#happysharkweek

Name: Bull Shark 

Species: Carcharhinus leucas

Class: Chondrichthyes

Size: 7.5 - 11 feet, 200 - 500 pounds

Habitat: Shallow coastal waters and freshwater deltas

Victims per year: 72

Fatalities per year: 11

Conservation status: Near Threatened

While it may not be the main character in Jaws!, the bull shark can still be named as one of the most deadly sharks. The bull shark is part of the “big three” or the sharks that are most common to attack humans and cause fatalities. The “big three” includes the great white, the tiger, and the bull. Unlike the rest of the three, the bull shark is able to survive in freshwater, often being spotted in the Amazon and Mississippi rivers. The bull shark also commonly lurks in coastal shallow waters all over the globe where most beachgoers tend to swim. So if you ever find yourself wading in the warm waters of Florida and happen to put your head under the water and see a shark with these characteristics, maybe it’s time to try skiing instead. The most common defining characteristic of a bull shark is the way its body is shaped. The bull shark is more bulky and more “chubby” than other species. The height to width ratio is  less in the bull shark than other slimmer sharks. Bull sharks also tend to have shorter and blunt snouts. Like many other sharks, the bull shark displays discoloration, where the top part of the body is a darker shade than the bottom. 

Other than its proximity to civilization, the bull shark has other characteristics that may make it a less friendly encounter than one with its family member, the basking shark. The bull shark possesses rows and rows of needle-shaped teeth that are used to pierce through fish, dolphins, and anything else that is unfortunate enough to come into contact with this chubby killer. With a bite force of 6,000 newtons, the bull shark can cut through bone and tear off whole limbs. Other than the major lacerations, the bull shark’s teeth are not very clean. While it may be the least of your concerns when your arm isn’t connected to the rest of your body anymore, the bull shark’s teeth is coated with tons of bacteria that may be problematic when they enter the human blood stream. This bacteria can cause life-threatening infections like sepsis. So what do you do when get bitten? 

Getting immediate help is crucial to help a victim survive. Stopping the bleeding by applying pressure to the affected area. Elevating the bleeding part of the body. It’s easier to avoid the bull shark than it is to get bitten and have to probably get airlifted off the beach. Paying attention to beach signs and flags symbolizing dangerous marine life and observing the surrounding can mean the difference between life and death. Avoid swimming in murky water, fresh or salt, and avoid swimming where rivers meet the oceans as these are the places where bull sharks and other unpleasant creatures tend to lurk. Avoid swimming after dark or in the early morning because many sharks are more active at night. Do not get into water when you see a bunch of birds diving into the water; this could mean that there is something or someone feeding under the water. Do not get into water when you see a shark fin or are bleeding. And most importantly, if you do see a bull shark coming toward you, be prepared to fight. Aiming for the eyes and gills could spare you a hand or foot. 

While sharks, in general, may seem like these scary creatures, many of their numbers are rapidly declining. Shark fins are often used for Shark Fin Soup, where sharks are finned and throw back into the water to drown. Sharks often get trapped in fishing nets and drown as sharks need to keep swimming to get oxygen from water. Sharks, like many other marine animals, are losing their habitats due to pollution and global warming. Many sharks have been seen moving north due to rising water temperatures. If shark populations keep declining, whole ecosystems could collapse and might mean the end of our oceans as we know it.