where are bull sharks found

They live in warm waters, and can travel from the ocean into rivers and lakes. A baby bull shark will be in gestation for 12 months before born. While it seems unlikely that bull sharks would inhabit the Ohio River, it isn’t the first time they have been discovered there. A bull shark would indeed be more likely spotted in the Sirena River (which is located in Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica) than a great white shark … There was an alleged attack in Lake Michigan back in 1955 and there have been bull sharks found in Lake Erie. A bull shark is the only shark capable of surviving in freshwater, but would a bull shark have made a 1,000-mile-plus swim up the Mississippi River from the Gulf Coast? Bull sharks are often considered to be the most dangerous sharks to humans because of their aggressive tendencies and ability to migrate up rivers. However, shark attacks are extremely rare. The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is an aggressive shark found throughout the world in warm, shallow waters along coasts, in estuaries, in lakes, and in rivers.Although bull sharks have been found inland as far as the Mississippi River in Illinois, they aren't a true freshwater species. Adult sharks tend to hunt by themselves. There are even constant populations in a number of major rivers, including the Mississippi River, the Brisbane River, the Amazon River, and more. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- They have been reported 3700 km (2220 miles) up the Amazon River in Peru, and over 3000 km (1800 miles) up the Mississippi River in Illinois. Fast, agile predators, they will eat almost anything they see, including fish, dolphins, and even other sharks. The top side of the shark ranges in color from pale to dark gray, fading to white on underside. Pectoral fins are large and angular. They are found cruising the shallow, warm waters of all the world’s oceans. Unlike most sharks, bull sharks can survive in freshwater for long periods of time. They have even been found in the Mississippi and Amazon Rivers. Bull sharks are the most common species found in … More than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. Anywhere, any time. The farthest inland a bull shark has been encountered was in the Mississippi River by Davenport, Iowa. The bull shark … In a typical year, fewer than 20 people die by shark attack, but more than 20 million sharks die in relation to the fishing industry. Among the most likely sharks to attack humans, bull sharks favor shallow coastal waters—the same places humans prefer to swim. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Bull shark longevity appears to be related to geographic region. For instance, bull sharks have been found up the Mississippi River as far as Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The reported shark would be a relatively large specimen for the bull shark species, which average less than 8 feet in length and has never been recorded at more than 13.1 feet. Bull sharks range from 7 to 11.5 feet in length, can weigh between 200 and 500 pounds. However, they frequent the turbid waters of estuaries and bays, and often attack people inadvertently or out of curiosity. Bull shark distribution is along the coastal waters of tropical and subtropical seas around the world. Bull sharks are the most common species found in … Bull sharks can be most commonly found in shallow coastal waters and near tropical shorelines. Like many fish, bull sharks exhibit countershading, or dark coloration on top and light coloration on the underbelly. Search, discover, and learn about wildlife. They prefer shallow coastal water, which means they can often come into contact with humans. These also happen to be at the same places frequented by human beings for recreational purposes and thereby pose the greatest threat to humans. In addition, some bull sharks are caught for display in aquariums. In 4 seconds, you will be redirected to nwfactionfund.org, the site of the National Wildlife Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization. It has been recorded in 69 unprovoked … Scientists have been quick to point out that this particular species of shark has been able to adapt to living in freshwater environments, including rivers and lakes. The sharks eat mostly fish, but can also eat other shark species, marine mammals, birds, and turtles. Bull Sharks are able to enter freshwater and have been found up to 1,700 miles up the Mississippi River, 2,400 miles up the Amazon River, and even living in a landlocked water hazard at an Australian golf course. In the northern Gulf researchers found that female bull sharks … Bull sharks have short, blunt snouts. Bull sharks are found in coastal waters all over the world. Bull sharks are aggressive, common, and usually live near high-population areas like tropical shorelines. But from below, its white belly blends into the sunlit waters above. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 53 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive. 