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Black Tip Shark
(Carcharhinus Limbatus)
Average size: 5 ft / 1.5 m
Maximum size: 9 ft / 2.7 m
Color: grey, white belly & anal fin, subtle white band
along the side; black tips on fins tend to fade with age.
Note: species different from Black Tip Reef Shark.
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Copper Shark
(Carcharhinus Brachyurus)
Average size: 9 ft / 2.7 m
Maximum size: 11 ft / 3.3 m
Color: grey to bronze above, brighter on the sides.
Note: a.k.a.
Bronze Whaler
; often confused with the
Dusky Shark.
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Guitarfish
(Rhynchobatus)
Average size: 7 ft / 2.1 m
Maximum size:
Bowmouth Guitarfish: 7.8 ft / 2.4 m (photo)
Giant Guitarfish: 10 ft / 3 m
Color: olive-green above with rows of small white spots,
white below. Note: we encounter both Bowmouth and
Giant Guitarfish, a.k.a. Giant Guitar Shark.
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Great Hammerhead
(Sphyrna Mokarran)
Average size: 11.5 ft / 3.5 m
Maximum size: 20 ft / 6 m
Color: grey-brown, pale below
Note: known to use its head to pin a fleeing ray to the
bottom; can sometimes be seen on Protea Banks where
they come single or in small hunting packs.
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Sandtiger Shark
(Carcharias Taurus)
Average size: 8.3 ft / 2.5 m
Maximum size: 10.5 ft / 3.2 m
Color: light brown, bronze-coloured back, white belly.
Note: a.k.a.
Ragged-Tooth Shark
or
Raggie
; known to
surface and swallow air to regulate its buoyancy; often
found in large groups.
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Scalloped Hammerhead
(Sphyrna Lewini)
Average size: 9 ft / 2.7 m
Maximum size: 13.8 ft / 4.2 m
Color: olive bronze, light brown, white belly
Note: tends to form large schools at certain times; can
make use of the earth's magnetic field during migration.
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Thresher Shark
(Alopias)
Average size: 10 ft / 3 m
Maximum size: 11 ft / 3.3 m
Color: grey above with silvery lustre.
Note: uses its upper caudal lobe, which is nearly as long
as rest of shark, to stun its prey before feeding.
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Tiger Shark
(Galeocerdo Cuvier)
Average size: 10 ft / 3 m
Maximum size: 18 ft / 5.5 m
Color: dark grey, white belly
Note: spots fade into stripes as they mature; Galeocerdo
means
cunning
.
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Whale Shark
(Rhincodon Typus)
Average size: 33 ft / 10 m
Maximum size: 45 ft / 13.6 m
(unconfirmed reports claim 59 ft / 17.8 m)
Color: grey with random white dots above, cream below.
Note: the world's biggest fish can sometimes be seen on
Protea Banks in South Africa's warm summer months;
may live up to 100 to 150 years.
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White Shark
(Carcharodon Carcharias)
Average size: 15 ft / 4.5 m
Maximum size: 20 ft / 6 m
Color: grey or blue grey above, white below
Note: no specific season,
rarely seen
; may use 20 to
30,000 teeth in a lifetime.
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Zambezi
or
Bull Shark
(Carcharhinus Leucas)
Average size male: 7 ft / 2.1 m
Average size female: 11 ft / 3.3 m
Color: dark grey, white belly
Note: females need fresh water rivers to give birth to
their offspring.
Other species
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Bottlenose Dolphin
(Tursiops Truncatus)
Average size: 9 ft / 2.7 m
Maximum size: 12 ft / 3.7 m
Color: varies but generally grey with lighter sides.
Note: called Bottlenose because of its short beak; we
predominantly encounter this species and during the
Sardine Run several hundreds of Common Dolphins
(Delphinus Delphis).
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Humpback Whale
(Megaptera Novaeangliae)
Size males: 40-48 ft / 12.2-14.6 m
Maximum size: 45-50 ft / 13.7-15.2 m
Color: black above, mottled black and white below
Note: encountered on virtually every trip to Protea Banks
and back; we always make an effort to carefully follow
them; Humpback Whales sing long and complex songs.
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Manta Ray
(Manta Birostris)
Average size: 12 ft / 3.6 m (wing-span)
Maximum size: 25 ft / 7.6 m (wing-span)
Color: commonly black above, white below
Note: a.k.a.
Devilfish
; can sometimes be seen on Protea
Banks in South Africa's warm summer months.
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