Sealife guideThe dusky sharkCarcharhinus obscurus

Last updated on 12/15/2025 at 11:25 PM

The dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)

The dusky shark is one of the largest coastal sharks in the world. Long overlooked by the general public, it nevertheless plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. Powerful, elegant and widely distributed, this shark is as impressive for its size as it is for its discreet way of life.

Taxonomy

Common name: Dusky shark, black whaler shark
French name: Requin sombre
Spanish name: Tiburón arenero,tiburón gambuso
Scientific name: Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur, 1818)
Family name: Carcharhinidae
Order name: Carcharhiniformes
Class name: Elasmobranchii

Description

The dusky shark has a robust, streamlined body, perfectly adapted for long-distance swimming. It measures on average about 6.5 to 11.5 feet in length, but can reach a maximum size of 13.8 feet and weigh over 660 pounds, making it a large shark species.

The dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) © Ian Scott | Dreamstime.com

Its dark gray coloration on the back and lighter underside allows the dusky shark to effectively camouflage itself in the water thanks to countershading. Its long pectoral fins and asymmetrical tail fin provide excellent stability and powerful propulsion while swimming.

Geographic range

The dusky shark is found in tropical and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic ocean and the Indo-Pacific. It is also present in the Red sea.

Habitat

The dusky shark inhabits both coastal waters and the open ocean. Juveniles are often found in shallow coastal areas, while adults tend to roam offshore, sometimes at depths of several hundred feet.

Diet

The dusky shark is an opportunistic predator. It mainly feeds on bony fish such as tuna and mackerel, cephalopods like squid, as well as smaller sharks and rays. Its powerful jaws and serrated teeth are perfectly adapted to seize and cut fast, resilient prey.

Reproduction

This species is characterized by slow growth and late maturity, making it particularly vulnerable to overfishing. The dusky shark is viviparous: females give birth to well-developed pups after a gestation period of about 22 months, one of the longest among sharks. Litters usually consist of 2 to 18 pups, measuring between 28 and 39 inches at birth.

Did you know ?

The dusky shark is heavily impacted by commercial and recreational fishing, especially for its fins and meat. Its slow growth and late reproduction make population recovery difficult, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts to protect marine biodiversity.

The dusky shark is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The dusky shark appears in the IUCN Red List since 2019 within the category Endangered !

Within the same genus

Blacknose shark
(Carcharhinus acronotus)

Blacktip reef shark
(Carcharhinus melanopterus)

Blacktip shark
(Carcharhinus limbatus)

Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi)

Galapagos shark
(Carcharhinus galapagensis)

Oceanic whitetip shark
(Carcharhinus longimanus)

Silky Shark
(Carcharhinus falciformis)

Silvertip shark
(Carcharhinus albimarginatus)

Within the same family

Blue shark
(Prionace glauca)

Lemon shark
(Negaprion brevirostris)

Tiger shark
(Galeocerdo cuvier)

Whitetip reef shark
(Triaenodon obesus)

Discover also

Banded houndshark
(Triakis scyllium)

Blind shark
(Brachaelurus waddi)

Crested hornshark
(Heterodontus galeatus)

Great white shark
(Carcharodon carcharias)

Leopard catshark
(Poroderma pantherinum)

Sand tiger shark
(Carcharias taurus)

Small-spotted catshark
(Scyliorhinus canicula)

Zebra bullhead shark
(Heterodontus zebra)

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