Unidentified Shark: Galapagos

[danclem]

We need help from taxonomy buffs.

Two weeks ago we were diving in the Galapagos and spotted a shark that no one we have spoken with has been able to identify.

The fish had a size, structure, and dimensions similar to a white tipped reef shark. However, it was gray with dark spots.

Our dive masters from Scuba Iguana said they first showed up four months or so ago. Our fish ID books for the area only list one spotted shark: a Galapagos bull shark, and this description does not fit. We saw three in a group, but unfortunately they were too far away for decent photos. I have checked out several other sources, but have not been able to come up with a match.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, especially with ScubaBoard back up and hopefully running!

 

[Mantasscareme]

Well, were this socal, I'd say it was a leopard shark http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_shark , but i don't think they get those in the Galapagos. Close relative maybe?

 

[scuba pirate]

Could they have been young tiger sharks? They have dark spots at a young age that tend to fade and blend into vertical lines as they get older. Check out the pictures on this page to see if it resembles what you saw.

http://www.marinebiodiversity.ca/shark/english/tiger_shark.htm

 

[danclem]

Thanks for the information. I will send it off to Scuba Iguana and see what they say. The immature tiger photo is the closest pattern, but these were fairly large animals.

Thanks again!

 

[isurus]

Thanks for the information. I will send it off to Scuba Iguana and see what they say. The immature tiger photo is the closest pattern, but these were fairly large animals.

Thanks again!

how large is fairly large? bear in mind just how big tigers get; juvies can still be fairly sizeable.

I guess another possibility is spotted houdshark; triakis maculata, which fits the description in terms of structure and pattern but tops out at a max of 240cm (around 7 feet).

http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.php?ID=5947