Sharks

227 species · 32 families

Sharks are cartilaginous fish: their skeleton is made of cartilage rather than bone, and their skin feels rough thanks to tiny tooth-like scales. You recognise them by the torpedo shape, several gill slits on the side and a powerful, often asymmetric tail fin. Instead of a swim bladder, a large, oil-rich liver keeps them buoyant. They range from the small catshark to the giant whale shark and hunt fish and other sea life with sharp senses. As top predators they play a key role in healthy seas.

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6-gilled shark

Hexanchus griseus

Hexanchidae

7-gilled shark

Heptranchias perlo

Hexanchidae

African angelshark

Squatina africana

Squatinidae

African ribbontail catshark

Eridacnis sinuans

Proscylliidae

Angel shark

Squatina californica

Squatinidae

Angelshark

Squatina squatina

Squatinidae

Angular angel shark

Squatina guggenheim

Squatinidae

Angular rough shark

Oxynotus centrina

Oxynotidae

Antilles catshark

Galeus antillensis

Scyliorhinidae

Arabian carpetshark

Chiloscyllium arabicum

Hemiscylliidae

Arabian smoothhound

Mustelus mosis

Triakidae

Arrowspine dogfish

Centrophorus moluccensis

Centrophoridae

Atlantic sharpnose shark

Rhizoprionodon porosus

Carcharhinidae

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

Carcharhinidae

Atlantic smooth dogfish

Mustelus canis

Triakidae

Australian angelshark

Squatina australis

Squatinidae

Australian smooth hound

Mustelus antarcticus

Triakidae

Australian spotted catshark

Asymbolus analis

Scyliorhinidae

Banded houndshark

Triakis scyllium

Triakidae

Barbeled houndshark

Leptocharias smithii

Leptochariidae

Barbelthroat carpetshark

Cirrhoscyllium expolitum

Parascylliidae

Barred bull-head shark

Heterodontus zebra

Heterodontidae

Basking shark

Cetorhinus maximus

Cetorhinidae

Basking shark

Rhincodon typus

Rhincodontidae

Bay-shark

Carcharhinus obscurus

Carcharhinidae

Bigeye sixgill shark

Hexanchus nakamurai

Hexanchidae

Bigeye thresher

Alopias superciliosus

Alopiidae

Bignose shark

Carcharhinus altimus

Carcharhinidae

Birdbeak dogfish

Deania calcea

Centrophoridae

Black dogfish

Centroscyllium fabricii

Etmopteridae

Black fin reef shark

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Carcharhinidae

Black shark

Dalatias licha

Dalatiidae

Black-spotted cat shark

Halaelurus buergeri

Scyliorhinidae

Black-tipped whaler

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Carcharhinidae

Blackbelly Dogfish

Etmopterus hillianus

Etmopteridae

Blackbelly lantern shark

Etmopterus lucifer

Etmopteridae

Blackfin gulper shark

Centrophorus isodon

Centrophoridae

Blackmouth catshark

Galeus melastomus

Scyliorhinidae

Blacknose shark

Carcharhinus acronotus

Carcharhinidae

Blackspot shark

Carcharhinus falciformis

Carcharhinidae

Blackspot shark

Carcharhinus sealei

Carcharhinidae

Blackspotted catshark

Aulohalaelurus labiosus

Scyliorhinidae

Blacktail reef shark

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

Carcharhinidae

Blacktip sawtail cat shark

Galeus sauteri

Scyliorhinidae

Blacktip shark

Carcharhinus sorrah

Carcharhinidae

Blacktip shark

Carcharhinus limbatus

Carcharhinidae

Blacktip topeshark

Hypogaleus hyugaensis

Triakidae

Blind shark

Brachaelurus waddi

Brachaeluridae

