Juvenile bull sharks 'Carcharhinus leucas' (Valenciennes, 1839) in northern Australian rivers

Juvenile bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas , ranging in total length from 687 mm to 1365 mm, were captured in riverine waters throughout the Northern Territory and Kimberley region.Western Australia.Carcharhinus leucas was captured in highest abundance in low salinity riverine waters (<5 ppt), however, none were captured in offshore marine waters.The rivers of northern Australia act as nurseries for juvenile C. leucas within which individuals remain for approximately four years.Assuming annuli present on vertebrae were laid down annually and a birth size of approximately 700 mm TL, growth estimates suggest that C. leucas attains 863 mm TL in its first year, 993 mm TL in its second year, 1118 mm TL in its third year and 1239 mm TL in its fourth year.Stomach content analysis indicated a broad diet with the consumption of large amounts of teleost fishes within those systems, as well as numerous other prey types including terrestrial mammals, aquatic insects and other elasmobranchs.