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Glite Dictionary
Carcharias taurus

Carcharias taurus

9.9
A large shark with sharp, jagged teeth that lives in shallow coastal waters
  • noun
  • /kɑrˈkeɪəriəs ˈtɔrəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tiburón tigre de arena
  • The Carcharias taurus is known for its distinctive sharp, jagged teeth that help it catch prey.

Examples

  • Scientists track the migration patterns of Carcharias taurus to better understand their behavior.

  • Divers often spot the Carcharias taurus lurking near rocky reefs and wrecks.

  • The Carcharias taurus is sometimes mistakenly believed to be very aggressive.

  • The Carcharias taurus is often seen near the shore.

  • Did you know that the Carcharias taurus has jagged teeth?

  • While swimming off the coast, we spotted a Carcharias taurus gliding gracefully through the water.

  • Marine biologists often study the Carcharias taurus to understand its role in the coastal ecosystem.

Synonyms

sand tiger
vsCarcharias taurus
  • US
1 8.2

A large shark with sharp jagged teeth that lives in shallow water near the coast

focuses on species identity and both sides Atlantic distribution
sand shark
vsCarcharias taurus
  • US
1 6.7

A shark with sharp jagged teeth that lives in shallow water near the coast

highlights larger size and both sides coastal range rather than generic Atlantic presence
Odontaspis taurus
vsCarcharias taurus
  • Specialized
9.9

A large shark with sharp teeth that lives near Atlantic coasts and sometimes comes near swimmers

notes broader coastal distribution and larger predatory character

Surface Forms

Carcharias taurus singular
Carcharias tauri plural

Morphology

Carcharias + taurus

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species). If a learner knows 'Carcharias' as a genus of sand sharks they can infer it names a species of shark, but the species epithet 'taurus' and the specific common-name sense (sand tiger shark) are taxonomic labels rather than compositional meanings, so the full, specific sense is not derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Carcharias taurus may come from old words: Carcharias meaning 'shark' and taurus meaning 'bull'. People likely used 'bull' because the shark looks big and strong with large, sharp teeth like horns, so the name fits this large hunting shark.