Are you curious about the different types of sharks that exist in the world? Sharks are fascinating creatures that come in various shapes and sizes, and they play an essential role in the ocean’s ecosystem. According to different sources, there are between 400 to 535 species of sharks in the world.
Sharks are grouped into eight main categories, each with significant differences. In this article, we will explore 25 of the most unique shark species on Earth, which will show just how different and interesting sharks can be. Let’s dive in and learn more about these incredible creatures!
You are reading: Types Of Sharks 25 Shark Species You Must Know
Types Of Sharks 25 Shark Species You Must Know
Great White Shark
The great white shark, also known as the white shark, is a species of large mackerel shark that can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans. It is the only known surviving species of its genus Carcharodon.
Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish on Earth, growing to an average of 15 feet in length, though specimens exceeding 20 feet and weighing up to 5,000 pounds have been recorded. They have slate-gray upper bodies to blend in with the rocky coastal sea floor, but they get their name from their white underbellies.
Great white sharks have rows of up to 300 serrated, triangular teeth. They are apex predators with very few natural threats, but human-made threats such as bycatch and the cruel practice of shark finning have had a significant impact on the white shark’s population status.
Great white sharks play an important role at the top of the marine food chain. Despite their fame and reputation, little is actually known about the great white shark’s biology and behavior.
Goblin Shark
The goblin shark is a rare and fascinating species of deep-sea shark that is the only extant representative of the family Mitsukurinidae, a lineage some 125 million years old.
Here are some interesting facts about the goblin shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The goblin shark has a distinctively shaped snout that is shovel-like in appearance.
– Its mouth is protrusible, meaning it can retract to a position under the eye or extend forward under the snout.
– The goblin shark has a flabby body and a tail with a weakly developed lower lobe.
– The species has long, pointed teeth that are visible even when the mouth is fully closed.
Habitat and Behavior
– Goblin sharks live in the open ocean from near the surface down to depths of at least 4265 feet (1300 m).
– They are believed to only come near the surface at night and spend most of their lives in the dark.
– The goblin shark is sluggish in nature and not a fast swimmer.
– It is an ambush predator that forages for food both near the sea floor and far above it.
– The goblin shark hunts for teleost fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans.
– Its long snout is covered with ampullae of Lorenzini that enable it to sense minute electric fields produced by nearby prey, which it can snatch up by rapidly extending its jaws.
Conservation Status
– The goblin shark is not considered dangerous to humans.
– Live goblin sharks have only rarely been observed and almost never captured, so little is known about their population status.
– The species is not currently listed as endangered, but it is vulnerable to overfishing and habitat destruction.
Speartooth Shark
The speartooth shark, also known as the Bizant river shark, is a rare species of river shark that belongs to the family Carcharhinidae. Here are some interesting facts about the speartooth shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The speartooth shark has a uniformly slate-gray dorsal surface and a white ventral surface.
– It has a long, slender body and a pointed snout.
– The line between the white and gray body coloration runs along the lower edge of the eye, and there is a black blotch on the pectoral fin tips.
– The maximum size of this species was historically labeled with considerable uncertainty, but in 2014, the first known adults were documented, and on this basis, it reaches a length of around 2.6 m (8.5 ft).
Habitat and Behavior
– The speartooth shark inhabits coastal marine waters and tidal reaches of large tropical rivers in northern Australia and New Guinea.
– It is adapted for hunting in near-complete darkness and preys on demersal bony fishes and crustaceans.
– The speartooth shark is not as active as other requiem sharks, moving upstream and downstream with tidal currents to save energy.
– Reproduction is viviparous, with females forming a placental connection to their young, though details are unknown.
Conservation Status
– The speartooth shark is listed as critically endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
– It is threatened by incidental capture in commercial and recreational fisheries, as well as by habitat degradation.
– The speartooth shark is a very rare species found in both freshwater and saltwater.
Spotted Wobbegong
The spotted wobbegong is a species of carpet shark that belongs to the family Orectolobidae and is endemic to Australia. Here are some interesting facts about the spotted wobbegong:
Physical Characteristics
– The spotted wobbegong has a large, robust body that thins beyond its pelvic fins.
– It grows in the range of 150–180 centimeters (59–71 in), but can reach 320 centimeters (130 in).
– It is green, yellow, or brown in color, with a darker back and darker saddles.
– It is covered with O-shaped spots, which distinguish it from other species that look similar to it.
– It has six to ten dermal lobes behind and in front of its eye and a tubercle above its eye.
– Its body lacks ridges or caudal keels.
