Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis)

General data

Main name: Galapagos shark
Climates: Tropical
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: Africa, Asia, North America, South America, Australia & Oceania
Distribution: Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian ocean

Classification

Genus: Carcharhinus - Reef shark
Family: Carcharhinidae - Requiem sharks
Order: Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks
Class: Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays
Superclass: Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes

Description

The Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, found worldwide. It favors clear reef environments around oceanic islands, where it is often the most abundant shark species. A large species that often reaches 3.0 m (9.8 ft), the Galapagos reef shark has a typical fusiform reef shark shape and is very difficult to distinguish from the dusky shark (C. obscurus) and the grey reef shark (C. amblyrhynchos). An identifying character of this species is its tall first dorsal fin, which has a slightly rounded tip and originates over the rear tips of the pectoral fins. The Galapagos shark is an active predator often encountered in large groups. It feeds mainly on bottom-dwelling bony fishes and cephalopods; larger individuals have a much more varied diet, consuming other sharks, marine iguanas, sea lions, and even garbage. As in other requiem sharks, reproduction is viviparous, with females bearing litters of 4–16 pups every 2 to 3 years. The juveniles tend to remain in shallow water to avoid predation by the adults.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
- Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays->
  - Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks->
  - Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks->
    
    Carcharhinidae - Requiem sharks->
    
    Prionace - Blue sharks->
    
    Carcharhinus - Reef shark->
    
    Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
    
    Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
    
    Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
    
    Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
    
    Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis)
    
    Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)
    
    Silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
    
    Blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus)
    
    Bignose shark (Carcharhinus altimus)
    
    Graceful shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides)
    
    Pigeye shark (Carcharhinus amboinensis)
    
    Borneo shark (Carcharhinus borneensis)
    
    Copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus)
    
    Spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna)
    
    Nervous shark (Carcharhinus cautus)
    
    Pacific smalltail shark (Carcharhinus cerdale)
    
    Carcharhinus coatesi (Carcharhinus coatesi)
    
    Whitecheek shark (Carcharhinus dussumieri)
    
    Creek whaler (Carcharhinus fitzroyensis)
    
    Pondicherry shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon)
    
    Human’s whaler shark (Carcharhinus humani)
    
    Finetooth shark (Carcharhinus isodon)
    
    Smooth tooth blacktip shark (Carcharhinus leiodon)
    
    Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
    
    Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
    
    Hardnose shark (Carcharhinus macloti)
    
    Carcharhinus macrops (Carcharhinus macrops)
    
    Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)
    
    Lost shark (Carcharhinus obsoletus)
    
    Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezii)
    
    Smalltail shark (Carcharhinus porosus)
    
    Blackspot shark (Carcharhinus sealei)
    
    Night shark (Carcharhinus signatus)
    
    Spot-tail shark (Carcharhinus sorrah)
    
    Australian blacktip shark (Carcharhinus tilstoni)
    
    Carcharhinus tjutjot (Carcharhinus tjutjot)
    
    Negaprion - Negaprion->
    
    Triaenodon - Triaenodon->
    
    Rhizoprionodon - Sharpnose sharks->
    
    Glyphis - Glyphis->
    
    Isogomphodon - Isogomphodon->
    
    Lamiopsis - Lamiopsis->
    
    Loxodon - Loxodon->
    
    Nasolamia - Nasolamia->
    
    Scoliodon - Scoliodon->
    
    Scyliorhinidae - Cat sharks->
    
    Pentanchidae - Deepwater catsharks->
    
    Triakidae - Houndsharks->
    
    Sphyrnidae - Hammerheads->
    
    Atelomycteridae - Coloured catsharks->
    
    Galeocerdonidae - Tiger sharks->
    
    Hemigaleidae - Weasel sharks->
    
    Leptochariidae - Barbeled houndsharks->
    
    Proscylliidae - Finback catsharks->
    
    Pseudotriakidae - False catsharks->
  - Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays->
  - Torpediniformes - Electric rays->
  - Rajiformes - Skates and rays->
  - Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark->
  - Squatiniformes - Angelsharks->
  - Heterodontiformes - Bullhead and horn sharks->
  - Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks->
  - Myliobatiformes - Stingrays->
  - Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks->
  - Echinorhiniformes - Bramble sharks->
  - Pristiophoriformes - Saw sharks->
- Holocephali - Chimaeras->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->