Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body elongate, stout; snout moderately long and pointed; color gray or bronze above, whitish below; distinct Z-shaped band on side of body; the 2nd dorsal fin, the anal fin, the lower lobe of the caudal (tail) fin and the pectoral fins are tipped in black, other fins may have black tips but not always; origin of first dorsal fin over or behind free tip of pectoral fin; no interdorsal ridge; labial folds (in corners of mouth) long, conspicuous; upper and lower teeth slender, straight or slightly oblique, upper teeth serrated. |
Similar Species |
Usually mistaken for a blacktip shark, but the blacktip's anal fin is white, no black tip. The bull shark may have black tips on fins, but the snout is distinctly short and blunt. |
Habitat |
Gulf and bay |
Maximum Size |
270 cm (9 ft) |
Fin Element Counts |
none (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
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State size/bag limits |
Minimum size 64 in.; bag limit is 1 shark/day, including sharpnose, blacktips, bonnetheads, and all other allowable shark species; See Shark Regulations; Check for state record. |