Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
Sighting evidence at Casamance Estuary, Senegal
Photo: Luis P. B. · CC BY-NC
The Casamance is one of the few places in West Africa where bull sharks use estuarine habitat as a pupping and nursery ground, exploiting the low-salinity environment where few marine predators can follow. Juveniles are most common during rainy season when river discharge peaks, and their presence here is a strong indicator of a healthy estuarine ecosystem. Bull sharks have exceptional osmoregulatory ability, allowing them to penetrate far upstream and utilise the estuary's abundant fish and invertebrate prey.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Bull Shark is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.