Shark Identification
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Tips for Shark Identification
This page has information about shark identification.
Sharks are magnificent predators that live in oceans, bays, and saltwater estuaries worldwide.
Occasionally sharks even enter rivers and travel miles upward, into areas of brackish or nearly fresh water.
Successful shark identification usually requires paying attention to coloration, fins (size and orientation), body shape, head shape, eyes, gill slits, teeth, location, and other features.
Sharks are magnificent predators that live in oceans, bays, and saltwater estuaries worldwide.
Occasionally sharks even enter rivers and travel miles upward, into areas of brackish or nearly fresh water.
Successful shark identification usually requires paying attention to coloration, fins (size and orientation), body shape, head shape, eyes, gill slits, teeth, location, and other features.
Table of Contents
Great White Sharks
Great white sharks are found in much of the world's oceans. These are among the largest predatory sharks, preying on large fish, seals, young dolphins and other sea life. The species became known worldwide due to the series of "Jaws" books and movies.Great white sharks are identified by their triangular shaped head (when viewed from above), black eyes, outward facing teeth, and immense size. Great whites are gray above with a white underside.
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Bull Sharks
Notice the stout body, blunt head, large dorsal fin and arched back of the bull shark. Bull sharks are large, heavy bodied sharks that often move into shallow water. They may cruise alone or feed in groups. Bull sharks are another known maneater. Shark DVDs
Shark Week: 20th Anniversary Collection
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Discovery Channel Shark DVD Set
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Island of the Great White Shark
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Shark Links
- Worldwide Charter Boat and Guide Directory
- Find the perfect charter or guide to see sharks close up!
- Pelagic and Ridgeback Shark Identification Placard
- This shark identification placard from Rhode Island Sea Grant shows images of large pelagic and ridgebacked sharks.
- Non- ridgeback Shark Identification Placard
- This shark identification placard from Rhode Island Sea Grant shows images of non-ridgeback sharks.
- Shark T-Shirts
- This online store offers a selection of shark t shirts, sweatshirts, stickers, buttons, posters, prints, calendars, coffee cups and other gifts.
Sand Tiger Sharks
Sand tiger sharks are fairly easy to recognize. Look for the brown color, teeth that hang down and notice how the pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins are roughly the same size and shape. Also notice the distinctive shaped tail. Sharks on eBay
Sandbar Sharks
Sandbar sharks are common along the USA east coast. Their color varies from gray to brown. They are commonly 3-4 feet in length in inshore estuaries and are often caught in the open ocean in the 5-6 foot range.
Shark Identification by Color
When identifying sharks in the field, one of the first charactoristics to notice is color.Is it blue? silver-gray? brownish? brownish-tan? spotted? solid? striped? mottled?
Along the USA Atlantic coast, sharks with blue coloration are usally either blue sharks or mako sharks. The 2 fish share some common traits, but have easily distinguishable features.
Mako sharks can be easily identified by looking for the snout that is pointed and appears triangluar from above, the black eye and tail fin lobes that are near equal lengths.
Nurse Sharks
Nurse sharks have the disctintive catlike face, whiskers, small eyes and fins. Nurse sharks tend to lie on the bottom motionless for long periods of time. Rhode Island Sea Grant Shark Identification Placards
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)announces the availability of a shark identification placard for recreational fishermen.
This placard provides information on the shark species that can be legally retained by recreational anglers in federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
Please note that recreational vessels must possess a valid Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permit to fish for sharks.
Additionally, federally permitted recreational vessels must comply with federal HMS regulations, regardless of where they are fishing unless a state has more restrictive regulations. In that case, the fishermen must follow the more restrictive regulations.
For more information see the Atlantic HMS website at:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/
or contact the HMS Management Division at (301)713-2347 (phone) or (301)713-1917 (fax)
Download pdf versions of the placards directly here:
http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/bookstore/sharkplacard1.pdf
http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/bookstore/sharkplacard2.pdf
This placard provides information on the shark species that can be legally retained by recreational anglers in federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
Please note that recreational vessels must possess a valid Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permit to fish for sharks.
Additionally, federally permitted recreational vessels must comply with federal HMS regulations, regardless of where they are fishing unless a state has more restrictive regulations. In that case, the fishermen must follow the more restrictive regulations.
For more information see the Atlantic HMS website at:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/
or contact the HMS Management Division at (301)713-2347 (phone) or (301)713-1917 (fax)
Download pdf versions of the placards directly here:
http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/bookstore/sharkplacard1.pdf
http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/bookstore/sharkplacard2.pdf
Spiny Dogfish
The spiny dogfish is a small, slender shark with a flattened head and a snout that tapers to a blunt tip. Like the smooth dogfish, its mouth is full of low, flat, grinding teeth, but it also possesses an extra set of teeth that are small, yet very sharp.Although spiny dogfish and smooth dogfish are around the same size on the average (about 3 feet long, 7-10 pounds), the spiny dogfish has two distinguishing features: rows of small white dots run along its slate-gray sides, and a sharp spine is found in front of each of its two dorsal fins.
