Sand shark
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? Sand
sharks |
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 Grey Nurse Shark,
Carcharias
taurus
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Genera
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Carcharias Odontaspis |
Sand sharks, or sand tigers, are lamniform sharks of the family Odontaspididae (or sometimes referred to as Carchariidae). They are found on both sides of the Atlantic coast, but most notably in the Gulf of Maine. There are four species in two genera.
Anatomy
Sand sharks have a large second dorsal fin. They typically grow to about 10 to 20 feet(3 to 6 meters) in length. Its body tends to be brown in colour with dark markings in the upper half. It also has a flattened snout.
Reproduction
Sand sharks only allow two embryos to develop, cannibalizing the rest of the unfertilized eggs. They have a gestation period of about 9 to 12 months.
Species
Carcharias
- Carcharias taurus Rafinesque, 1810 ( Grey Nurse Shark or Sand tiger shark) [1]
- Carcharias tricuspidatus Day, 1878 ( Indian sand tiger) [2]
Odontaspis
- Odontaspis ferox (Risso, 1810) ( Smalltooth sand tiger or bumpytail raggedtooth) [3]
- Odontaspis noronhai (Maul, 1955) ( Bigeye sand tiger) [4]