Galápagos Shark
Carcharhinus galapagensis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassElasmobranchii
- OrderCarcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
- FamilyCarcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks)
- GenusCarcharhinus (Typical Requiem Sharks)
- SpeciesCarcharhinus galapagensis (Galápagos Shark)
The Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, found worldwide. It favors clear reef environments around oceanic islands, where it is often the most abundant shark species. A large species that often reaches 3.0 m (9.8 ft), the Galapagos reef shark has a typical fusiform "reef shark" shape and is very difficult to distinguish from the dusky shark (C. obscurus) and the grey reef shark (C. amblyrhynchos). An identifying character of this species is its tall first dorsal fin, which has a slightly rounded tip and originates over the rear tips of the pectoral fins. The Galapagos shark is an active predator often encountered in large groups. It feeds mainly on bottom-dwelling bony fishes and cephalopods; larger individuals have a much more varied diet, consuming other sharks, marine iguanas, sea lions, and even garbage. Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Galápagos Shark sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 84 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands
Requiem shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Silky Shark
Carcharhinus falciformis
Silvertip Shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Scalloped Hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
spotted houndshark
Triakis maculata
White-margin Fin Hound Shark
Mustelus albipinnis
hammerhead
Sphyrna zygaena
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Isla del Coco National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Galápagos Shark in Galápagos Islands?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Galápagos Shark sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 84 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Galápagos Shark in Galápagos Islands?
October has the highest sighting rate for Galápagos Shark in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.