Diving on the island of Hierro with the great fortune of finding a sun ray shark

The Smalltooth Sand Tiger (Carcharias taurus) is a species of shark that belongs to the family Odontaspididae. It is also commonly known as the Spotted Raggedtooth or Grey Nurse Shark.

The Smalltooth Sand Tiger is found in coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, from the Gulf of Maine to Florida in the United States, and in the Gulf of Mexico. They can also be found in the Caribbean Sea, and as far south as Brazil.

They have a slender body, with a pointed snout and long, narrow teeth. They can grow up to 10 feet in length and can weigh up to 350 pounds. The Smalltooth Sand Tiger is usually gray or brown in color, with darker spots or blotches on their body.

These sharks are known to feed on a variety of prey, including small fish, squid, and crustaceans. They are also known to consume their own siblings in utero, a behavior known as intrauterine cannibalism.

The Smalltooth Sand Tiger is listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to overfishing and habitat destruction. Conservation efforts are being made to protect this species and its habitat.

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