Habitat and Behavior
– The spotted wobbegong is a nocturnal ambush predator that uses its spotted pattern, beard of fleshy tassels, and elongated fins to blend in perfectly with its surroundings.
– It lives in shallow coastal waters down to about 100 meters (328 feet) deep and is often found lying on sand or rocky reef bottoms.
– The species is widely distributed in subtropical and temperate Australian waters.
– The spotted wobbegong is ovoviviparous, giving birth in the spring, during which time males can act aggressively towards other males and females.
– It preys on demersal bony fishes and crustaceans.
Conservation Status
– The spotted wobbegong is fished commercially in Australia, but it is not severely threatened.
– It is listed as a least-concern species on the IUCN Red List.
– The species is often caught as bycatch in trawls and lobster pots, as well as spearfishing.
– In New South Wales, the species was targeted in the early 90s by trawl fisheries, and after numbers declined locally, it was listed as “vulnerable”.
– After a biological review, new bag and size limits were implemented, and the population stabilized.
Tiger Shark
The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large, potentially dangerous shark that is found worldwide in warm oceans, from the shoreline to the open sea. Here are some interesting facts about the tiger shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The tiger shark is named for the characteristic dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles.
– As these sharks mature, the lines begin to fade and almost disappear.
– The tiger shark is a large macropredator, with females being capable of attaining a length of over 5 meters (16 feet 5 inches).
– It has a long, pointed upper tail lobe and large, saw-edged teeth that are deeply notched along one side.
– The tiger shark is grayish and patterned, when young, with dark spots and vertical bars.
Habitat and Behavior
– The tiger shark is a solitary, mostly nocturnal hunter.
– It is notable for having the widest food spectrum of all sharks, with a range of prey that includes crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, squid, turtles, sea snakes, dolphins, and even other, smaller sharks.
– The tiger shark is an omnivorous feeder that sometimes damages the nets and catches of fishermen.
– It has also been known to swallow coal, tin cans, bones, and clothing.
– Tiger sharks are second only to the great white shark in the number of shark attacks on humans.
Conservation Status
– The tiger shark is a valuable commercial species in U.S. federal waters, with marketable flesh, hide, fins, and liver.
– It is not currently listed as endangered, but it is considered near threatened by the IUCN Red List due to overfishing and habitat degradation.
– The species is protected in some areas, including Australia, the Bahamas, and the United States.
Scalloped Hammerhead
The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a species of hammerhead shark that is found worldwide in warm oceans, from the shoreline to the open sea. Here are some interesting facts about the scalloped hammerhead:
Physical Characteristics
– The most distinguishing characteristic of the scalloped hammerhead is its “hammer-shaped” head, which is its most distinguishing characteristic.
– The shark’s eyes and nostrils are at the tips of the extensions, and it has a central indentation on the anterior margin of the head, which gives the “scalloped” look.
– The scalloped hammerhead is a fairly large hammerhead, but is still smaller than both the great and smooth hammerheads.
– They have a very large first dorsal fin that is slightly hooked and a smaller second dorsal fin.
– Scalloped hammerhead sharks are typically uniform grey, grayish brown, bronze, or olive with a white underside for countershading.
Habitat and Behavior
– Like all hammerhead sharks, the scalloped hammerhead is an active predator and gains several advantages from the shape of its head.
– The widely spaced eyes, nostrils, and other senses allow the scalloped hammerhead to more successfully locate its prey near, or buried in, the sea floor.
– The scalloped hammerhead may use its head to pin stingrays to the bottom, allowing them to successfully eat those difficult to capture species.
– Finally, like most sharks, the scalloped hammerhead has special sensory cells that it can use to detect the electric field given off by all other fishes.
– The scalloped hammerhead is commercially fished, mainly for the shark fin trade, and is listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Conservation Status
– Two distinct population segments of the scalloped hammerhead shark are listed as endangered and two are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
– The scalloped hammerhead is threatened by commercial fishing, mainly for the shark fin trade.
– The IUCN lists scalloped hammerheads as “Critically Endangered”.
– The species is readily accessible to inshore fishers as well as offshore commercial operations, and its tendency to aggregate in large groups makes capture in large numbers on longlines, bottom nets, and trawls even easier.
Basking Shark
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The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second-largest living shark and fish, after the whale shark, and one of three plankton-eating shark species, along with the whale shark and megamouth shark. Here are some interesting facts about the basking shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The basking shark has a large, thick body, with a pointed snout and enormous gill slits that run from the back to the middle of the throat.
– It has a conical snout and a crescent-shaped tail.
– The shark’s eyes are small and its teeth are tiny and numerous.
– Adults typically reach 7.9 meters (26 feet) in length, but can grow up to 12.2 meters (40 feet).
