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Dusky shark

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description Dusky shark Overview

The dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) is a large species of requiem shark found in tropical and warm-temperate waters worldwide. It inhabits both coastal and pelagic environments, preying on a variety of fish, other sharks, and marine invertebrates. This species is biologically notable for its slow growth rate, late sexual maturity, and low reproductive output, making its populations highly vulnerable to overfishing. Because of these life history traits and commercial fishing pressures, the dusky shark is considered Endangered.

help Dusky shark FAQ

Where do dusky sharks live?

Dusky sharks inhabit warm-temperate and tropical coastal and pelagic waters around the world, including off the coasts of the Americas, Africa, and Australia. They are a wide-ranging requiem shark species found from the surf zone to deeper offshore waters.

How large do dusky sharks get?

Dusky sharks can reach lengths of approximately 3.5 to 4 meters (around 12 feet), making them one of the larger requiem shark species. Females tend to grow larger than males.

Why is the dusky shark considered threatened?

Dusky sharks grow slowly, reach sexual maturity late—often around 20 years of age—and produce small litters, making their populations slow to recover from overfishing. They are frequently caught as bycatch and are also targeted in some commercial fisheries.

Are dusky sharks dangerous to humans?

While dusky sharks are large and physically capable of injuring humans, they typically inhabit deeper offshore waters and are rarely implicated in unprovoked attacks. They are considered less of a threat to swimmers than species like the bull shark or tiger shark.

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