Information on Bull Sharks
Unlike other marine sharks, Bull Sharks tolerate fresh water. They can travel far up rivers and man made canals. Seeing they can do this, they are probably responsible for the majority of attacks on humans that take place near the shore. However Bull Sharks are not freshwater sharks.
The name “Bull Sharks”, came from the sharks stocky shape, broad, flat snout and aggressive unpredictable behaviour. The Bull Shark is common in coastal areas of warm oceans, in rivers and lakes, and in both salt and fresh water.
The Bull Shark covers a vast area as map shows.
It is estimated that there are more than 500 Bull Sharks is the Brisbane River and greater numbers still in the canals at the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
Description of the Bull Shark
Bull Sharks are large and stout. Males can reach 2.1 metres (6.9 ft) and weigh 90 kilograms (198.4 Ib). Females can be much larger. 3.5 metres (11.5 ft) and 230 kg (513 lb). Bull Sharks are wider than other sharks of comparable length.
They are grey on top and white below. The second dorsal fin is smaller then the first.
The bull sharks diet includes fish, other sharks, rays, dolphins, turtles, birds, crustaceans plus more.
The Bull shark is a lone hunter. They often cruise through shallow waters. They way appear docile, but they can suddenly burst into speed. They can be highly aggressive, even attacking a race horse is the Brisbane River in the Australian state at Queensland..
They are extremely territorial and will attack other animals - including humans - that enter their territory. The bull shark is among the species considered the most dangerous to humans.
Bull sharks breed in the summer, often in the brackish water of river mouths. After gestating for about a year, a bull shark may give birth to us many as 13 live young (they are viviparous). The young are about 70 centimetres (28 inches) at birth and take 10 years to reach maturity.
There is more than 160 species of shark that makes up nearly half of the worlds species. The vast majority of these pose no threat to humans. Those that do are more than likely cases of people being in the wrong place at the wrong time. So with care most threats are avoidable.
The Bull Shark also inhabits fresh water and in considered to be a very dangerous shark because of its aggressive nature and liking for shallow habitats. Rivers, Canal Estates, such as around the Gold Coast is Australia, are a favoured location where occasional attacks have occurred. Shark habitats range from open ocean waters to coastal waters, rivers and coral reefs.
Bull Shark migration is not well understood because of a lack of research in this area but it is known that food availability and reproductive cycles probably play an important part is their migration.
The research that has been conducted suggests that sharks undergo daily activity rhythms culminating in greater activity between sunset and well into the night.
Generally sharks will only attack humans if provoked or they are mistaken for food.
Sharks usually eat between 1 and 10 percent of there body weight weekly.