Shark
Spotted Gully Shark
Triakis megalopterus
A harmless, grey-spotted houndshark endemic to southern Africa, common in the sandy gullies and reef edges it is named for.
Also known as gulley shark, gully shark, spotted gulley, spotted gully, sweet william
- Typical size
- Commonly 1.5-1.7 m
- Habitat
- Sandy gullies, reef edges and surf zone
- Depth
- Shallows to ~50 m
The spotted gully shark, or 'sweet william', is a slender houndshark endemic to southern Africa and one of the more benign sharks a diver will meet here. Grey with a scatter of small black spots, it patrols exactly the sandy gullies and reef margins the name suggests.
It feeds on crabs, small fish and cephalopods, poses no threat to divers, and is a resident inshore species rather than a migrant. Because its whole range sits on the southern African coast, it is a genuine local speciality on these dive spots.