Common names
Grauer Sandhai, Sandhai, Sandtiger, Bacota, Pez toro, Pintado, Sandtiger shark, Sarda, Tiburón arenero, Tiburón arenero tigre, Tiburón sarda, Tiburón toro, Tigre arenero, Torito, Toro bacota, Chien de mer, Requin, Requin des sables, Requin taureau, Requin-taureau, Blue nurse shark, Blue-nurse sand tiger, Dogfish shark, Gray nurse shark, Grey Nurse Shark, Grey nurse, Greynurse shark, Ground shark, Nuss shark, Ragged tooth shark, Sand shark, Sand tiger, Sand tiger shark, Sand-tiger, Sandtiger shark, Shovel-nosed shark, Slender-tooth shark, Spotted ragged-tooth, Spotted ragged-tooth shark, Spotted raggedtooth, Spotted raggedtooth shark, Spotted sand tiger shark, Pisci tauru, Squalo toro, Caçoa, Cação-da-areia, Cação-de-areia, Cação-galhudo, Cação-magonga, Cação-mangona, Cação-mangonga, Cação-manogonga, Dentudo, Magonga, Mangona, Mangonga, Tubarão de areia, Tubarão-, Tubarão-amarelo, Tubarão-dentudo, Tubarão-toiro

Short Description
A shark with a short, pointed snout, small eyes, protruding spike-like teeth and small, equal-sized dorsal and anal fins; 1st dorsal fin closer to pelvic than to pectoral fins [536]. Caudal fin with a pronounced subterminal notch and a short ventral lobe (Ref. 13575). Pale brown or grey, paler below, with dark spots that appear faded in adults; fins plain (Ref. 6586).

Distribution
Found in all warm seas except perhaps the eastern Pacific (Ref. 13568). Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and off South Africa to Japan, Korea and Australia (Ref. 13568). Present in Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819). Western Atlantic: Gulf of Maine to Argentina. Old record from Bermuda, south Brazil [17659]. Eastern Atlantic: Mediterranean to Cameroon. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). First record: 2013: United Arab Emirates waters (female, 256 cm, off Dalma Island) [17946];

Human uses
fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Biology
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding on other ova produced by the mother (oophagy) after the yolk sac is absorbed, then cannibalize siblings (adelphophagy) [733]. Distinct pairing with embrace [17086]. Eggs leave the ovaries, and while in transit in the oviducts are fertilized and enclosed in groups of 16 to 23 in egg cases. However, at some time between fertilization and birth only two (Ref. 5578, 6586) embryos of its group prevails, possibly by devouring its rivals, and proceeds to eat fertilized eggs and smaller potential siblings in utero until birth. According to Springer (1948) (Ref. 39565), it is evident that this species sends forth into the world not only large, well-developed, and even experienced young but may send them forth with a full stomach. The yolk sac is resorbed at a small size, less than 17 cm, and the umbilical scar may be lost. Gestation period may be from 8 to 9 months long. Size at birth 100 cm (Ref. 6586). Pratt (2001) (Ref. 49562) relates Gordon"quot;s (1993) (Ref. 51113) detailed account of the mating behavior of the sand tiger sharks as follows: "mating activities began when the two male C. taurus, having become reluctant to feed, increased their swimming speed, accompanied by clasper flexion and eventual interest in their female tank mates...aggressive displays such as snapping and stalking became frequent, mostly toward species of smaller Carcharhinus in the tank. The males did not become interested in the female until she slowed, moved to the sand area and started cupping her pelvic fins. The two males then became competitive toward each other, circling and tailing, until the alpha male forced the beta male out of the sand area. The female bit the male prior to copulation. She exhibited shielding behavior for several days and then resumed cupping and flaring. The female gradually changed her swimming position and began displaying the submissive behavior. The alpha male swam in increasingly larger circles and began splaying its claspers, then approached the female and exhibited tailing and nosing. Copulation occurred as the male bit into the right flank and trailing edge of the pectoral fin of the female. The male swam side by side with the female, copulating with the right clasper for one to two minutes. After copulation, the male showed little interest in the female." In captivity, males show aggression toward other species after copulation (Ref. 51113, 49562). Females avoid patrolling males by "quot;shielding"quot; with pelvics close to the substrate (Ref. 51113, 49562). However, female acceptance of future male partner is indicated by a show of "quot;submissive"quot; body, "quot;cupping"quot; and "quot;flaring"quot; of pelvic fins (Ref. 51113, 49562). A carnivore [17641].

Size / Weight / Age
320 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 5213)); max. published weight: 158.8 kg (Ref. 40637)

Habitat
reef-associated; oceanodromous [17660]; marine; depth range 1 - 191 m [518], usually 15 - 25 m (Ref. 43278)

Parasites arranged by Pollerspöck, Jürgen
Monogenea

• Udonella myliobati (GUBERLET, 1936) [15299]

Cestoda

• Crossobothrium laciniatum LINTON, 1889 (host Eugomphodus taurus = synonym of Carcharias taurus [16200] [16929])
• Grillotia erinaceus (VAN BENEDEN, 1858) [16112]
• Grillotia sp. [16112]
• Orygmatobothrium dohrnii (OERLEY, 1885) [11635]
• Pintneriella musculicola YAMAGUTI, 1934 [16112] [16210]

Nematoda

• Terranova galeocerdonis (THWAITE, 1927) [7401]

Copepoda

• Achtheinus oblongus WILSON, 1908 (synonyms Perissopus oblongus (WILSON, 1908) [15303])
• Alebion crassus (BERE, 1936) (host Eugomphodus taurus = synonym of Carcharias taurus [12586])
• Alebion carchariae KRØYER, 1863 [15303]
• Alebion gracilis WILSON, 1905 [14785]
• Anthosoma crassum (ABILDGAARD, 1794) (host Carcharias littoralis = synonym of Carcharias taurus [14785]) [15305]
• Caligus elongatus VON NORDMANN, 1832 [15305]
• Eudactylinodes niger (WILSON, 1905) (host Eugomphodus taurus = synonym of Carcharias taurus [12586]) [16931]
• Lepeophtheirus natalensis KENSLEY & GRINDLEY, 1973 [15299] [15305] [15303]
• Nesippus orientalis HELLER, 1868 [15284] [15304]
• Pandarus floridanus CRESSEY, 1967 [15303]
• Pandarus smithii RATHBUN, 1886 [14785] [15303]

Hirudinea

• Stibarobdella loricata (HARDING, 1924) [8262]