Blotchy swellshark

Cephaloscyllium umbratile

Scyliorhinidae

Blue dog

Prionace glauca

Carcharhinidae

Blue dog

Squalus acanthias

Squalidae

Blunthead shark

Triaenodon obesus

Carcharhinidae

Bluntnose sevengill shark

Notorynchus cepedianus

Hexanchidae

Blurred lantern shark

Etmopterus bigelowi

Etmopteridae

Bonnet

Sphyrna tudes

Sphyrnidae

Bonnet hammerhead

Sphyrna tiburo

Sphyrnidae

Bramble shark

Echinorhinus brucus

Echinorhinidae

Brazilian sharpnose shark

Rhizoprionodon lalandii

Carcharhinidae

Bristled lanternshark

Etmopterus unicolor

Etmopteridae

Broadbanded lanternshark

Etmopterus gracilispinis

Etmopteridae

Broadfin sawtail catshark

Galeus nipponensis

Scyliorhinidae

Brown cat shark

Apristurus brunneus

Scyliorhinidae

Brown shark

Carcharhinus plumbeus

Carcharhinidae

Brown shyshark

Haploblepharus fuscus

Scyliorhinidae

Brown smooth hound

Mustelus henlei

Triakidae

Brown spotted cat shark

Chiloscyllium punctatum

Hemiscylliidae

Bull huss

Scyliorhinus stellaris

Scyliorhinidae

Bull shark

Carcharhinus leucas

Carcharhinidae

Bull-head shark

Heterodontus japonicus

Heterodontidae

Bullhead

Heterodontus portusjacksoni

Heterodontidae

Campeche catshark

Parmaturus campechiensis

Scyliorhinidae

Caribbean reef shark

Carcharhinus perezii

Carcharhinidae

Chain cat shark

Scyliorhinus retifer

Scyliorhinidae

Chilean angelshark

Squatina armata

Squatinidae

Clouded angelshark

Squatina nebulosa

Squatinidae

Cloudy catshark

Scyliorhinus torazame

Scyliorhinidae

Colclough's shark

Brachaelurus colcloughi

Brachaeluridae

Collared carpetshark

Parascyllium collare

Parascylliidae

Common sawshark

Pristiophorus cirratus

Pristiophoridae

Common thresher

Alopias vulpinus

Alopiidae

Common tiger shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

Carcharhinidae

Cookiecutter shark

Isistius brasiliensis

Dalatiidae

Coral catshark

Atelomycterus marmoratus

Scyliorhinidae

Crocodile shark

Pseudocarcharias kamoharai

Pseudocarchariidae

Cuban dogfish

Squalus cubensis

Squalidae

Daggernose shark

Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus

Carcharhinidae

Dark shy shark

Haploblepharus pictus

Scyliorhinidae

Dawson's catshark

Bythaelurus dawsoni

Scyliorhinidae

Deepsea spiny dogfish

Centrophorus squamosus

Centrophoridae

Dogfish

Scyliorhinus canicula

Scyliorhinidae

Dogfish

Squalus suckleyi

Squalidae

Draughtsboard shark

Cephaloscyllium isabellum

Scyliorhinidae

Eastern school shark

Galeorhinus galeus

Triakidae

Epaulette shark

Hemiscyllium ocellatum

Hemiscylliidae

Filetail cat shark

Parmaturus xaniurus

Scyliorhinidae

Finetooth shark

Carcharhinus isodon

Carcharhinidae

Flathead catshark

Apristurus macrorhynchus

Scyliorhinidae

Florida smooth-hound

Mustelus norrisi

Triakidae

Freckled catshark

Scyliorhinus haeckelii

Scyliorhinidae

Frilled shark

Chlamydoselachus anguineus

Chlamydoselachidae

Fringe shark

Orectolobus japonicus

Orectolobidae

Galapagos bullhead shark

Heterodontus quoyi

Heterodontidae

Galapagos shark

Carcharhinus galapagensis

Carcharhinidae

Gecko cat shark

Galeus eastmani

Scyliorhinidae

Goblin shark

Mitsukurina owstoni

Mitsukurinidae

Graceful catshark

Proscyllium habereri

Proscylliidae

Graceful shark

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides

