Even though the species may look aggressive, they are not. Usually they are only considered aggressive when bothered. These sharks rarely attack.
Appearance
The body of a sand shark (Carcharias taurus) is thick and strong, as like other sharks its bone is made of cartilage. The shark has 8 fins, while their head is very flat and almost cone shaped. When the sharks mouth is closed you are still able to see its teeth, the teeth of the shark are very pointy, sharp and slender. They have many teeth. The average length of a sand shark is 6.6 feet, while the average weight is about 275 pounds. Usually their coloration is brownish on the dorsal area while white on the belly area.
Photo: DAVID DOUBILET from National Geographic
Habitat
Sand sharks can be found by coasts, they usually swim by the ocean floor. That's how the shark gained its name, it swims near the floor where a lot of sand is. It is possible to see the sharks near the shore in a surf area. Water with warmer temperatures is where the sharks can be found.
Life and Diet
Sand sharks are able to live 15 years in the wild, when born they're able to swim right away.
The sharks are predators, they hunt at night. Unlike other sharks they store air in their stomachs from the surface, this helps them stay afloat and still catching prey. The species diet consists of small fish, squid, and crustaceans. When catching prey they sneak upon them and surprise the prey. The shark hunts alone or in groups.
Status Of Conservation
The species is not overfished, yet they are still considered exposed due to their low population rates. For this reason they are protected, hoping to increase population in the near future.
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