– The basking shark is grayish-brown in color and has a white underside.
Habitat and Behavior
– The basking shark is a slow-moving filter feeder that feeds on zooplankton, small fish, and invertebrates.
– It has anatomical adaptations for filter-feeding, such as a greatly enlarged mouth and highly developed gill rakers.
– The basking shark is a coastal-pelagic shark found worldwide in boreal to warm-temperate waters.
– It lives around the continental shelf and occasionally enters brackish waters.
– The basking shark is often seen close to land, including in bays with narrow openings.
– The basking shark is a ram feeder, filtering zooplankton, very small fish, and invertebrates from the water.
Conservation Status
– The basking shark is not considered a threat to humans.
– The species is commercially fished, mainly for the shark fin trade, and is listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
– Basking sharks are also at risk of becoming bycatch (caught unintentionally during fishing for a different species), entangled in fishing gear, or being struck and potentially killed by commercial or recreational boats.
– The basking shark is listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List.
Silky Shark
The silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) is a species of requiem shark that is found in tropical and warm-temperate waters around the world. Here are some interesting facts about the silky shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The silky shark is a large, slim shark with a moderately long, rounded snout and an interdorsal ridge.
– It can be distinguished from other large requiem sharks by its relatively small first dorsal fin with a curving rear margin, its tiny second dorsal fin with a long free rear tip, and its long, sickle-shaped pectoral fins.
– The silky shark is a deep, metallic bronze-gray above and white below.
– It grows up to 3.5 meters (11 feet 6 inches) in length.
Habitat and Behavior
– The silky shark is a pelagic species that is found in the open ocean, often far from shore.
– It is a highly migratory species that travels long distances across ocean basins.
– The silky shark is a social species that forms large schools, sometimes with other shark species.
– It feeds on a variety of prey, including small bony fishes, squid, and pelagic crustaceans.
– In the warm-temperate waters of the Gulf of Mexico, silky sharks breed during the summer months (June, July, and August), with females giving birth to 2 to 14 offspring.
Conservation Status
– The silky shark is listed as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List globally, but “Vulnerable” in some regions.
– The species is commercially fished for its meat, fins, and liver oil, and is also caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– The silky shark is protected in some areas, including the waters of the European Union, the United States, and the Maldives.
– The species is also listed on Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
Bonnethead Shark
The bonnethead shark (Sphyrna tiburo) is a small member of the hammerhead shark genus Sphyrna, and part of the family Sphyrnidae. Here are some interesting facts about the bonnethead shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The bonnethead shark is the smallest of the 10 hammerhead shark species.
– It has a unique head shape that is shovel-like, with eyes at the far ends of the head.
– The bonnethead shark is gray-brown in color and has a white underside.
– It grows up to 4 feet in length.
Habitat and Behavior
– The bonnethead shark is an active tropical shark that swims in small groups of five to 15 individuals, although schools of hundreds or even thousands have been reported.
– They move constantly following changes in water temperature and to maintain respiration.
– The bonnethead shark is the only shark species known to be omnivorous, feeding on seagrass and small invertebrates, as well as small fish and crustaceans.
– The species is abundant in the littoral zone of the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.
Conservation Status
– The bonnethead shark was formerly classified as a least-concern species by the IUCN, but its conservation status is currently under review.
– The species is heavily fished for its meat, fins, and liver oil, and is also caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– Bonnetheads are often caught in shrimp trawls, longlines, and by recreational anglers, though they are not targeted.
– The meat is marketed for human consumption as well as processed into fishmeal, but the species is of little economic importance.
– Recreationally, bonnetheads can provide great sport on light tackle or fly fishing gear.
Frilled Shark
The frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) is a primitive, deepwater-dwelling shark that is considered a living fossil due to its primitive, anguilliform (eel-like) physical traits. Here are some interesting facts about the frilled shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The frilled shark has a long, eel-like body that can reach up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) in length.
– It has a flattened, snake-like head with a very short snout and a large terminal mouth.
– The shark has six pairs of gill slits at the throat, which give it a fringed appearance and its common name.
– The frilled shark has a dark-brown color and dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins located towards the tail.
Habitat and Behavior
– The frilled shark is a deepwater-dwelling species that lives in the open ocean and spends much of its time in deep, dark waters far below the sea surface.
– The species is rarely encountered by humans and is usually a bycatch of commercial fishing, accidentally caught in the nets used for trawl-, gillnet-, and longline-fishing.
– The frilled shark is an active predator that feeds on squid and other small fish and invertebrates.
– The shark has several rows of long teeth, each with three long points, that are perfect for snagging the soft bodies of its prey.
