Bull Shark

The Bull Shark can live in a wide range of habitats from coastal marine and estuarine, to freshwater. It has been recorded from the surf zone down to a depth of at least 150m. It is the only species of shark that is known to stay for extended periods in freshwater. It has been reported nearly 4000km from the sea in the Amazon River system, and is known to breed in Lake Nicaragua, Central America. In Australia the Bull Shark occurs from Perth, Western Australia, around the northern coastline and down the east coast to Sydney, New South Wales. This species has a widespread distribution in tropical and warm temperate waters of the world.

The Bull Shark is a large species which grows to a length of 3.4m. It has an omnivorous diet which includes fishes (including other sharks), dolphins, turtles, birds, molluscs, echinoderms and even terrestrial mammals.

This is an aggressive species that is considered dangerous to humans. Some people consider that the Bull Shark may be more dangerous than the Great White Shark and the Tiger Shark. This is because of the Bull Shark's omnivorous diet and habitat preferences. This species may be found in murky water, where the splashing of a swimmer could be mistaken for a struggling fish.

The Bull Shark has also been called the River Shark, Freshwater Whaler, Estuary Whaler and Swan River Whaler.