangerous to people. Very few, if any attacks are attributed to sandbar sharks. As a result, they are considered one of the safest sharks to swim with and are popular sharks for aquaria. However, on August 2, 2021, a 12-year-old girl was bitten on her leg by a sandbar shark in Ocean City, Maryland, USA. This was confirmed by Ocean City authorities on August 5, 2021. The victim required 42 stitches.[15]
Immune system studies
Immune system genes, specifically MHC genes, are under study to understand the adaptive immune system in sharks such as the sandbar.[16] Sandbars contain MHC class I, MHC class IIα, and class IIβ genes. Shark MHC genes are known to be similar to tetrapod rather than fish. Similarities include the lack of cysteines in class IIα1 domains in tetrapods and carcharhinids. Also, there are a fewer number of classical loci in sharks and tetrapods, when compared to other animals.
Conservation status
The New Zealand Department of Conservation has classified the sandbar shark as "Data Deficient" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[17]
See also
References
- . Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ISBN 1-55209-629-7.
- ^ "IGFA Member Services". igfa.org.
- doi:10.1080/19425120.2012.700904.
- ^ "Special Environmental Protection Area Gölbaşı" (PDF) (in Turkish). Özel Çevre Koruma Kurumu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ .
- ^ Lesinski, Tom. "Carcharhinus plumbeus (Brown shark)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ Saidi, Bechir, et al. "Feeding habits of the sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhinidae) from the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia." Cahiers de biologie marine48.2 (2007): 139-144.
- ^ Ellis, Julia K., and John A. Musick. "Ontogenetic changes in the diet of the sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus, in lower Chesapeake Bay and Virginia (USA) coastal waters." Environmental biology of fishes 80 (2007): 51-67.
- ^ “File:Sandbar Shark Seaworld.jpg - Wikipedia.” Commons.wikimedia.org, 14 Jan. 2007, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sandbar_shark_seaworld.jpg. Accessed 3 Mar. 2024.
- ^ Romine, J.G., Musick, J.A. and Johnson, R.A. (2013), Compensatory Growth of the Sandbar Shark in the Western North Atlantic Including the Gulf of Mexico. Marine and Coastal Fisheries, 5: 189-199. https://doi.org/10.1080/19425120.2013.793631
- doi:10.1080/19425120.2012.700904.
- ^ Bray, Dianne J. (2011) Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo 1827), in Fishes of Australia
- ^ “File:Carcharhinus Plumbeus.jpg - Wikipedia.” Commons.wikimedia.org, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carcharhinus_plumbeus.jpg. Accessed 3 Mar. 2024.
- ^ "Girl's injuries consistent with shark bite, a Maryland first". Yahoo! News.
- S2CID 34748360.
- OCLC 1042901090.