The Cooperative Shark Tagging Program is a collaborative effort between recreational anglers, the commercial fishing industry, and NOAA Fisheries to study the life history of Atlantic sharks. Sharks S - W
Accurate species identification is critical. To help with identifications we have provided information on size, distinguishing characteristics, distribution, and habitat for sharks in our region.
Lateral view of a sandbar shark.
To about 8 ft (2.4 m).
Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Florida, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
Inshore shallow coastal waters, including bays, harbors, and estuaries; typically in waters 5-180 ft (2-55 m); also offshore, occasionally to 600-810 ft (183-247 m); bottom dwelling.
Blacktip shark, spinner shark, and bull shark lack interdorsal ridges. Dusky shark, most difficult to distinguish, attains larger maximum size (12 ft (3.7m)); has proportionally smaller, swept-back fins, with first dorsal fin farther back over free tips of pectoral fins. Bignose shark has longer snout, smaller first dorsal fin. Silky shark has smaller first dorsal fin, which is rounded, swept back, and set farther behind free tips of pectoral fins; second dorsal fin free tip length usually more than twice fin height.
Comparison of dusky (top) and sandbar (bottom) shark lateral views at the water surface.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports - Sandbar Shark
Management of Atlantic SharksTo about 10.5 ft (3.2 m).
Gulf of Maine to Florida, including Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, and Bermuda.
Coastal; surf zone and shallow bays to outer shelves; generally bottom dwelling.
Lemon shark has teeth without cusps; first dorsal fin farther forward, closer to pectoral fins than pelvic fins. Nurse shark has nasal barbels; lacks distinct lower lobe of caudal fin.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports – Sand tiger shark
To about 12 ft (3.7 m).
Massachusetts to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
Coastal and offshore, primarily in water >72°F (22°C); coastal bays and surface waters to at least 900 ft (274 m).
Bonnethead has a shovel-shaped head; grows to about 5 ft (1.5 m). Smooth hammerhead lacks central indentation on anterior margin of head. Great hammerhead attains larger maximum size (18.5 ft (5.6 m)); has very high first dorsal fin, pelvic fins with curved rear margins.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports - Scalloped hammerhead shark
Management of Scalloped hammerhead shark
To about 13 ft (4 m).
Lateral view of a shortfin mako shark's head showing the conical pointed snout.
Newfoundland, Canada, to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Common in the U.S. Northeast.
Offshore from surface to at least 500 ft (152 m); generally in waters >61°F (16°C).
Porbeagle has secondary keels on the caudal fin, teeth with lateral cusplets; prefers colder water. Longfin mako has larger eyes, longer pectoral fins, dusky or blue-black underside of snout and area around the mouth. Blue shark lacks lunate caudal fin, caudal keels, sharply pointed snout. White shark has triangular teeth with serrated edges, blunter snout.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports – Shortfin mako shark
Management of Shortfin mako shark
To about 11 ft (3.4 m).
New York to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Uncommon north of Delaware.
Offshore, over deep water reefs and near continental and insular slopes, primarily surface waters; juveniles closer to shore.
Dusky shark has blunter snout, smaller eyes, second dorsal free tip length rarely more than twice fin height. Sandbar shark and bignose shark have higher first dorsal fins placed farther forward, closer to pectoral fins. Night shark have green eyes, longer snout, characteristic teeth. Blacktip shark and spinner shark lack interdorsal ridges.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports – Silky shark
To about 5 ft (1.5 m).
Massachusetts to Florida, including Gulf of Mexico, possibly Caribbean Sea. Uncommon north of Massachusetts.
Coastal; bays and nearshore waters, usually <60 ft (18 m) but down to 660 ft (200 m) or deeper; primarily near or on bottom.
Spiny dogfish has white spots, dorsal spines; lacks anal fin. Atlantic sharpnose shark has white spots on the back and sides.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports – Smooth dogfish
To about 13 ft (4 m).
Nova Scotia, Canada to Florida.
Coastal and offshore; from surface to at least 66 ft (20 m); tolerates much cooler waters than most hammerheads.
Bonnethead shark has a shovel-shaped head; grows to about 5 ft (1.5 m). Scalloped hammerhead and great hammerhead have prominent central indentations on the anterior margin of head. Great hammerhead attains larger maximum size (18.5 ft (5.6 m)); has very high first dorsal fin, pelvic fins with curved rear margins.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports – Smooth hammerhead shark
Lateral view of a spinner shark.
To about 9 ft (2.7 m).
Virginia to Florida, including the Gulf of Mexico; possibly into Caribbean.
Coastal and offshore. Common in shallow waters <100 ft (30 m).
Blacktip shark, most difficult to distinguish, has all black-tipped fins except for white anal fin. Finetooth shark has unmarked fins, shorter snout, longer gills. Sandbar shark, dusky shark, night shark, and silky shark have interdorsal ridges.
Comparison of blacktip and spinner shark tail regions demonstrating the black coloration on the spinner shark anal fin and the lack of color on the blacktip shark anal fin.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports – Spinner shark
Lateral view of a spiny dogfish.
To about 4.5 ft (1.4 m).
Greenland to Florida and Cuba. Uncommon south of North Carolina.
Coastal and offshore; surface waters to 3,000 ft (914 m), usually near the bottom in waters 43-52°F (6-11°C).
Smooth dogfish and Atlantic sharpnose shark have anal fins, lack dorsal fin spines. Smooth dogfish lacks white spots.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports – Spiny dogfish
Dorsolateral view of a tiger shark.
To about 18 ft (5.5 m).
Cape Cod to Uruguay, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
Coastal waters close inshore to the outer continental shelf; offshore including oceanic island groups.
Characteristic teeth and markings of tiger shark distinguish this species from other Atlantic sharks.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports – Tiger shark
Lateral view of a whale shark.
To about 40 ft (12.2 m).
New York to central Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
Coastal and offshore; sometimes enters lagoons of coral atolls; most commonly 68-77°F (20-25°C).
Size and unique markings of whale shark distinguish this species from other Atlantic sharks.
Apex Predator Publications and Reports – Whale shark
Underwater view of a large white shark.
To about 21 ft (6.4 m).
Newfoundland, Canada, and Gulf of St. Lawrence to Florida, Cuba, Bahamas, and Gulf of Mexico. Uncommon throughout its range.
Coastal and offshore along continental shelf and islands.
Basking shark attains larger maximum size (around 32 ft (9.8 m)); has gill slits nearly encircling head. Shortfin mako, longfin mako, and porbeagle have bladelike, smooth-edged teeth, different coloration; attain smaller maximum size. Porbeagle has secondary keels on caudal fin.
An oceanic whitetip shark swims near the surface of the water. Photo courtesy of John Carlson.
Blacktip sharks. Credit: iStock.
Releasing a sandbar shark on a shark survey.
