Description of The Sand Shark
The large size of the second dorsal fin, and of the anal as well (which is about
equal to the first dorsal instead of much smaller) is of itself enough to
distinguish this species from all other Gulf of Maine sharks. The fact that the
first dorsal fin is located but little in front of the pelvics, and that the
trunk seems crowded with fins of equal size, is a useful field mark. We may also
point out that the pectoral fins are not much larger than the other
fins—triangular rather than sickle-shaped; that the upper lobe of the tail is
nearly one-third as long as head and body together and notched near its tip,
with the lower lobe about one-third as long as the upper lobe; and that the head
is flat above, the snout short, conical with rather sharp tip. The teeth also
(alike in the two jaws) are diagnostic, being long, narrow, sharp-pointed, and
smooth-edged, with one (rarely two) small spurs ("denticles") on either side
near the base.
equal to the first dorsal instead of much smaller) is of itself enough to
distinguish this species from all other Gulf of Maine sharks. The fact that the
first dorsal fin is located but little in front of the pelvics, and that the
trunk seems crowded with fins of equal size, is a useful field mark. We may also
point out that the pectoral fins are not much larger than the other
fins—triangular rather than sickle-shaped; that the upper lobe of the tail is
nearly one-third as long as head and body together and notched near its tip,
with the lower lobe about one-third as long as the upper lobe; and that the head
is flat above, the snout short, conical with rather sharp tip. The teeth also
(alike in the two jaws) are diagnostic, being long, narrow, sharp-pointed, and
smooth-edged, with one (rarely two) small spurs ("denticles") on either side
near the base.
Sand Shark
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/7/0/19701521/1752715.jpg)
This Sand Shark was caught off of a pier in Emerald Isle, NC. The Bait used was shrimp.
You can also see the type of setup used for these fish.