lil charcoal grey shark?

[raposarose]

I was snorkeling recently over at La Jolla Cove in San Diego and I saw, from about 15 feet away, what appeared to be a charcoal grey shark of about 3.5 feet long, with a white tip on its dorsal fin.

I couldn't find it on some field ID sites. Now I wonder if my eyes deceived me.

What could it have been? Is there any critter around here that fits that description?

(It was not a horn shark or leopard shark.)

 

[archman]

Maybe it's just dirty.

 

[Kim]

It sounds like a White Tip Reef Shark(Triaenodon obesus).

http://www.scuba-equipment-usa.com/marine/JAN04/White_Tip_Reef_Shark(Triaenodon_obesus).html

 

[PhotoTJ]

A spiny dogfish, with some dorsel scarring? I'm no expert, nor do I play one on TV, but I don't think the white tips reef's range makes it into temperate waters.

 

[archman]

I didn't want to be the one to suggest the reef whitetip in california waters, but that's what my guess would've been too.

 

[Kim]

I agree that the location is a bit off - but it was a fairly classic description. Also normally in warmer waters - but who knows - a juvenile silver tip? (normally shallow - likes coves).

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Sounds like a gray Smoothound, which are common in the shallows from Orange County to San Diego.

 

[raposarose]

Thanks for all of your replies. I have been searching online for pictures. The body type of a nurse shark seems to fit. It was not a slender, long shark. A little more stout and short. I just am not sure if the white tip fits with some type of nurse shark. Could have been the light or something I guess unless some type of nurse shark has a couple of spots sometimes.

 

[John H. Moore]

If not a slender, long shark like a gray smoothhound (most obvious choice), then perhaps a juvenile soupfin shark? Did you see the tail? Was it notched?

http://divebums.com/FishID/Pages/soupfin_shark.html

The white tip bit seems like it ought to be ignored... funny light or funky abnormal coloring on an individual... otherwise it's a real problem for SoCal.

According to my "Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras of California" (Ebert, 2003), oceanic whitetips are rarely seen in California, generally offshore in warm water years. I would think that a whitetip reef shark would be even more problematic.

Meanwhile, they really shouldn't be doing TEST tornado warnings today when we've had real tornado warnings recently and big thunderstorms. Don't be scaring us, folks!

John (used to be in San Diego, now in Wisconsin)

 

[John H. Moore]

To view soupfins (adult size) in motion: http://divebums.com/Video/ -- sixth video from the bottom, "Soupfin Sharks at the Cove"