Diagnosis: Carcharhinus leucas is a massive shark with a short, broad and blunt snout, small eyes and triangular saw-edged upper teeth, and lack of interdorsal ridge, characters which are sufficient to distinguish this species (Ref. 26938).

Description: A large carcharhinid characterized by its massive body, a very short and rounded snout and tiny, round eyes (Ref. 81283, 81623). Labial folds rudimentary, nasal flap broadly triangular (Ref. 81623). Teeth in the upper jaw are upright, strongly serrated, triangular and broad at their bases, with strongly denticulate edges; teeth in the lower jaw are more slender and pointed, their edges finely denticulate (Ref. 12484, 81283, 81623). Symphysial teeth present on both jaws; tooth formula 12-14/12-13 on each side of jaws (Ref. 81623). Spiracles absent, posterior lateral gill-slits overlapping origin of pectoral fins (Ref. 81623). First dorsal fin broad and triangular, slightly convex anteriorly but with a concave posterior margin; distinctly smaller than the second, less than 3.2 times height of second dorsal fin; beginning slightly before anal-fin origin; no interdorsal ridge (Ref. 5578, 81253, 81283, 81623). Second dorsal fin much smaller than first, situated over anal fin (Ref. 81623). Pectoral fins rather large and broad (Ref. 81623). Posterior margin of anal fin strongly concave (Ref. 81623). Precaudal vertebral centra 101-103, total vertebral centra 198-227 (Ref. 81623).

Colouration: The colour of the body is predominantly grey with a pale to white underside (Ref. 5578, 12484, 81623). Juveniles have black tips to their fins, which fade with age (Ref. 9997, 12484).