What is "bull shark"

n. A shark, ''Carcharhinus leucas'', that is common in both temperate and tropical coastal waters.

n. a most common shark in temperate and tropical coastal waters worldwide; heavy-bodied and dangerous [syn: cub shark, Carcharhinus leucas]

The Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), also known as the Zambezi shark or, unofficially, as Zambi in Africa and Nicaragua shark in Nicaragua, is a Requiem shark commonly found worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers. The bull shark is known for its aggressive nature, predilection for warm shallow water, and presence in brackish and freshwater systems including estuaries and rivers.

Bull sharks can thrive in both saltwater and freshwater and can travel far up rivers. They have been known to travel as far up the Mississippi River as Illinois, although there have been few recorded freshwater human-shark interactions. They are probably responsible for the majority of near-shore shark attacks, including many bites attributed to other species.

Unlike the River sharks of the genus Glyphis, Bull sharks are not true freshwater sharks, despite their ability to survive in freshwater habitats.