Bull sharks can be found worldwide in shallow temperate waters. They are more likely to strike humans than any other shark because they live in the same shallow coastlines where humans usually swim.

Bull sharks are highly aggressive and not troubled by fresh or brackish waters, so there have even been attacks where they have followed the tributaries and rivers inland. The bull shark’s name comes from their blunt, short snout and a propensity to butt their prey with their head before they attack.

These sharks have a stout, thick body and a long pectoral fin, which are white on the bottom and gray on top. Their coloration helps them blend into their environment from above and below. Female bull sharks can grow 11 feet (3.35 meters) or more, and males to around 7 feet (2.13 meters), weighing from 200 pounds (90.72 kg) to 500 pounds (226.8 kg).

Bull sharks are agile, fast predators and eat almost anything, including other sharks, dolphins and fish. Attacks on humans are usually out of curiosity and made inadvertently. Bull shark populations are declining due to being widely fished for their oils, hides, and meat.

Additional Facts About Bull Sharks

• The Bite Force on a Bull Shark is Greater than a Great White Shark
• Their Young are Born Alive
• They Were the Inspiration for the Movie Jaws
• A Man in Illinois Once killed a Bull Shark
• Bull Sharks Can Live in Captivity for up to 25 Years
• A Golf Course in Australia is Infested with Bull Sharks
• They Bite Each Other When They Mate
• Bull Sharks Have the Highest Testosterone Levels than Any Other Animal on Earth