Carcharhinidae

Granular dogfish

Centroscyllium granulatum

Etmopteridae

Gray mouth dog

Mustelus mustelus

Triakidae

Gray smooth hound

Mustelus californicus

Triakidae

Great hammerhead

Sphyrna mokarran

Sphyrnidae

Great white shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Lamnidae

Green lantern shark

Etmopterus virens

Etmopteridae

Greenland shark

Somniosus microcephalus

Somniosidae

Grey bambooshark

Chiloscyllium griseum

Hemiscylliidae

Grey sharpnose shark

Rhizoprionodon oligolinx

Carcharhinidae

Gulf catshark

Asymbolus vincenti

Scyliorhinidae

Gulf smoothhound

Mustelus sinusmexicanus

Triakidae

Gulper shark

Centrophorus granulosus

Centrophoridae

Gummy dogfish

Mustelus manazo

Triakidae

Hardnose shark

Carcharhinus macloti

Carcharhinidae

Hasselt's bamboo shark

Chiloscyllium hasseltii

Hemiscylliidae

Hidden angelshark

Squatina occulta

Squatinidae

Hooktooth dogfish

Aculeola nigra

Etmopteridae

Horn shark

Heterodontus francisci

Heterodontidae

Ichihara's velvet dogfish

Zameus ichiharai

Somniosidae

Indonesian speckled carpetshark

Hemiscyllium freycineti

Hemiscylliidae

Izak

Holohalaelurus regani

Scyliorhinidae

Japanese angelshark

Squatina japonica

Squatinidae

Japanese sawshark

Pristiophorus japonicus

Pristiophoridae

Japanese smoothhound

Mustelus griseus

Triakidae

Japanese topeshark

Hemitriakis japanica

Triakidae

Jordans blue dogshark

Loxodon macrorhinus

Carcharhinidae

Largetooth cookiecutter shark

Isistius plutodus

Dalatiidae

Lemon shark

Negaprion brevirostris

Carcharhinidae

Leopard catshark

Poroderma pantherinum

Scyliorhinidae

Leopard shark

Triakis semifasciata

Triakidae

Lined catshark

Halaelurus lineatus

Scyliorhinidae

Little gulper shark

Centrophorus uyato

Centrophoridae

Lollipop cat shark

Cephalurus cephalus

Scyliorhinidae

Longfin mako

Isurus paucus

Lamnidae

Longfin sawtail catshark

Galeus cadenati

Scyliorhinidae

Longnose cat shark

Apristurus kampae

Scyliorhinidae

Longnose pygmy shark

Heteroscymnoides marleyi

Dalatiidae

Longnose spurdog

Squalus blainville

Squalidae

Mallethead shark

Sphyrna corona

Sphyrnidae

Mandarin dogfish

Cirrhigaleus barbifer

Squalidae

Megamouth shark

Megachasma pelagios

Megachasmidae

Mexican horn shark

Heterodontus mexicanus

Heterodontidae

Milk shark

Rhizoprionodon acutus

Carcharhinidae

Mosaic gulper shark

Centrophorus tessellatus

Centrophoridae

Narrowmouth cat shark

Schroederichthys bivius

Scyliorhinidae

Narrowmouthed catshark

Schroederichthys tenuis

Scyliorhinidae

Narrownose smooth hound

Mustelus schmitti

Triakidae

Narrowtail catshark

Schroederichthys maculatus

Scyliorhinidae

Night shark

Carcharhinus signatus

Carcharhinidae

Nurse shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Ginglymostomatidae

Oceanic whitetip shark

Carcharhinus longimanus

Carcharhinidae

Orange spotted catshrak

Asymbolus rubiginosus

Scyliorhinidae

Ornate wobbegong

Orectolobus ornatus

Orectolobidae

Pacific sharpnose shark

Rhizoprionodon longurio

Carcharhinidae

Pacific sleeper shark

Somniosus pacificus

Somniosidae

Pale catshark

Apristurus sibogae

Scyliorhinidae

Pelagic thresher

Alopias pelagicus

Alopiidae

Pondicherry shark

Carcharhinus hemiodon

Carcharhinidae

Porbeagle

Lamna nasus

Lamnidae

Portugese dogfish

Centroscymnus coelolepis

