{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "bull-shark",
  "name": "Bull Shark",
  "scientificName": "Carcharhinus leucas",
  "category": "Fish",
  "summary": "The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is a stocky, aggressive coastal shark famous for swimming far up rivers and into freshwater lakes. It grows up to about 3.5 m (11 ft) long and 130 kg (290 lb), and hunts a wide range of prey in warm seas, rivers, and estuaries. Fast in short bursts, it can reach around 40 km/h (25 mph) and lives 16 to 25 years. The IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.",
  "conservationStatus": "Vulnerable",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Chondrichthyes",
    "order": "Carcharhiniformes",
    "family": "Carcharhinidae",
    "genus": "Carcharhinus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 130,
    "lengthM": 3.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 40,
    "lifespanYears": 20
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Carcharhinus leucas"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Warm coastal seas, rivers, and lakes"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "16–25 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "2–3.5 m (7–11 ft)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) in bursts"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Vulnerable (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Warm coastal seas worldwide, and unusually far up rivers and into freshwater lakes such as the Amazon, Mississippi, and Ganges.",
    "continents": [
      "Oceans"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "Rigby, C. L. et al. (2021). Carcharhinus leucas. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.",
      "url": null
    },
    {
      "citation": "Compagno, L. J. V. (2001). Sharks of the World. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes.",
      "url": null
    },
    {
      "citation": "Froese, R. & Pauly, D. (eds.). FishBase — Carcharhinus leucas.",
      "url": "https://www.fishbase.se/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bull-shark/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bull-shark/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}