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Is the bull shark dangerous?

 Is the bull shark dangerous?







The bull shark (Carcharias taurus) is a species of shark that belongs to the order Lamniformes and the family Odontaspididae. It is important to specify that it is not a question of a bull shark, because the latter belongs to the species Carcharhinus leucas of the order of Carcharhiniformes. The animal we are referring to here is Carcharias taurus, which has gained a reputation for repeatedly attacking humans. However, despite having a bite capable of causing significant damage, most recorded accidents have not been the product of a direct attack on people. The bull shark is an ovoviviparous species. Unlike most fish, sharks mate to reproduce, the male has a pterygopod to inseminate the female. The male maintains the female by biting her in the region of the gills or fins. It is for this reason that in general, females bear more scars than males. The mating period takes place around March and April. The bull shark is one of the shark species with a low reproductive rate and therefore it is easily affected by population pressures.



Bull Shark Habitat


The bull shark generally lives off the coasts of Australia, the United States and South Africa. But as it is a migratory shark, it can be found in most warm seas around the world except in the eastern Pacific. Its range extends across the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Maine to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, around the Bahamas and Bermuda. It is also present from southern Brazil to northern Argentina The bull shark is a coastal species, but its territory can extend offshore. It evolves between the surface and 200 m depth, but is generally found in waters whose depth is less than 70 m. This shark organizes itself and hunts in groups. It is likely that this species migrates south during the winter months, but there are insufficient data to establish migration maps.


Their diet can be dangerous to humans


Their diet consists of all kinds of animals, including other sharks. It can be dangerous to humans, as it hunts where people usually swim. This shark's ability to enter fresh water is due to a special gland in its kidney that allows it to retain salt water in its body and expel fresh water, which would be deadly to others. varieties of sharks.


Reproduction of the bull shark


As with all sharks, reproduction begins with a rather violent mating. The bull shark is an ovoviviparous shark, so the eggs open in the female's uterus. One of the particularities of the bull shark is intrauterine cannibalism or oophagy: as soon as they hatch, the first young rush to devour the other eggs that have not yet hatched. Two babies only will be born, but they will be better nourished and potentially more resilient. The bull shark's gestation lasts nine to twelve months In the bull shark, the dorsal fin is similar in size to the anal fin. The first dorsal fin is located near the pelvic fin. The pectoral fins are small and resemble oars. This shark does not have a keel unlike some species. The caudal fins are asymmetrical, with the upper lobe measuring about 27% of the size and the ventral lobe only measuring about 11% of the size.


Why bull shark reproduction is a problem


The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is an aggressive shark found all over the world in the warm, shallow waters of coasts, estuaries, lakes and rivers. Although bull sharks have been found inland as far as Mississippi, Illinois, they are not a true freshwater species. The bull shark is classified as "near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).


The large teeth of the bull shark clearly indicate that it does not have a vegan type diet. Pointed and sharp, they are formidable weapons for capturing fish (bony or cartilaginous), cephalopods or even crustaceans. The relatively short snout of this shark allows it to track its prey to their refuges. The bull shark is counted among the sharks responsible for the highest number of bites in humans.


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