– Little is known about the population trends of frilled sharks, but they are believed to be vulnerable to overfishing and habitat degradation.
Conservation Status
– The frilled shark is listed as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List.
– The species is heavily fished for its meat, fins, and liver oil, and is also caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– The frilled shark is protected in some areas, including the waters of Japan and Australia.
– The species is considered a living fossil and is of scientific interest due to its primitive physical traits.
Common Thresher Shark
The common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) is the largest species of thresher shark, reaching up to 6 meters (20 feet) in length. Here are some interesting facts about the common thresher shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The common thresher shark has a streamlined body, a short pointed snout, and modestly sized eyes.
– About half of its length consists of the elongated upper lobe of its caudal fin, which gives it a unique appearance.
– The shark is gray-brown in color and has a white underside.
– The common thresher shark is often confused with the pelagic thresher (A. pelagicus), but can be distinguished by its white belly, which extends in a band over the bases of its pectoral fins.
Habitat and Behavior
– The common thresher shark is a pelagic species that is found in the open ocean, often far from shore.
– It is a fast swimmer and a powerful leaper, capable of generating and maintaining body heat better than most other sharks.
– The common thresher shark is an aggressive predator that feeds near the top of the food chain on schooling fish such as herring and mackerel, as well as squid and seabirds.
– The species is vulnerable to overfishing and habitat degradation, and is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List.
Conservation Status
– The common thresher shark is heavily fished for its meat, fins, and liver oil, and is also caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– The species is listed in CITES Appendix II, which means it cannot be exported without a permit.
– The common thresher shark is protected in some regions, such as California, and is managed sustainably in the United States under NOAA Fisheries regulations.
Sandbar Shark
The sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) is a species of requiem shark, and part of the family Carcharhinidae, native to the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific. Here are some interesting facts about the sandbar shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The sandbar shark is one of the biggest coastal sharks in the world, and is closely related to the dusky shark, the bignose shark, and the bull shark.
– Its dorsal fin is triangular and very high, and it has very long pectoral fins.
– Sandbar sharks usually have heavy-set bodies and rounded snouts that are shorter than the average shark’s snout.
– The sandbar shark can grow up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in length.
Habitat and Behavior
– The sandbar shark is a coastal-pelagic species that inhabits temperate and tropical waters.
– It is the most abundant species of large shark in the western North Atlantic.
– Sandbar sharks are highly migratory and often live in “mixed-sex” schools in shallow, coastal nursery grounds as juveniles.
– In the winter, they move to warmer waters offshore.
– The sandbar shark feeds primarily on small fish in the bottom of the water column and is considered harmless to humans.
Conservation Status
– The sandbar shark is listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List.
– The species is heavily fished for its meat, fins, and liver oil, and is also caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– Sandbar sharks are often caught in commercial and recreational fisheries, and their populations have declined significantly in some areas.
– The species is protected in some regions, such as the United States, where it is illegal to harvest sandbar sharks without a permit.
Lemon Shark
The lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) is a species of shark from the family Carcharhinidae and is classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Here are some interesting facts about the lemon shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The lemon shark is a large, stocky shark with a blunt nose and two dorsal fins of similar size.
– The first dorsal fin is low and positioned posterior to the pectoral fins, while the second dorsal is of similar shape and size and positioned anterior to the origin of the anal fin.
– The shark’s pelvic fin has weakly concave rear margins and the pectoral fin outer margin is slightly convex.
– The lemon shark is yellow-brown to olive in color, which provides perfect camouflage against sandy in-shore areas where it often forages for food.
– The species can grow up to 3.4 meters (11 feet) in length.
Habitat and Behavior
– The lemon shark is often found in shallow subtropical waters and is known to inhabit and return to specific nursery sites for breeding.
– The species is a powerful predator of bony fish, crustaceans, and stingrays, and occasionally eats seabirds or smaller sharks.
– Lemon sharks use electroreceptors to find their main source of prey: fish, and are known to feed at night.
– The lemon shark inhabits the Nearctic region of the Atlantic Ocean, from the coast of New Jersey, USA to southern Brazil, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
– The species is targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries throughout its range and is listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN Red List.
Conservation Status
– The lemon shark is heavily fished for its meat, fins, and liver oil, and is also caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– The species is listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List.
– The lemon shark is protected in some regions, such as the United States, where it is illegal to harvest lemon sharks without a permit.
– The species is of scientific interest due to its unique physical traits and is often studied by researchers.
