A Picture of a bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)

Bull Shark Facts

  • Name: Bull Shark
  • Binomial Name: Carcharhinus leucas
  • Lifespan: Up to 16 years (wild)
  • Diet: Carnivorous
  • Length: 7.9 feet (average)
  • Weight: Between 209 and 290 pounds (average)

14 Bull Shark Facts for Kids

  1. The binomial name for a bull shark is Carcharhinus leucas.
  2. A bull shark is grey, with a white belly and black tips on their fins.
  3. Bull sharks can be found worldwide along coastal areas, lakes and rivers.
  4. Bull sharks can thrive in both saltwater and freshwater.
  5. Bull sharks are sexually dismorphic, females are larger than males.
  6. A female bull shark can reach an average length of 7.9 feet and an average weight of 290 pounds.
  7. A male bull shark can reach an average length of 7.4 feet and an average weight of 209 pounds.
  8. A bull shark can live up to 16 years in the wild.
  9. The bull shark is a predator and a carnivore.
  10. A bull shark can swim up to 12 miles per hour.
  11. Bull sharks give live birth and the gestation period (conception to birth) is 12 months.
  12. Bull sharks are estimated to be responsible for most shallow water shark attacks.
  13. A bull shark was caught near Alton, Illinois in 1937 by two fishermen. That’s 1,000+ miles up the Mississippi River.
  14. In Brisbane, Australia the Carbrook Golf Club has bull sharks living in bodies of water in the golf course.

More Shark Facts

Additional Resources on Bull Sharks