Short URL:
ecophotog  > Underwater > Dangerous Aquatic Animals
Animals that pose a potential threat or have been implicated in injuries to humans.
gallery pages:  1  2  >  
< 1 of 17 >
Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus.

The sandbar shark comes from the Carcharhinidae family of sharks, also called requiem sharks.

The sandbar shark is also called the thickskin shark or brown shark. It is one of the biggest coastal sharks in the world, and is closely related to the dusky shark, the bignose shark, and the bull shark. Its dorsal fin is triangular and very high, and weighs as much as 18% of the shark's whole body. Sandbar sharks usually have heavy-set bodies and rounded snouts that are shorter than the average shark's snout. Their upper teeth have broadly uneven cusps with sharp edges. Its second dorsal fin and anal fin are close to the same height. Females can grow to 2/2.5 m, males up to 1.8 m. Its body color can vary from a bluish to a brownish grey to a bronze, with a white or pale underside. Sandbar sharks swim alone or gather in sex-segregated schools that vary in size. They are most active at night, at dawn, and at dusk.
© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved. 

Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards in Catesby, 1771)
Great Barracuda 

Great barracuda have an impressive arsenal of teeth and can strike with blinding speed.  They have been implicated in many provoked attacks on spearfishers and divers with shiny objects, but purely unprovoked attacks are quite rare.  Nonetheless, unprovoked attacks resulting in substantial injury have been reported.
© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved. 

Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards in Catesby, 1771)
Great Barracuda 
Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Sphyraenidae.

Great barracuda have an impressive arsenal of teeth and can strike with blinding speed.  They have been implicated in many provoked attacks on spearfishers and divers with shiny objects, but purely unprovoked attacks are quite rare.  Nonetheless, unprovoked attacks resulting in substantial injury have been reported.
© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved. 

Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, rising from the depths off the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.

The tiger shark is often found close to the coast, mainly in tropical and sub-tropical waters throughout the world. Along with the great white shark, Pacific sleeper shark, Greenland shark and sixgill shark, tiger sharks are among the largest extant sharks. Its behavior is primarily nomadic, but is guided by warmer currents, and it stays closer to the equator throughout the colder months. It tends to stay in deep waters that line reefs, but it does move into channels to pursue prey in shallower waters. In the western Pacific Ocean, the shark has been found as far north as Japan and as far south as New Zealand.

A number of tiger sharks can be seen at Gulf of Mexico, North American beaches and parts of South America. It is also commonly known in the Carribean Sea. Other location where tiger sharks are seen include Africa, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, India, Australia, New Zealand and Eastern Europe.

Certain tiger sharks have been recorded at depths just shy of 900 metres (3,000 ft) but they are often observed in much shallower water, particularly if an easy prey source is nearby.  A recent study showed that the average tiger shark would be recorded at 350 meters (1,100 ft), making it uncommon to see tiger sharks in shallow water. However, tiger sharks in Hawaii have been observed in depths as shallow as 10ft, and regularly observed in coastal waters at depths of 20 to 40 ft. They often visit shallow reefs, harbors and canals, creating the potential for encounters with humans.
© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved. 

Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier. This shark was about 10-12 feet.
© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved. 

Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier.

While the tiger shark is considered to be one of the sharks most dangerous to humans, the attack rate is surprisingly low according to researchers. The tiger is second on the list of number of recorded attacks on humans, with the great white shark being first. They often visit shallow reefs, harbors and canals, creating the potential for encounters with humans.
© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved. 

Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier.

The tiger shark is a solitary, mostly night-time hunter. Its diet involves a wide range of prey, including crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, smaller sharks, squid, turtles, sea snakes, and dolphins. The tiger shark is considered a near threatened species due to finning and fishing by humans.
© Joseph Dougherty. All rights reserved. 

Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier.

While the tiger shark is considered to be one of the sharks most dangerous to humans, the attack rate is surprisingly low according to researchers. The tiger is second on the list of number of recorded attacks on humans, with the great white shark being first. They often visit shallow reefs, harbors and canals, creating the potential for encounters with humans.
© Joseph Dougherty.  All rights reserved.

Galeocerdo cuvier  
Tiger Shark

Tiger shark off the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. This fat and healthy female came up from the depths to investigate us.


The tiger shark is a species of requiem shark and the only member of its genus. Tiger sharks are relatively large macropredators, capable of attaining a length of over 5 m (16 ft). It is found in many tropical and temperate waters, and is especially common around central Pacific islands. Its name derives from the dark stripes down its body, which resemble a tiger's pattern and fade as the shark matures.  They are known to feed on sea turtles, which are common in Hawaiian waters.
Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus.

The sandbar shark comes from the Carcharhinidae family of sharks, also called requiem sharks.

The sandbar shark is also called the thickskin shark or brown shark. It is one of the biggest coastal sharks in the world, and is closely related to the dusky shark, the bignose shark, and the bull shark. Its dorsal fin is triangular and very high, and weighs as much as 18% of the shark's whole body. Sandbar sharks usually have heavy-set bodies and rounded snouts that are shorter than the average shark's snout. Their upper teeth have broadly uneven cusps with sharp edges. Its second dorsal fin and anal fin are close to the same height. Females can grow to 2/2.5 m, males up to 1.8 m. Its body color can vary from a bluish to a brownish grey to a bronze, with a white or pale underside. Sandbar sharks swim alone or gather in sex-segregated schools that vary in size. They are most active at night, at dawn, and at dusk.
Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus.

The sandbar shark comes from the Carcharhinidae family of sharks, also called requiem sharks.

The sandbar shark is also called the thickskin shark or brown shark. It is one of the biggest coastal sharks in the world, and is closely related to the dusky shark, the bignose shark, and the bull shark. Its dorsal fin is triangular and very high, and weighs as much as 18% of the shark's whole body. Sandbar sharks usually have heavy-set bodies and rounded snouts that are shorter than the average shark's snout. Their upper teeth have broadly uneven cusps with sharp edges. Its second dorsal fin and anal fin are close to the same height. Females can grow to 2/2.5 m, males up to 1.8 m. Its body color can vary from a bluish to a brownish grey to a bronze, with a white or pale underside. Sandbar sharks swim alone or gather in sex-segregated schools that vary in size. They are most active at night, at dawn, and at dusk.
Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus.

The sandbar shark comes from the Carcharhinidae family of sharks, also called requiem sharks.

The sandbar shark is also called the thickskin shark or brown shark. It is one of the biggest coastal sharks in the world, and is closely related to the dusky shark, the bignose shark, and the bull shark. Its dorsal fin is triangular and very high, and weighs as much as 18% of the shark's whole body. Sandbar sharks usually have heavy-set bodies and rounded snouts that are shorter than the average shark's snout. Their upper teeth have broadly uneven cusps with sharp edges. Its second dorsal fin and anal fin are close to the same height. Females can grow to 2/2.5 m, males up to 1.8 m. Its body color can vary from a bluish to a brownish grey to a bronze, with a white or pale underside. Sandbar sharks swim alone or gather in sex-segregated schools that vary in size. They are most active at night, at dawn, and at dusk.
Share photo: links, forums, blogs |
Keywords: fear sharks jaws apex predators endangered species marine animals dangerous fishes human injury attack provocation attack prevention
gallery pages:  1  2  >  
< 1 of 17 >

Comments

| hide gallery comments |


Photo Website Hosting by SmugMug Pro · Login · Contact · Help · Portions © 2013 SmugMug, Inc.
Show FeedsAvailable Feeds
Gallery Photos:
Atom FeedAtom | RSS FeedRSS