Broadnose Sevengill Shark
The broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) is a large, coastal shark that is the only extant member of the genus Notorynchus, in the family Hexanchidae. Here are some interesting facts about the broadnose sevengill shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The broadnose sevengill shark is a large species with a thick body, broad head, and blunt snout.
– The dorsal surface is silver-gray to brown and the ventral side is pale.
– The species is recognizable because of its seven gill slits, while most shark species have five gill slits.
– The broadnose sevengill shark can grow up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) in length.
Habitat and Behavior
– The broadnose sevengill shark is a coastal species that inhabits bays, estuaries, and deep channels in offshore waters.
– The species uses bays and estuaries as important nursery grounds for its pups, and adults appear to return to the same coastal bays.
– The broadnose sevengill shark is a slow-moving predator that feeds on a variety of prey, including fish, squid, and crustaceans.
– The species is not considered dangerous to humans, but it can be aggressive when provoked.
Conservation Status
– The broadnose sevengill shark is listed as “Data Deficient” on the IUCN Red List.
– The species is heavily fished for its meat, fins, and liver oil, and is also caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– The broadnose sevengill shark is protected in some regions, such as California, where it is illegal to harvest broadnose sevengill sharks without a permit.
– The species is of scientific interest due to its unique physical traits and is often studied by researchers.
Japanese Sawshark
The Japanese sawshark (Pristiophorus japonicus) is a species of sawshark in the family Pristiophoridae. Here are some interesting facts about the Japanese sawshark:
Physical Characteristics
– The Japanese sawshark has a long, narrow rostrum that is studded with teeth.
– The rostrum is about a third of the shark’s total length.
– The shark has 15-26 large rostral teeth on each side of the rostrum in front of the barbels.
– The first dorsal fin originates behind the tips of the pectoral fins, and its caudal fin is angled almost straight in line with the body.
– The Japanese sawshark reaches a maximum length of up to 1.36 meters (4 feet 6 inches).
Habitat and Behavior
– The Japanese sawshark is found in the western Pacific Ocean, from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
– The species inhabits silt sea floors from the coast to deep sea areas.
– The Japanese sawshark is a benthic species that feeds on small fish and invertebrates.
– The species is not considered dangerous to humans.
Conservation Status
– With little information on population size or frequency of bycatch, the Japanese sawshark is listed by the IUCN Red List as being Least Concern.
– Due to its benthic lifestyle, and because the range of this shark is heavily fished, it is safe to assume that the Japanese sawshark is at considerable risk of being overfished.
Whale Shark
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest known extant fish species and a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark. Here are some interesting facts about the whale shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The whale shark is the largest living fish species, with the largest confirmed individual having a length of 18.8 meters (61.7 feet).
– The shark has a broad, flat head, a short snout, and a huge transverse, terminal mouth almost as wide as a person.
– The body coloration is distinctive, with light vertical and horizontal stripes forming a checkerboard pattern on a dark background, and light spots marking the fins and dark areas of the body.
– The whale shark is a filter feeder, with a unique feeding mechanism that involves opening its mouth wide and filtering plankton and small fish from the water.
Habitat and Behavior
– The whale shark is found in all tropical and warm temperate seas, except in the Mediterranean.
– The species is a slow swimmer and is often seen near the surface of the water.
– Whale sharks are solitary creatures, but they sometimes gather in large numbers in areas with abundant plankton food.
– The distribution of whale sharks indicates the presence of plankton and the overall health of our oceans.
– The species is not considered dangerous to humans and is often sought out by divers for its docile nature.
Conservation Status
– The whale shark is listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
– The species is heavily fished for its meat, fins, and oil, and is also caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– Whale shark tourism presents a threat to the species, as it can disrupt their natural behavior and habitat.
– The species is protected in some regions, such as the Philippines, where it is illegal to hunt or capture whale sharks.
Nurse Shark
Nurse sharks (Ginglymostomatidae) are a species of elasmobranch fish that are found in tropical and subtropical coastal waters of the Eastern Atlantic, Western Atlantic, and Eastern Pacific. Here are some interesting facts about nurse sharks:
Physical Characteristics
– Nurse sharks have a wide but patchy geographical distribution and can grow up to 14 feet in length.
– They have a flattened body and a broad, rounded head with two conspicuous barbels between the nostrils, which they use to find food.
– Nurse sharks have rows of small, serrated teeth for crushing hard-shelled prey.
– They are light yellowish-brown to dark brown in color, and some have small dark spots.
Habitat and Behavior
– Nurse sharks are slow-moving bottom-dwellers and are, for the most part, harmless to humans.
– They are ranked fourth in documented shark bites on humans, likely due to incautious behavior by divers on account of the nurse shark’s calm, sedentary nature.