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). The bull shark weighed 368 pounds, measuring nearly 8 and a half feet long, in about four feet of water. All rights reserved. Not only are bull sharks found off the American and African coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the African coast of the Indian Ocean — they’re also found in the murky waters of … One study has found that their average lengths have declined significantly over the past few decades. They are intentionally caught for their fins, liver oil, and skin, and are sometimes caught unintentionally as well. Most bull sharks reside in waters less than 100 ft. deep. Their first dorsal fins are large and broadly triangular, while their second dorsal fins are significantly smaller than the first. Historically, they are joined by their more famous cousins, great whites and tiger sharks, as the three species most likely to attack humans. Uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world, Inspire a lifelong connection with wildlife and wild places through our children's publications, products, and activities, National Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Bull sharks are distinguished from other sharks by their body’s high width-to-length ratio, giving them a stout appearance. Bull sharks are the most common species found in Texas, and our bays serve as nursery areas for the juveniles. The North Carolina researchers found something similar for cold water: when Pamlico Sound temperatures dropped below 22 degrees Celsius, they didn’t see any large groups of bull sharks. These fish are listed as near threatened. In the United States they are found off the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. It was there that two commercial fishermen in 1937 noticed that their mesh traps were consistently getting raided by a large predator. They may mature at 15 to 20 years, (Blassingame, 1984). Bull sharks are found in coastal waters all over the world. The bull shark is not a picky eater. It is known for its aggressive nature, and presence in warm, shallow brackish and freshwater systems including estuaries and rivers. There are also Greenland Sharks in the Quebec area (about 400km North of Quebec City) and they started out in the frigid waters under the ice near the polar ice caps. It is found to a depth of 150 m (490 ft), but does not usually swim deeper than 30 m (98 ft). Bull sharks rarely come together, except to mate. These large stout sharks are found in both salt and fresh water. The bull shark pictured above was caught by fisherman Terry Hessey not in the Ohio River, but a world away at the mouth of the Brisbane River in Australia. They have been known to travel up the Mississippi River as far as Alton, Illinois, abou Bull Sharks are found in tropical to subtropical waters worldwide, particularly in shallow water along coasts, in estuaries, and in rivers. Studies of bull sharks in the southern Gulf of Mexico indicate that they can reach an age of 28 years for females and 23 years for males. Bull Sharks are summer visitors to Chesapeake … Ditch the disposables and make the switch to sustainable products. A bull shark has been spotted in a landlocked pond in Florida. They are found in coastal waters … Bull sharks … In the Atlantic Ocean, it is located from the United States to Brazil and from Morocco to Angola. They have even been found in the Mississippi and Amazon Rivers. They are gray on top and white below, and the fins have dark tips, particularly on young bull sharks. Waukegan, IL | The capture of a 3,000-pound great white shark in Lake Michigan yesterday could explain the disappearance of hundreds of missing people in the region in the last decade, has confirmed the U.S. Coast Guard this morning. While it would have been quite a distance to travel for a bull shark, there have been reports of these creatures making their way hundreds of miles inland through river systems. They are often found in shallow bays and near the mouths of rivers. They are not bothered by brackish and freshwater, and even venture far inland via rivers and tributaries. Bull sharks usually mate during late summer and early autumn in the water of river mouths. Younger sharks have black tip… The furthest inland a bull shark has ever been seen in North America is Alton, Ill. Alton sits along the Mississippi River about 15 miles north of St. Louis, and 1750 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. They are medium-size sharks, with thick, stout bodies and long pectoral fins. While bull sharks are commonly found along coastlines, bays, and harbors, they also frequent a most uncommon shark habitat—freshwater rivers. President and CEO Collin O’Mara reveals in a TEDx Talk why it is essential to connect our children and future generations with wildlife and the outdoors—and how doing so is good for our health, economy, and environment. While at the mouth of the St.Lucia estuary, we witnessed a Bull-Shark hunting fish up and down the lake. Unlike most sharks, bull sharks can survive in freshwater for long periods of time. The lifespan of bull sharks … The Bull Shark prefers waters less than 100 feet deep, but can also range from 300-450 feet deep. Adults usually weigh between 200 and 500 pounds (91 to 227 kilograms). Bull sharks are aggressive, common, and usually live near high-population areas like tropical shorelines. Bull sharks can thrive in both salt and fresh water and can travel far up rivers. Females grow larger than males. Although rare, bull sharks have also been recorded eating other bull sharks. Though over 375 shark species have been identified by science, just three species are responsible for most attacks on humans: the great white (Carcharodon carcharias),tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier), and bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas). Photograph by Mattias Klum, Nat Geo Image Collection, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/b/bull-shark.html. They are born fully developed, may be up to 4 feet long and ready to look after itself. Bull sharks usually live for 12 to 16 years, but one bull shark in captivity was recorded living to 30 years old. 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