Galápagos Shark

Galápagos Shark

Carcharhinus galapagensis

30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Galápagos Islands
84 Verified records at Galápagos Islands
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, found worldwide. It favors clear reef environments around oceanic islands, where it is often the most abundant shark species. A large species that often reaches 3.0 m (9.8 ft), the Galapagos reef shark has a typical fusiform "reef shark" shape and is very difficult to distinguish from the dusky shark (C. obscurus) and the grey reef shark (C. amblyrhynchos). An identifying character of this species is its tall first dorsal fin, which has a slightly rounded tip and originates over the rear tips of the pectoral fins. The Galapagos shark is an active predator often encountered in large groups. It feeds mainly on bottom-dwelling bony fishes and cephalopods; larger individuals have a much more varied diet, consuming other sharks, marine iguanas, sea lions, and even garbage. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Galápagos Shark sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 84 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
40–50
Feb
50–60
Mar
20–30
Apr
40–50
May
50–60
Jun
30–40
Jul
40–50
Aug
20–30
Sep
50–60
Oct
30–40
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
30–40%
2 Isla del Coco National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Galápagos Shark in Galápagos Islands?

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Galápagos Shark sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 84 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Galápagos Shark in Galápagos Islands?

October has the highest sighting rate for Galápagos Shark in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.

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