– Nurse sharks are one of the species of sharks that are able to remain perfectly still, and they spend most of the daylight hours resting in caves or under ledges, sometimes in groups of several individuals.
– During the twilight hours and at night, they become much more active and feed on fishes, rays, and invertebrates.
– Nurse sharks are opportunistic predators that feed primarily on small fish (e.g. stingrays) and some invertebrates (e.g. crustaceans, molluscs) .
Conservation Status
– The conservation status of the nurse shark is globally assessed as Vulnerable in the IUCN List of Threatened Species.
– Nurse sharks are an important species for shark research, as they are robust and able to tolerate capture, handling, and tagging extremely well.
– The species is not targeted by fisheries throughout its range, but it is caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
Dwarf Lantern Shark
The dwarf lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi) is the smallest shark in the world, reaching a maximum known length of 20 cm (8 in) . Here are some interesting facts about the dwarf lanternshark:
Physical Characteristics
– The dwarf lanternshark has a slender body and a flattened head with a short, blunt snout.
– The shark has a dark brown to black coloration and a series of light-emitting organs called photophores along its belly and fins.
– The photophores help the shark camouflage when it feeds in shallower water, and in darker water, the light attracts smaller animals, which the shark preys upon.
– The dwarf lanternshark has big eyes (for a shark) to help it see in the mostly-dark waters of the ocean’s twilight zone.
Habitat and Behavior
– The dwarf lanternshark is found only on the upper continental slopes off Colombia and Venezuela.
– The species is rarely seen and little is known about it, having only been observed a few times.
– Dwarf lanternsharks are believed to feed on small fish and invertebrates.
– The species is not considered dangerous to humans.
Conservation Status
– The conservation status of the dwarf lanternshark is globally assessed as “Least Concern” in the IUCN List of Threatened Species.
– The species is not targeted by fisheries throughout its range, but it is caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
Cookiecutter Shark
The cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis), also known as the cigar shark, is a small squaliform shark in the family Dalatiidae. Here are some interesting facts about the cookiecutter shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The cookiecutter shark has a small cigar-shaped body with a short conical snout and unique suctorial lips.
– The shark has a dark brown to black coloration and a series of light-emitting organs called photophores along its belly and fins.
– The photophores help the shark camouflage when it feeds in shallower water, and in darker water, the light attracts smaller animals, which the shark preys upon.
– The cookiecutter shark is one of the smallest sharks, reaching a maximum length of only 20 inches (50 cm).
Habitat and Behavior
– The cookiecutter shark occurs in warm, oceanic waters worldwide, particularly near islands, and has been recorded as deep as 3.7 km (2.3 mi).
– The species migrates vertically up to 3 km (1.9 mi) every day, approaching the surface at dusk and descending with the dawn.
– The cookiecutter shark feeds by gouging round plugs, as if cut out with a cookie cutter, out of larger animals, including marine mammals, fishes, and even submarines.
– The shark has adaptations for hovering in the water column and likely relies on stealth and subterfuge to capture more active prey.
– The cookiecutter shark is a parasite, meaning it feeds off larger animals, without killing them.
Conservation Status
– The conservation status of the cookiecutter shark is globally assessed as “Least Concern” in the IUCN List of Threatened Species.
– The species is not targeted by fisheries throughout its range, but it is caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– The cookiecutter shark is not considered dangerous to humans, but there have been a few cases of bites on humans.
Megamouth Shark
The megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) is a species of deepwater shark that is the smallest of the three extant filter-feeding sharks, behind the whale shark and the basking shark. Here are some interesting facts about the megamouth shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The megamouth shark has a large head with rubbery lips and a wide, circular mouth that it uses to filter plankton and jellyfish from the water.
– The shark has a dark brown to black coloration and a series of light-emitting organs called photophores along its belly and fins.
– The megamouth shark is the smallest of the three extant filter-feeding sharks, measuring around 17 feet (5.2 meters) long.
– The species is so unlike any other type of shark that it is usually considered to be the sole extant species in the family Megachasmidae, though some scientists have suggested it may belong in the family Cetorhinidae.
Habitat and Behavior
– The megamouth shark is found in warm, oceanic waters worldwide, particularly near islands, and has been recorded as deep as 3.7 km (2.3 mi).
– The species is rarely seen by humans, and since its discovery in 1976, fewer than 100 specimens have been observed or caught.
– Megamouth sharks live from near the surface to as deep as 15,000 feet (4600 m), and like many species with a deep-sea affinity, scientists believe megamouth sharks only come near the surface at night and spend most of their lives in the dark.
