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We’ve spoken in length about bull sharks here at The Fins United Initiative. Well, we’re about to introduce you to one of their cousins, also in the Carcharhinidae family: the pigeye shark (Carcharhinus amboinensis). Sometimes known as the “java shark” (they like a good cup of Joe?), these requiem sharks aren’t as common as their cousins… brethrens… whatever.
They look a lot alike (although pigeye sharks have no recorded human attacks). Both bull sharks and pigeye sharks are robust and bulky, sporting a grey color on their dorsal side and a white belly, with a pale band on the flanks (sides). They have small eyes and a short, blunt snout… actually, with this description, doesn’t it sound exactly like the bull shark? Well... yeah.  © Andy Sallmon
We’re liking the color “grey” lately. Specifically, the grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos). Side note: Sometimes that last part is misspelled.
And, of course, they have a number of common names: “bronze whaler,” “grey shark,” “grey whaler shark,” “longnose blacktail shark,” “shortnose blacktail shark” (which, um, hello, don’t those two contradict each other) and “Fowler’s whaler shark” are a few that come to mind. Also to keep in mind: these names can apply to other shark species. Confused, much? Welcome to science, where the complicated things are. (That should be its slogan.)  © Unknown
A few weeks ago I was at my old high school giving a talk about sharks. Students were asking about different social behaviors exhibited in sharks and I decided to show my two favorites: oceanic white tip shark and the whitetip reef shark. These two sharks are superbly different, yet they get confused a lot. As I was showing the whitetip reef shark’s shark bio up on the projector, the teacher (a good friend of mine) stopped me and read out loud (from the captions I had), “Actually, now that I think about it, the white tips kind of remind me of the “frosted tips” phase in the 90’s… hee. Funny mental image of white tip reef sharks being in a 90’s boy band. Back Street Boys. N*Sharks. You get the drift. Wait, wait, wait, I have another one: Shark Street.”
He looked back at me once he was done and burst out laughing. "Typical Melissa." So, why do I bring this up? Well, I found the shark missing from Shark Street, guys. Everyone, meet the silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus). |
AuthorTFUI Founder Melissa C. Marquez is author of all animal bios and "Behind the Fins" segments. SEE MELISSA'S TEDx TALK HERE:
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