Squatina californica This flattened benthic shark ambushes prey from beneath the sand. Unlike rays, angelsharks have tubular tails with asymmetrical caudal (tail) fin and lack a venomous spine. Order – Squatiniformes Family – Squatinidae Genus – Squatina Species – californica Common Names
Danger to Humans Although this shark is a bottom dweller and appears harmless, it
Orectolobus ornatus This type of carpet shark has a flat head and stocky body with a stout tail. It has nasal barbels and dermal lobes forming a fringe along the front of its face (Compagno 2001) and is usually a golden brown with dark broad saddles (Compagno 2005). A nocturnal hunter, it prefers
Danger to Humans The ornate wobbegong can inflict shallow but painful wounds with
Carcharhinus limbatus This medium sized, stocky shark is dark grey to brown on top transitioning to white underneath. It has characteristically marked black-tipped fins. Blacktip sharks prefer to hunt small schooling fishes, taking out prey as they move quickly through the school, often breac
Danger to Humans Records from The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) show that
Carcharhinus melanopterus A small-medium sized shark with recognizable black fin tips with white highlights. Blacktip reef sharks are abundant on coral reefs, making them a popular species in reef and dive tourism. They are also frequently displayed in aquaria. Order – Carcharhiniformes Famil
Danger to Humans Blacktip reef shark have occasionally been known to bite people
Raja binoculata These diamond-shaped skates live in the colder waters of the northeastern Pacific, growing as large as almost 8 feet long from pointed snout to stout tail. Usually a mottled reddish-brown to dark grey on top, and scattered with small pale spots and larger dark blotches, they also
Danger to Humans The big skate is harmless to humans and will remain motionless
Nebrius ferrugineus This large (up to 10 feet long) and bulky carpet shark tends to be gray-brown but can modify its color based on background. It sleeps in a favorite crevice or cave during the day, often piled up with other sharks, and hunts the sea floor during the night. It hunts for small fi
Danger to Humans This nurse shark is quite docile, allowing itself to be touched
Epinephelus itajara This large, solitary fish will defend its territory when threatened, with aggressive body language and a rumbling sound it makes with its swim bladder. Its large, thick, elongated body can grow to over 8 feet long (and up to 800 pounds), from rounded snout and small eyes, to s
Danger to Humans Very large goliath grouper have been observed to stalk divers and
Alopias vulpinus These sharks are easily recognized by the long upper lobe of the caudal fin (top half of the tail), which they use to stun their prey, usually smaller schooling fish. They are fast swimmers that will sometimes leap out of the water. Because they have small mouths and teeth, and a
Danger to Humans The thresher shark is considered harmless.
Seriola dumerili This large fish is slender and agile, and can grow to be more than 6 feet long. Its is mostly a silvery white color, with a darker gray or bluish coloring from above. This is a popular recreational fish but because it is in the of the apex of the marine food chain, the larger one
Danger to Humans Large greater amberjacks have been implicated in cases of ciguatera
Gymnothorax funebris One of the largest of the morays, the green moray is often found at 6 feet long but can reach 8 feet and 65 pounds. Although it is actually dark grey-brown, it is covered in a thick yellow mucus, giving it its green coloring and protecting it from parasites and disease. Like
Danger to Humans Large green morays are potentially dangerous fish.
