MARINE ANIMALS THAT BITE 



19 



or dirty white below. Pelvics and lower surface of pectorals are 

 spotted with gray and the tips of dorsals, grayish white. In some 

 instances, the pelvics, caudal lobes and pectorals are white-tipped. 

 This shark inhabits the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, and is 

 common in the Mediterranean and along the Iberian Peninsula. It 

 is a pelagic species, and is generally found in deep offshore waters. 

 Little is known about its habits. It is said to attain a length of 13 

 ft. or more. 



Fig. 4. Top 



Sand Shark, Carcharias taurus Rafinesque. Bottom: Hammer- 

 head Shark, Sphyrna diplana Springer. (Hon) 



Sand Shark Family (Carchariidae) 



Sand Shark, Carcharias taurus Rafinesque. (Fig. 4, Top). A 

 comparatively sluggish shark, having a voracious appetite, living 

 mostly on, or close to, the bottom. It is a shore species. Its relatives 

 in East Indian waters have a bad reputation, but this is not true of 

 the North American species. Its distinctive characteristics are the 

 five gill openings in front of the pectorals, the second dorsal about 

 as large as the first, the position of the first dorsal entirely in front 

 of the pelvics, and the teeth. Color is bright, gray-brown above, 

 darkest along back, snout, and on upper sides of pectorals, paling 

 on sides to grayish white on belly and on lower sides of fins. Body 