– The species is a filter feeder, swimming with its mouth wide open, filtering water for plankton and jellyfish.
Conservation Status
– The conservation status of the megamouth shark is globally assessed as “Data Deficient” in the IUCN List of Threatened Species.
– The species is not targeted by commercial fishers, but it is often sold when captured accidentally in fisheries targeting other species.
– The megamouth shark is not considered dangerous to humans.
Australian Angelshark
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The Australian angelshark (Squatina australis) is a species of angelshark that is native to the continental shelf of southern Australia, being found along the coasts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales at depths down to about 130 meters (430 ft) . Here are some interesting facts about the Australian angelshark:
Physical Characteristics
– The Australian angelshark has a depressed body and large pectoral fins that are not fully joined to the head.
– It has a blunt snout and nostrils with skin flaps.
– The shark is a large, well-camouflaged greyish-brown to pale brownish angelshark with a whitish underside, and covered in small irregular pale spots.
– Male individuals are fully mature at around 800 millimeters (31 in) total length.
Habitat and Behavior
– The Australian angelshark is usually found on sandy or muddy seabeds and in seagrass meadows, often close to rocky reefs.
– The species is a nocturnal predator that feeds on bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods.
– The Australian angelshark is not considered dangerous to humans.
Conservation Status
– The Australian angelshark is listed by the IUCN in its Red List of Threatened Species as being of “Least Concern”.
– The fish is used for food, being marketed under the name of “monkfish”, but is not easily caught by line-fishing or netting because of its habit of lying still on the bottom.
Leopard Shark
The leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) is a species of houndshark that is found along the Pacific coast of North America, from the U.S. state of Oregon to Mazatlán in Mexico. Here are some interesting facts about the leopard shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The leopard shark is a slender-bodied shark that typically measures 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft) long.
– The shark is immediately identifiable by the striking pattern of black saddle-like markings and large spots over its back, from which it derives its common name.
– The leopard shark has a relatively broad and short snout, and the prominent rounded dorsal fin of this shark originates over the inner margins of its pectoral fins.
– The pectoral fins of the leopard shark are rather broad and roughly triangular in shape, and the upper lobe of the tail is notched and elongated.
– The shark has a silvery-bronze skin, patterned with distinctive dark spots and saddle-like markings on its dorsal side.
Habitat and Behavior
– The leopard shark is most commonly found in sandy or muddy bays and estuaries either at or near the bottom.
– The species is most commonly encountered in 20 feet (6.1 meters) of water or less but has been sighted up to 300 feet (91.4 meters) deep.
– Leopard sharks seem to prefer cool and warm temperate waters.
– The leopard shark is an active species that swims with a strong undulating motion, and is commonly spotted cruising in or just beyond the surf zone.
– The species is more active at night than during the day, and sometimes lies still on the bottom.
– In Tomales Bay (among other similar regions), the leopard shark follows the tide onto mudflats to forage for food, retreating just fast enough to prevent being stranded or trapped as the water recedes.
– The leopard shark feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.
Conservation Status
– The conservation status of the leopard shark is globally assessed as “Least Concern” in the IUCN List of Threatened Species.
– The species is not targeted by commercial fishers, but it is often caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– The leopard shark is not considered dangerous to humans.
Greenland Shark
The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is a large shark of the family Somniosidae, closely related to the Pacific and southern sleeper sharks. Here are some interesting facts about the Greenland shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The Greenland shark is one of the largest cartilaginous fishes, reaching a length of 7 meters (23 feet) and a weight of 1,025 kg (2,260 pounds) when fully grown.
– The shark has a dark brown to black coloration and a series of light-emitting organs called photophores along its belly and fins.
– The Greenland shark has a blunt snout and small eyes, and its body is covered in small, tooth-like scales called dermal denticles.
– The shark has a very slow growth rate, less than 1 cm per year, and can reach over 6 meters in size.
– The species is ovoviviparous, with females carrying a large number of soft-shelled eggs and eventually giving birth to full-term embryos.
Habitat and Behavior
– The Greenland shark is found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, and is rarely encountered by humans.
– The species is thought to prefer colder, deeper environments but may be found anywhere between the sea surface and depths of 2,200 meters (about 7,200 feet).
– Greenland sharks are slow-moving, typically swimming at rates of less than 3 km (about 1.9 miles) per hour.
– The species is carnivorous, and their diet is often made up of several different types of fishes, including smaller sharks, eels, flounders, and sculpins.
– The Greenland shark is the only shark that can withstand the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean year-round.
Conservation Status
– The conservation status of the Greenland shark is globally assessed as “Data Deficient” in the IUCN List of Threatened Species.
