Eastern Atlantic: Nigeria. Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden, South Africa, Madagascar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Often confused with sympatric Carcharhinus leucas and Glyphis gangeticus but the three are distinguishable.

A massive shark with a thick-set head, a short, broad and blunt snout, small eyes and large, triangular, saw-edged upper teeth; 1st dorsal fin high and erect, at leas 3.2 times height of 2nd dorsal fin; no interdorsal ridge. Grayish in color, white below; fins with dusky tips.

An inshore species of the continental and insular shelves, commonly inhabiting shallow waters close inshore, near the surf line and along beaches. May also be found in shallow bays and estuaries, as well as off the open coast but not ascending rivers. Predominantly demersal but found throughout the water column. Feeds on pelagic and demersal bony fishes, sharks and rays, squid, shrimps, cuttlefish, octopi, lobsters, gastropods and mammalian carrion.