sandbar shark

This robust-bodied shark has a rounded snout, a pronounced inter-dorsal ridge, and a high triangular first dorsal fin. Its upper teeth, wide and finely serrated, emphasize its predator profile. Its coloration is gray-brown to bronze, with a whitish belly and sometimes darkened fin tips. The average size is around 2 m, but individuals up to 240 cm are regularly observed, with some reports reaching 3 m and 118 kg.

A demersal and pelagic coastal species, the sandbar shark inhabits continental shelves from the shoreline to 280 m deep. It prefers bays, estuaries, lagoons, and offshore banks, while avoiding exposed beaches and rugged coral reefs. Some populations undertake long seasonal migrations.

Its diet is varied: it primarily preys on bony fish but also consumes cephalopods, crustaceans, rays, and occasionally young sharks. Juveniles feed mainly on crabs and mantis shrimps. Populations show age segregation, with young individuals often occupying sheltered coastal areas that serve as nurseries.

This shark is viviparous, with a yolk sac placenta. After a gestation period of about 12 months, the female gives birth to 1 to 14 pups (usually 5 to 12) measuring 40 to 76 cm at birth. The reproductive cycle is biennial to triennial depending on the region. Maturity is reached late: between 8 and 16 years in females, with a maximum lifespan of 27 to 34 years. Nurseries are often located in shallow bays or estuaries, where young sharks find shelter and food.