– The species is not targeted by commercial fishers, but it is often caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– The Greenland shark was historically hunted for its liver oil, but this practice has largely ceased.
Shortfin Mako Shark
The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is a large, predatory shark that lives in the open ocean and is commonly referred to as the mako shark. Here are some interesting facts about the shortfin mako shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The shortfin mako shark is cylindrical in shape, with a vertically elongated tail.
– The species exhibits countershading, with brilliant metallic blue coloration dorsally and white ventrally.
– The line of demarcation between blue and white on the body is distinct.
– The shark is sexually dimorphic, with females typically larger than males.
– An average adult specimen measures around 2.5 to 3.2 m (8.2 to 10.5 ft) in length and weighs from 135–230 kg (298–507 lb).
– Large specimens are known, with a few large, mature females exceeding a length of 3.8 m (12 ft) and a weight of 550 kg (1,210 lb).
Habitat and Behavior
– The shortfin mako shark is a pelagic species that is found worldwide in tropical and temperate waters.
– The species is highly migratory and can travel across entire oceans.
– Juveniles are common in coastal waters, from the low-tide line to the edge of the continental shelf, while adults are primarily found offshore.
– Shortfin mako sharks are aggressive predators that feed near the top of the food web on marine fishes such as bluefish, swordfish, tuna, marine mammals, and other sharks.
– They have few predators, mainly larger sharks that may prey on smaller shortfin mako sharks.
– The shortfin mako shark is the fastest shark and one of the fastest fishes on the planet, with top speeds of 45 miles per hour (74 kilometers per hour).
Conservation Status
– The conservation status of the shortfin mako shark is globally assessed as “Endangered” in the IUCN List of Threatened Species.
– The species is targeted commercially for its meat, fins, and liver oil, and is also caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– The shortfin mako shark is considered a vulnerable species due to its low reproductive rate and high susceptibility to overfishing.
Horn Shark
The horn shark (Heterodontus francisci) is a species of bullhead shark that is endemic to the coastal waters off the western coast of North America, from California to the Gulf of California. Here are some interesting facts about the horn shark:
Physical Characteristics
– The horn shark has a cylindrical body and a vertically elongated tail.
– The shark has a dark brown to gray coloration with a distinctive pattern of dark saddles and white spots.
– The species has two dorsal fins, each with a sharp spine, and should be handled with care.
– The horn shark can grow up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) in length.
Habitat and Behavior
– The horn shark is a slow-moving, nocturnal species that scavenges close to shore and returns to the same resting place each day.
– The species is found in rocky and kelp-covered areas, from the low-tide line to the edge of the continental shelf.
– Horn sharks are very inactive creatures and spend most of their time resting on the bottom.
– The species feeds on small fishes, crustaceans, and mollusks.
Conservation Status
– The conservation status of the horn shark is globally assessed as “Least Concern” in the IUCN List of Threatened Species.
– The species is not targeted by commercial fishers, but it is often caught as bycatch in other fisheries.
– Horn sharks are captured by divers for sport and for the large fin spines, which are made into jewelry.
– The species is also used for display in public aquaria in the United States.
FAQS
1. What is the largest shark species?
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest known extant fish species and can grow up to 18.8 meters (61.7 feet) in length.
2. What is the smallest shark species?
The dwarf lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi) is the smallest shark in the world, reaching a maximum known length of 20 cm (8 in).
3. Are all shark species dangerous to humans?
No, not all shark species are dangerous to humans. Some species, such as the nurse shark, are relatively harmless to humans.
4. What is the fastest shark species?
The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is the fastest shark and one of the fastest fishes on the planet, with top speeds of 45 miles per hour (74 kilometers per hour).
5. What is the most endangered shark species?
The conservation status of the shortfin mako shark is globally assessed as “Endangered” in the IUCN List of Threatened Species.
6. What is the most common shark species?
The most common shark species is difficult to determine, as it depends on the location and habitat. However, some of the most commonly encountered species include the blacktip shark, the lemon shark, and the sand tiger shark.
7. What is the most unique shark species?
The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is one of the most unique shark species, as it is one of the largest cartilaginous fishes, has a very slow growth rate, and can withstand the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean year-round.
8. What is the most popular shark species for consumption?
The most popular shark species for consumption is the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), which is used for fish and chips and other seafood dishes.
9. What is the most commonly hunted shark species?
The most commonly hunted shark species is the blue shark (Prionace glauca), which is targeted for its meat, fins, and liver oil.
10. What is the most commonly caught shark species as bycatch?
The most commonly caught shark species as bycatch is the smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis), which is often caught in commercial fisheries targeting other species.
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