Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
Quick answer
The bull shark is a stocky, powerful shark of warm coastal seas worldwide, famous for its ability to live in freshwater and travel far up rivers and into lakes. It typically grows 2 to 3.5 m (7 to 11 ft) long and is an aggressive, opportunistic predator. Because it shares shallow waters with people, it is considered one of the sharks most likely to encounter humans; it can live around 16 to 25 years.
Bull Shark facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Carcharhinus leucas |
|---|---|
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Warm coastal seas, rivers, and lakes |
| Lifespan | 16–25 years |
| Length | 2–3.5 m (7–11 ft) |
| Top speed | Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) in bursts |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family | Carcharhinidae |
| Genus | Carcharhinus |
Where it lives
Warm coastal seas worldwide, and unusually far up rivers and into freshwater lakes such as the Amazon, Mississippi, and Ganges.
Behavior and biology
Bull sharks are heavy-bodied, aggressive sharks that hunt in murky, shallow water where visibility is poor. They are named for their blunt, rounded snouts and stocky build, and for a tendency to head-butt prey before biting. They are highly opportunistic and will investigate and attack a wide range of potential food.
Living in freshwater
Unlike most sharks, bull sharks can survive in freshwater for long periods thanks to special adaptations in their kidneys and other organs that regulate salt. This allows them to swim far up rivers such as the Amazon, Mississippi, and Ganges and to enter freshwater lakes. Young bull sharks often use river mouths and estuaries as safer nursery areas.
Diet and feeding
Bull sharks are carnivores with a broad diet that includes bony fish, other sharks and rays, sea turtles, birds, dolphins, and crustaceans. They are aggressive hunters that take advantage of whatever prey is available in their cloudy coastal and river habitats. Their powerful jaws and stout teeth let them tackle a variety of prey.
Conservation and human interaction
Because bull sharks favor the same warm, shallow waters where people swim, they are considered one of the species most likely to bite humans, alongside tiger sharks. They are listed as Vulnerable, threatened by coastal fishing, habitat loss, and their slow reproduction. Protecting estuaries and managing fisheries are important for their future.
Frequently asked questions about the Bull Shark
Can bull sharks live in freshwater?
Yes. Bull sharks have special adaptations for regulating salt that let them survive in freshwater for long periods, so they can swim far up rivers and into lakes.
Are bull sharks dangerous to humans?
Bull sharks are considered one of the species most likely to bite people because they share shallow, murky coastal and river waters with swimmers. Serious attacks are still uncommon overall.
What do bull sharks eat?
Bull sharks are carnivores with a broad diet that includes fish, other sharks and rays, sea turtles, birds, dolphins, and crustaceans.
How big do bull sharks get?
Bull sharks usually grow 2 to 3.5 m (7 to 11 ft) long, with females generally larger than males and some individuals exceeding that range.
Where do bull sharks live?
They live in warm coastal seas around the world and uniquely also travel into rivers and lakes, including the Amazon, Mississippi, and Ganges river systems.
Are bull sharks endangered?
Bull sharks are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to coastal fishing, habitat loss, and slow reproduction, which makes their populations slow to recover.
