Galapogos Shark by Ghirin

The Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) is a common resident in the coastal waters of many tropical islands. This shark prefers shallow waters but has been known to swim in the deep water between islands. They are usually found near coral reefs.

Galapagos sharks feed on bottom-dwelling fishes such as flatfish and triggerfish. It is a viviparous species with litter sizes ranging from 6 to 16 pups. The young sharks form “nurseries” in shallow water to avoid predation by larger sharks.

This shark is known for its display when it feels threatened. The back is arched, the head is raised, and the pectoral and tail fins are lowered. The shark then swims in a twisting, rolling motion.

*Inspired by the Zoo Tycoon Brains Trust at the Zoo Tek Forums.

References:

http://www.shark.ch/cgi-bin/Sharks/spec_conv.pl?E+Carcharhinus.galapagensis

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/GalapagosShark/Galapagosshark.html

Created by Ghirin 2004