Somniosidae

Prickly dogfish

Oxynotus bruniensis

Oxynotidae

Prickly shark

Echinorhinus cookei

Echinorhinidae

Puffadder shyshark

Haploblepharus edwardsii

Scyliorhinidae

Pygmy ribbontail catshark

Eridacnis radcliffei

Proscylliidae

Pygmy shark

Euprotomicrus bispinatus

Dalatiidae

Pyjama shark

Poroderma africanum

Scyliorhinidae

Quagga catshark

Halaelurus quagga

Scyliorhinidae

Red-spotted cat shark

Schroederichthys chilensis

Scyliorhinidae

Roughskin dogfish

Centroscymnus owstonii

Somniosidae

Salamander shark

Parmaturus pilosus

Scyliorhinidae

Salmon shark

Lamna ditropis

Lamnidae

Sand devil

Squatina dumeril

Squatinidae

Sand tiger shark

Carcharias taurus

Odontaspididae

Sawback angelshark

Squatina aculeata

Squatinidae

Scalloped hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini

Sphyrnidae

Scoophead shark

Sphyrna media

Sphyrnidae

Sharpnose smoothhound

Mustelus dorsalis

Triakidae

Shortfin mako

Isurus oxyrinchus

Lamnidae

Shortnose sawshark

Pristiophorus nudipinnis

Pristiophoridae

Shortnose spurdog

Squalus megalops

Squalidae

Shortspine spurdog

Squalus mitsukurii

Squalidae

Shorttail lanternshark

Etmopterus brachyurus

Etmopteridae

Sicklefin lemon shark

Negaprion acutidens

Carcharhinidae

Sicklefin smooth hound

Mustelus lunulatus

Triakidae

Silvertip shark

Carcharhinus albimarginatus

Carcharhinidae

Sixgill sawshark

Pliotrema warreni

Pristiophoridae

Slender bambooshark

Chiloscyllium indicum

Hemiscylliidae

Slender lantern shark

Etmopterus pusillus

Etmopteridae

Smalleye smooth hound

Mustelus higmani

Triakidae

Smalltail shark

Carcharhinus porosus

Carcharhinidae

Smalltooth sand tiger

Odontaspis ferox

Odontaspididae

Smooth hammerhead

Sphyrna zygaena

Sphyrnidae

Smoothback angelshark

Squatina oculata

Squatinidae

Smoothound

Mustelus palumbes

Triakidae

Spadenose shark

Scoliodon laticaudus

Carcharhinidae

Speckled catshark

Halaelurus boesemani

Scyliorhinidae

Speckled smoothhound

Mustelus mento

Triakidae

Spinner shark

Carcharhinus brevipinna

Carcharhinidae

Splendid lanternshark

Etmopterus splendidus

Etmopteridae

Spotted houndshark

Triakis maculata

Triakidae

Spotted wobbegong

Orectolobus maculatus

Orectolobidae

Starry smooth-hound

Mustelus asterias

Triakidae

Striped smooth hound

Mustelus fasciatus

Triakidae

Swell shark

Cephaloscyllium ventriosum

Scyliorhinidae

Taillight shark

Euprotomicroides zantedeschia

Dalatiidae

Tawny nurse shark

Nebrius ferrugineus

Ginglymostomatidae

Tiger catshark

Halaelurus natalensis

Scyliorhinidae

Variegated catshark

Asymbolus submaculatus

Scyliorhinidae

Velvet belly

Etmopterus spinax

Etmopteridae

West African catshark

Scyliorhinus cervigoni

Scyliorhinidae

White-spotted bamboo shark

Chiloscyllium plagiosum

Hemiscylliidae

Whitecheek shark

Carcharhinus dussumieri

Carcharhinidae

Whitefin dogfish

Centroscyllium ritteri

Etmopteridae

Whitefin topeshark

Hemitriakis leucoperiptera

Triakidae

Whitenose shark

Nasolamia velox

Carcharhinidae

Whitespotted bullhead shark

Heterodontus ramalheira

Heterodontidae

Whitetail dogfish

Scymnodalatias albicauda

Somniosidae

Winghead shark

Eusphyra blochii

Sphyrnidae

Yellow-spotted cat shark

Scyliorhinus capensis

Scyliorhinidae

Zebra shark

Stegostoma fasciatum

Stegostomatidae