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Bay-shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) — Carcharhinidae

Bay-shark

Carcharhinus obscurus
EN · Endangered

The Bay-shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Carcharhinidae that grows up to 420 cm.

Length
420 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–400.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Can cause injury
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) is a large requiem shark of the family Carcharhinidae occurring worldwide in warm seas. The species has a slender, streamlined, bronze-grey body that can reach several metres. It lives in coastal and shelf waters, but not in the open ocean; adults often stay between 200 and 400 metres deep, young in shallower water. As an apex predator it hunts fishes, rays, smaller sharks and squid. The species grows very slowly and reproduces late, so that fishing for fins and flesh has severely reduced it and it is considered Endangered (EN). Large individuals can be dangerous to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bay-shark?

The Bay-shark has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Bay-shark live?

The Bay-shark lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Bay-shark get?

The Bay-shark grows to a maximum of about 420 cm. On average the species is around 250 cm.

Is the Bay-shark dangerous to humans?

The Bay-shark can cause injury; handle it with care.

Is the Bay-shark edible?

Yes, the Bay-shark is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Schemerhaai sourced
English name
Bay-shark verified
Scientific name
Carcharhinus obscurus
Family
Carcharhinidae
Other names
Black whaler; Black whaler shark; Bronze shark whaler; Bronze whaler verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
420.0 verified
Average length (cm)
250.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
400.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
40.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Wordt door sportvissers gevangen met zware beug- of bootuitrusting en groot natuurlijk aas; gezien de bedreigde status verdient terugzetten sterk de voorkeur. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Can cause injury sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Carcharhinus

More from the family Carcharhinidae

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