Common Name: Dusky Shark
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus obscurus
Size
To
about 12 ft (3.7 m).
Distingushing Characteristics
First
dorsal fin sloping, originating over or slightly before
free tips of pectoral fins
Second
dorsal fin with free tip length rarely more than twice fin
height
Color
gray or bluish-gray above, white below
Interdorsal
ridge
Distribution
Cape Cod, MA, and
Georges Back to FL, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean
Sea.
Habitat
Continental waters
inshore to outer continental shelf and adjacent oceanic waters
Similar Species
Sandbar
shark,
and bignose shark have higher first dorsal
fins originating farther forward. Sandbar shark,
most difficult to distinguish, attains smaller maximum size.
Bignose shark has longer snout. Silky
shark has second dorsal fin with free tip length
usually more than twice fin height. Night shark
has green eyes. Bull shark and Spinner
shark lack interdorsal ridges.
Email To Friend