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
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
Carcharhinus obscurus Dusky sharks are wide-ranging coastal and pelagic species that prefer temperate to tropical waters. They are large-bodied, typically grey with dusky margins on the fins. They are an important fisheries resource, targeted and taken as bycatch around the world. Their fins are
Photo © NOAA Danger to Humans Dusky sharks are potentially dangerous due to their
Carcharhinus plumbeus This brownish-gray shark has a recognizably large and triangular dorsal fin and somewhat long pectoral fins. It averages 6 feet long and about 110-150 lbs. True to its name, this shark prefers the sandy bottoms of coastal areas, and is known for seasonal migration like many
Danger to Humans Due to its preference for smaller prey and its tendency to avoid
Sphyrna zygaena This coastal shark prefers shallow waters, and are reported to even venture in freshwater. Sporting a wide and smooth cephalophoil or „hammerhead“ this seasonal migrant is the second largest in the genus Sphyrna. Order – Carcharhiniformes Family – Sphyrnidae Genus – Sphyrna
Danger to Humans Hammerheads are considered potentially dangerous.
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
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.
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.
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
