Pristis clavata Although sawfish look like sharks, they are actually highly modified rays. The rostral ‚teeth‘ are specialized denticles. The dwarf sawfish is the smallest sawfish species, reaching 3.1 m (10 ft). Very little is known about its behavior. Order – Rhinopristiformes Family – Pris
Danger to Humans All sawfishes are harmless to humans if left undisturbed.
Coryphaena hippurus The dolphinfish is also often called mahi-mahi, and not at all related to the marine mammal dolphins. This colorful, distinct fish has a long body and a blunt face, with a forked caudal fin (tail), and a dorsal fin that runs the length of its body. It is brightly colored, most
Danger to Humans There have been reports of ciguatera poisoning from human consumption
Rhinoptera bonasus This unique ray is dark brown to golden brown on top, and white below, with a stout body and triangular ‚wings‘. The distinct lobes on the front edge give it the name cownose, and the long sturdy tail has one or two serrated spines with mild venom. Their tile-like teeth are ide
Danger to Humans Spine of the cownose ray.
Squalus acanthias This long, slender dogfish has a pointed snout, large eyes, and spines in front of its two dorsal fins. It is a brownish slate color, fading to a pale underbelly, with rows of white spots down its upper body that fade with age. These migratory, schooling sharks spend winters in
Danger to Humans In general, the spiny dogfish poses little if any threat to humans
Anoxypristis cuspidata Although sawfish look similar to sharks, they are actually highly modified rays. The ‚teeth‘ on the rostrum, snout, are actually enlarged specialize denticles. The narrow sawfish differs from other sawfish species as it lacks rostral teeth at the base of the rostrum. Ord
Image courtesy Matthew McDavitt Danger to Humans All sawfishes are harmless to humans
Sphyrna tiburo Bonnetheads are one of the smaller hammerheads, and are easy distinguished by their shovel-shaped heads. These warm-water coastal sharks migrate with the seasons, and are often attractions at aquariums. Order – Carcharhiniformes Family – Sphyrnidae Genus – Sphyrna Species – t
Danger to Humans Considered harmless to humans, this species is rather shy.
Lamna nasus This shark closely resembles the white and salmon sharks, but it is easy to identify the white or light gray free rear tip of its dorsal fin. It has the classic mackerel shark appearance, from its conical snout to its crescent caudal (tail) fin, and the dark grey coloring over its bod
Danger to Humans The porbeagle is a protected species in U.S. waters.
Carcharhinus leucas These large stout sharks are found in both salt and fresh water. They have been recorded in rivers hundreds of miles from the sea but are most commonly found in marine, estuarine environments close to shore (Simpfendorfer and Burgess 2009). Bull sharks can grow to a total
sharks in the aquarium industry has grown substantially over the past 20 years Danger
Isurus oxyrinchus The shortfin mako is considered the fastest shark in the world, able to reach burst swimming speeds of up to 43 mph (70 km h-1) (Diez et al. 2015). This classically shaped shark is hydrodynamically efficient with a pointed snout, triangular dorsal fin and large and a crescen
Danger to Humans Although an oceanic species, the shortfin mako’s power and speed
Aetobatus narinari These rays have a very wide diamond-shaped pectoral disc that can reach over 9 feet wide, and is a dramatic dark color scattered with light spots or rings. It can grow to over 8 feet long, and when including the incredibly long whip-like tail, it has been measured at over 16 fe
Danger to Humans Generally a shy species, spotted eagle rays are wary of divers and
