Dusky, Shovelhead Sharks 



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Dusky Shark 

 Carcharhinus obscurus (LeSueur) 



Color: Back and upper sides light to dark gray or blue- 

 gray; lower sides and belly white. 



Distribution: Both sides of the Atlantic in tropical and 

 warm temperate waters. In the western Atlantic from 

 southern Massachusetts to the Bahamas. Taken frequently 

 from Delaware Bay north to Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 

 but often confused with the Brown Shark or the Cub 

 Shark. 



Size: Reported as reaching a length of 14 feet. 

 General Information: Little is known about this shark. It 

 probably is most common offshore but frequendy is found 

 in shoal waters inshore. 

 Economic Importance: None. 



Shovelhead, Bonnet Shark 

 Sphyrna tibura (Linnaeus) 



Color: Upper part of body gray or brown-gray; a lighter 

 shade of same color below. 



