Overview

Raggedtooth sharks (*Carcharias taurus*) are members of the Odontaspididae family. They are characterized by their stout, torpedo-shaped bodies, with a blunt snout and large, widely spaced eyes. Their most distinctive feature is their rows of sharp, pointed teeth, which are jagged and irregularly spaced, giving them their name. Unlike other similar species, such as the sand tiger shark, raggedtooth sharks have a more pronounced dorsal fin and a shorter, more rounded snout.

Commonly found in:

1. South Africa
2. Mozambique
3. Madagascar
4. Australia
5. New Zealand
6. Japan
7. South Korea
8. China
9. Taiwan
10. India
11. Indonesia
12. Philippines
13. Malaysia
14. Thailand
15. Vietnam

Over the past 97 years, there have been 43 recorded attacks by raggedtooth sharks. Of these attacks, they have occurred at sea and at the following beaches:

• LIST OF BEACHES HERE

Size and Weight

• Size: Males average between 7-8.2 feet when mature; females average between 7.5-9.8 feet when mature
• Weight: Males typically weigh 200-290 pounds; females typically weigh 220-440 pounds
• Swimming speed: Both sexes can reach speeds of up to 25 mph

Interaction with Humans

• Interaction with Humans: Generally non-aggressive, rarely involved in unprovoked attacks
• Avoidance: Stay out of coastal waters at night, avoid areas with steep drop-offs
• Activity: Nocturnal, most active at night

Lifespan and Diet

• Lifespan: Both males and females live approximately 25-30 years
• Diet: Fish, squid, and other sharks; ambush predator that uses its protruding teeth to snag prey

Migratory Patterns

Raggedtooth sharks, also known as sand tiger sharks, exhibit seasonal migratory patterns. They typically move northward along the coast during spring and summer, and southward in fall and winter. In the western Atlantic, they migrate from the waters off North Carolina to New England in the warmer months, then return to the Carolinas and Florida in the colder months. In the eastern Pacific, they move between California and Oregon. In Australia, they migrate along the east coast between Queensland and New South Wales.