Animal Guide

Sandbar Shark

38 destinations · 23 states

Native Range: Warm coastal waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans

The sandbar shark is a sturdy coastal shark with a broad dorsal fin and a body built for cruising along the seafloor. Its gray-brown coloring can make it blend into sandy bottoms, where it often searches for fish, rays, crabs, and other prey. Watch one in a large aquarium and you'll notice that it rarely needs to stop moving completely. Instead, it glides steadily through the water, making wide turns around the exhibit before passing close to the bottom again. Sandbar sharks are also known for their relatively large dorsal fin, which is easy to spot as they swim past. Young sharks often use shallow coastal habitats as nursery areas, where they can find shelter and food while growing. Despite their solid build, these sharks are not the fast, dramatic hunters often portrayed in films. Their everyday behavior is much more measured, with long stretches of cruising punctuated by quick changes in direction as they investigate their surroundings.

Sandbar Shark

Where to see Sandbar Shark

38 destinations across 23 states

38 destinations

ABQ BioPark Aquarium

Albuquerque, NM

Adventure Aquarium

Camden, NJ

Aquarium of the Pacific

Long Beach, CA

Audubon Aquarium

New Orleans, LA

Children's Aquarium Dallas

Dallas, TX

Downtown Aquarium

Houston, TX

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta, GA

Greater Cleveland Aquarium

Cleveland, OH

Greensboro Science Center

Greensboro, NC

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Kansas City, MO

Key West Aquarium

Key West, FL

Long Island Aquarium

Riverhead, NY

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Draper, UT

Maui Ocean Center

Wailuku, HI

Mississippi Aquarium

Gulfport, MS

Moody Gardens

Galveston, TX

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

Sarasota, FL

National Aquarium

Baltimore, MD

New York Aquarium

Brooklyn, NY

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

Pine Knoll Shores, NC

OdySea Aquarium

Scottsdale, AZ

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

Omaha, NE

Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, SC

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Gatlinburg, TN

SEA LIFE at Mall of America

Bloomington, MN

Sea Life Park Hawaii

Waimanalo Beach, HI

SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando, FL

SeaWorld San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

Las Vegas, NV

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago, IL

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Vallejo, CA

St. Louis Aquarium

St. Louis, MO

Tennessee Aquarium

Chattanooga, TN

Texas State Aquarium

Corpus Christi, TX

The Dallas World Aquarium

Dallas, TX

The Seas with Nemo & Friends

Lake Buena Vista, FL

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Virginia Beach, VA

Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium

Springfield, MO

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