Galapagos shark  (Carcharhinus galapagensis)

Description

Named after the famous islands where it was first identified (3), the Galapagos shark is a large, rather slender species, with a brownish-grey back and sides, and a white underside (4). The first dorsal fin is tall, narrow and almost straight, and a low ridge leads to the small, second dorsal fin (4) (5). The trailing edges of the fins may be darker than the rest of the body, and the tips may be dusky (2). The Galapagos shark belongs to the Carcharhinus group of sharks, a name derived from the Greek words for ‘sharpen’ and ‘nose’ (5); however, the nose, or snout, or this species is broadly rounded (4) (5).

left