What kind of Reef shark?

[UtopiaOnUtila]

On most nights we have a few sharks swimming around our dock at. We have always believed they are nurse sharks (by far the most prevalent sightings around Utila are Nurse Sharks, especially close to shore). Last week we went in to the water with snorkel gear while they were there and filmed this video:


We were excited (and surprised) to see that at least some of the sharks were not Nurse Sharks but Reef Sharks. But we are hoping the experts on this forum can (a) confirm it is indeed a Reef Shark and (b) tell us what kind it is (and what the characteristics are that distinguish it). Thanks for your feedback.

It is a little hard to tell them apart from the top of the dock, and if we hadn't gone in with them we may still have thought it is all Nurse Sharks.

 

[Killerflyingbugs]

That's a lemon shark, the 2nd dorsal fin being almost as big as the first and the yellow-ey brown color are give aways.

 

[UtopiaOnUtila]

Thank you

 

[Killerflyingbugs]

No problem at all.

 

[UtopiaOnUtila]

A follow up question: A local on Utila said the one reason it may not be a Lemon Shark is that their teeth are typically more visible. Especially on the 1st part of the video, the teeth don't seem to be visible at all. Any thoughts on that comment/question?

 

[Killerflyingbugs]

There is not a doubt in my mind that that shark is a lemon, If it was around 8 or nine feet then you may see some teeth hanging out but only little tips most of the tooth is covered by its gums. I am also 99% sure its a female shark.

 

[UtopiaOnUtila]

Thank you again for sharing your insights. My guess it it was about 6 foot (maybe 7 long). We are excited that there are sharks (other than nurse sharks) at our dock, and Lemon sharks are very rarely seen around Utila (unless they are being mis-identified as some other kind of shark). We are going to see if we can get a basic underwater webcam going to monitor them more closely (right now it is hard from the dock to tell what kind it is)

 

[Killerflyingbugs]

If you see a shark that looks about the same, but gray instead of yellow with a short second dorsal fin that's a bit bulkier that's a bull shark

 

[AmorForTheOcean]

A follow up question: A local on Utila said the one reason it may not be a Lemon Shark is that their teeth are typically more visible. Especially on the 1st part of the video, the teeth don't seem to be visible at all. Any thoughts on that comment/question?

I second the lemon shark ID. That second dorsal is all that matters, not the teeth showing or not.
I am also 99% it's a female.