Books About Sharks
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Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000
On December 2 1,2000, the Act was signed into law. The Act amended the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) at Section 307(1)(P), making it unlawful for any person to:
(I) to remove any of the fins of a shark (including the tail) and discard the carcass of the shark at sea;
(II) to have custody, control, or possession of any such fin aboard a fishing vessel without the corresponding carcass; or
(III) to land any such fin without the corresponding carcass."
The Act established a rebuttable presumption that any shark fins landed from a fishing vessel or found on board a fishing vessel were taken, held, or landed in violation of the aforementioned subsection if the total weight of shark fins landed or found on board exceeds 5 percent of the total weight of shark carcasses landed or found on board.
The Act also required the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to issue regulations to implement the Act.
(I) to remove any of the fins of a shark (including the tail) and discard the carcass of the shark at sea;
(II) to have custody, control, or possession of any such fin aboard a fishing vessel without the corresponding carcass; or
(III) to land any such fin without the corresponding carcass."
The Act established a rebuttable presumption that any shark fins landed from a fishing vessel or found on board a fishing vessel were taken, held, or landed in violation of the aforementioned subsection if the total weight of shark fins landed or found on board exceeds 5 percent of the total weight of shark carcasses landed or found on board.
The Act also required the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to issue regulations to implement the Act.
Saltwater Fish Information
Field Guides of Saltwater Fish
McClane's Field Guide to Saltwater Fishes of North America by A. J. McClane
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Saltwater Fishing
Great White Shark Print
Great White Sharks Art
USA Shark Conservation Act
Scientists estimate that more than 100 million sharks are killed annually around the world including tens of millions for just their fins.
In the USA, the Shark Conservation Act includes requirements to land sharks whole, as well as a new prohibition on the transfer of fins at sea. The law seeks to help end shark finning by U.S. fishing vessels.
The act improves the existing law originally intended to prevent shark finning. It also allows the U.S. to take action against countries whose shark finning restrictions are not as strenuous.
The Shark Conservation Act was originally introduced by Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) and passed the U.S. House of Representatives in both the 110th and 111th Congress (H.R.81). A version of the bill, introduced by Senator John Kerry (D-MA), passed the U.S Senate on December 20, 2010.
In the USA, the Shark Conservation Act includes requirements to land sharks whole, as well as a new prohibition on the transfer of fins at sea. The law seeks to help end shark finning by U.S. fishing vessels.
The act improves the existing law originally intended to prevent shark finning. It also allows the U.S. to take action against countries whose shark finning restrictions are not as strenuous.
The Shark Conservation Act was originally introduced by Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) and passed the U.S. House of Representatives in both the 110th and 111th Congress (H.R.81). A version of the bill, introduced by Senator John Kerry (D-MA), passed the U.S Senate on December 20, 2010.
Sharks Poster
Rare Sharks
The megamouth shark is one of the most unusual species of sharks. The first one was discovered in 1976, but the species did not become known outside the science community until 1983. Since their discovery, megamouth sharks have been documented between 50 and 60 times.
Similar to by whale sharks and basking sharks, megamouth sharks use their wide jaws to filter for plankton in the deep-sea. Through tagging research, biologists found that megamouth sharks vary their depths at night. Despite recent discoveries, much of their behavior remains a mystery.
Similar to by whale sharks and basking sharks, megamouth sharks use their wide jaws to filter for plankton in the deep-sea. Through tagging research, biologists found that megamouth sharks vary their depths at night. Despite recent discoveries, much of their behavior remains a mystery.
Shark Feedback
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DailyRogue
Apr 9, 2012 @ 12:12 am | delete
- My kids are fascinated with sharks, so I shared this lens. Very educational with great links. Good job putting all of this info together.
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cmadden
Jan 29, 2012 @ 1:17 am | delete
- I ran from a shark in shallow water once. Cool lens.
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WayneDave
Nov 3, 2011 @ 1:39 pm | delete
- Great lens. Really enjoyed reading through this so thanks a lot for sharing. There is some fantastic information here.
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r2fish
Jun 7, 2011 @ 3:15 am | delete
- Thank you so much for this valuable information. Will try and implement it. I enjoyed it thoroughly!!!
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tvyps
Dec 19, 2010 @ 1:54 am | delete
- Where's the music? Da Da, Da Da, Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da...... Interesting info, I had no idea.
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