Heptranchias perlo Unlike most sharks, it has seven instead of five pairs of gill slits (Last and Stevens 2009). Because it is small and lives in deep waters, it is considered no threat to humans, but when caught it can be aggressive, and the flesh is potentially poisonous (Halstead and Campbell
Danger to Humans This shark is considered harmless to humans.
With toothlike spines and barbs, thorny skates are just as sharp as their name suggests. But these shark relatives are far more mysterious than they first appear. Scientists at the Florida Museum of Natural History are using new genetic sequencing technology to understand why current management e
Unlike rays, however, skates lack stinging barbs and spines and pose no danger to
Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi These ancient fish lack teeth, and instead of scales, have bony plates called scutes. They have a limited habitat, living in the Gulf of Mexico most of the time, and then swim up rivers to spawn. For years they were so overly fished that they now are listed as pro
Danger to Humans Gulf Sturgeon. Photo courtesy U.S.
Echeneis naucrates These are very recognizable fish because of their highly modified dorsal fin that is an oval shaped sucking disc. They are as long as 43 inches, and slender, with lower jaws that extend much further than upper. They attach themselves to sharks, turtles, whales, large bony fish,
Danger to Humans Although considered harmless to humans, there have been some reports
Carcharias taurus Sand tiger sharks are large, slow-moving, coastal sharks that have a flattened, conical snout. They are light brown on the dorsal surface with some scattered dark spots, and light colored ventrally. They have broad triangular fins and a distinct caudal fin that is asymmetrical (
Image © Doug Perrine Danger to Humans While these animals are not aggressive unless
Trachinotus falcatus This very tall, flat fish is most distinctive for its elongated dorsal and anal fins, and its deeply forked tail. It also has a series of dorsal rays, which give it its name „rough back“. These schooling fish hunt their prey inshore on sandy sea grass flats, but as they get o
Danger to Humans Lemon shark on grass flats where permit feed.
Heterodontus francisci These small sharks are members of the bullhead family. Slow moving and nocturnal, they scavenge close to shore, and return to the same resting place each day. Both dorsal fins sport sharp spines, and should be handled with care. Order – Heterodontiformes Family – Hetero
Danger to Humans Horn sharks may bite when harassed.
Mycteroperca microlepis This oblong fish has small eyes over a pointed snout, and a continuous dorsal fin to a square caudal fin. Their colors vary by age and gender, but they range from gray to light brown with darker blotches or squiggles, giving it a faint marble pattern, or darker to a camouf
Danger to Humans There have been reported cases of ciguatera from human consumption
Triaenodon obesus The Whitetip Reef Shark is a smaller, greyish brown shark with a distinctive white tip on its dorsal and caudal fins. (Compagno, 2005) It prefers caves and coral reefs, often be found resting by the bottom of the ocean by day and hunting by night (Compagno, 2005). Unlike many sh
(Compagno, 2005) Danger to Humans This shark rarely shows aggression (Compagno,
Galeorhinus galeus This abundant, migrating, schooling shark is a strong swimmer that can travel 35 miles in a day and is found from the open sea all the way inshore to the surf zone. It is slender and dusky colored, with large eyes and mouth in a pointed snout, triangular fins, and a strong, asy
Danger to Humans The tope shark is considered harmless to humans due to its small
