156 



UNDERWATER GUIDE TO MARINE LIFE 



NICTITATIN& MEM6RAIME 



Fig. 64. New York ground shark. 



surface and frequently leaps from the water, turning as it does so. A 

 tropical species which strays to Massachusetts. 



3. White-Tipped Shark: C. longiniamis 



This shark has a very broad and rounded first dorsal tipped with grayish 

 white. The snout is rather short. It may reach 13 feet and is the most 

 pelagic of the ground sharks. Found in the tropical and warm temperate 

 Adantic. 



4. New York Ground Shark (Brown Shark, Sand-Bar Shark): C. milherti 



The first dorsal is very high and placed far forward, and the second 

 dorsal is directly over the anal. It reaches 8 feet and 200 pounds. This is 

 the most abundant ground shark in the shallow waters along the mid- 

 Atlantic Coast. It may enter river mouths and is the only large shark com- 

 monly found in Long Island Sound. It also enters the canals of Venice. It is 

 largely a bottom feeder on all sorts of fishes and invertebrates. The young 

 are born in shoal waters in the north from June to August. From southern 

 New England to Brazil. Also in the Mediterranean and off west Africa. 

 West Coast: 



5. Bay Shark: C. lamieUa 



This is a large shark of up to 15 feet, most common in bays and shallow 

 waters. The fins are not dark-tipped. From southern California to Mazatlan, 

 Mexico. 



6. Gambuso: C. aziireus 



This shark reaches 10 feet, is more pelagic than the former, and has 

 dark-tipped fins. 



SHARP-NOSED SHARK: ScoUodofi teuae-novae 



Size: Averages from 2 to 2^2 feet up to 3 feet. 

 Weight: Averages 8 to 10 pounds. 



