Sandbar shark
📖 Overview
Found inshore and offshore, on continental and insular shelves and adjacent deep water . Common at bays, river mouths and in harbors; avoids sandy beaches and the surf zone, coral reefs and rough bottom, and surface waters . Coastal-pelagic, but usually bottom associated at 1-280 m . Sometimes in oceanic waters . Known to make extended seasonal migrations in some parts of its range . Feeds mainly on bony fishes, also small sharks, cephalopods, and shrimps , rays and gastropods . Youngs feed heavily on crustaceans such as blue crabd and mantis shrimp . Viviparous . Sexual dimorphism is evident in thickness of skin layer of maturing and adult females . Females live as long as 21 year; males 15 years . Populations are segregated by age. Young readily kept in aquaria . Utilized for human consumption, for leather and oil . Marketed fresh, smoked, dried-salted and frozen; fins are valued for soup . Used in Chinese medicine . Records to 300 cm TL uncertain . TL to 300 cm . Angling: an inshore fish and a good light-tackle fighter .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A stout shark with a moderately long, rounded snout, high, triangular, saw-edged upper teeth, and an interdorsal ridge; 1st dorsal fin very large and erect . Grey-brown or bronzy with no prominent markings, white below . Fins plain or with slightly dusky tips .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sandbar shark is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Sandbar shark is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Viviparous , placental , 1-14 pups in a litter; 56-75 cm at birth ; gestation period of 12 months. Distinct pairing with embrace . Sexual dimorphism is evident in the thicker skin layer of maturing and adult females . This thickened skin may serve as protection from the 'bites' the female species receive from the males during precopulation and in the rugged conditions of the rock and coral environment where they live . Pups are born from Feb. to April in Northeastern Taiwan .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 500 m , usually 20 - 65 m . Subtropical; 23°C - 27°C ; 45°N - 41°S, 98°W - 154°W Widespread in tropical and warm-temperate waters worldwide.
🌿 Ecology
bony fishes, also small sharks, cephalopods, and shrimps (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Sandbar shark is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 21.4 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 302 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Sandbar shark has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Northern Whaler Shark · Sand Shark · Sandbar shark · Thickskin Shark |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Jarjur · قرش الجرف الرملي · قرش الحوت الشمالي · قرش رملي · قرش طهر |
| 🏳️Catalan | ca marí · tauró gris · tauró plom · tintorera |
| 🌍CES | žralok hnědý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Revlehaj |
| 🇩🇪German | Atlantischer Braunhai · Grauhai · Sandbankhai |
| 🌍ELL | Σκυλόψαρο · Σταχτοκαρχαρίας · Τεφρός καρχαρίνος |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | ruskohai |
| 🇫🇷French | Requin gris |
| 🌍HEB | כריש סנפירתן |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | homokpadi cápa |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Squalo grigio · squalo plumbeo |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Mejiro zame · Mejirozame · メジロザメ · メジロザメ／ヤジブカ · ヤジブカ · 目白鮫 |
| 🌍LIT | mažasis melsvasis ryklys |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | grootvinhaai · zandbankhaai |
| 🇵🇱Polish | żarłacz brunatny |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Tubarão-corre-costa |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Песочная акула · Серо-голубая акула · Средиземноморская серая акула |
| 🌍SLV | sivi morski pes |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Jaquetón · Tiburón arenero · Tiburón de Milberto · Tiburón tollo · Tiburón trozo · arenero · jaquetón de Milberto · tiburón aleta de cartón |
| 🌍SQI | Peshkagen i hirte · Peshkaqen i hirte |
| 🌍SRP | Pas sivonja · Pas tupan sil · Пешчана ајкула |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | högfenad haj |
| 🌍THA | ปลาฉลามกระโดงสูง |
| 🌍TUR | Büyükcamgöz baligi · buyuk camgoz |
| 🌍UKR | Акула сіра піщана |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 大沙 · 鉛灰真鯊 · 高鰭白眼鮫 · 高鰭真鯊 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carcharhinus japonicus | Temminck & Schlegel | 1850 | Synonym |
| Carcharhinus milberti | Müller & Henle | 1839 | Synonym |
| Carcharhinus platyodon | Jord. & Ererm. | - | Synonym |
| Carcharias ceruleus | DeKay | 1842 | Synonym |
| Carcharias japonicus | Temminck & Schlegel | 1850 | Synonym |
| Carcharias latistomus | Fang & Wang | 1932 | Synonym |
| Carcharias milberti | Müller & Henle | 1839 | Synonym |
| Carcharias obtusirostris | Moreau | 1881 | Synonym |
| Carcharias stevensi | Ogilby | 1911 | Synonym |
| Carcharinus latistomus | Fang & Wang | 1932 | Synonym |
| Carcharinus plumbeus | Nardo | 1827 | Synonym |
| Eulamia milberti | Müller & Henle | 1839 | Synonym |
| Galeolamna dorsalis | Whitley | 1944 | Synonym |
| Galeolamna stevensi | Ogilby | 1911 | Synonym |
| Lamna caudata | DeKay | 1842 | Synonym |
| Squalus caecchia | Nardo | 1847 | Synonym |
| Squalus plumbeus | Nardo | 1827 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 94 records indexed .
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