Bull shark
Carcharhinus leucas
A large, powerful shark that can grow up to about 3.5 meters in length. It has a stout body, a broad snout, and a gray upper body with a white underside that helps it blend into the ocean. Unlike most sharks, the bull shark can live in both seawater and freshwater, allowing it to swim far up rivers as well as along tropical and subtropical coasts.
Video
About this species
Species identity
A large, powerful shark that can grow up to about 3.5 meters in length. It has a stout body, a broad snout, and a gray upper body with a white underside that helps it blend into the ocean. Unlike most sharks, the bull shark can live in both seawater and freshwater, allowing it to swim far up rivers as well as along tropical and subtropical coasts.
Where it lives
It is found in warm tropical and subtropical waters around the world. It lives in coastal seas, estuaries, lagoons, and river mouths, and can travel hundreds of kilometers upstream into freshwater rivers and lakes. This species is most common in shallow waters but also moves offshore between coastal habitats.
Role in the ecosystem
It is a top predator that feeds on fish, rays, crustaceans, turtles, and other marine animals. By helping control prey populations, it contributes to keeping coastal and estuarine food webs balanced. As one of the few sharks that regularly uses both marine and freshwater habitats, it also helps connect these ecosystems.
Scientific reference
Citation
Ocean Literacy Connections
This resource can be explored through Ocean biodiversity.
- How do different ocean conditions create different ecosystems and ways of life?
Explore and connect
Open the species distribution layer to compare this range with ocean basins, ecosystems, and related marine context.
FAQ
Do bull sharks really swim in lakes?
Yes! Because they can live in freshwater, bull sharks have been found in lakes connected to the sea by rivers, such as Lake Nicaragua. They can travel between rivers, estuaries, and the ocean.
Why is it called a bull shark?
It gets its name from its stocky body, broad snout, and powerful appearance, which reminded early observers of a bull. It is not related to cattle.