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Great White Shark

Great White Shark

Scientific Name: Carcharodon carcharias

Habitat: Coastal and open ocean (temperate and subtropical waters).

Diet: Seals, sea lions, fish, dolphins, turtles.

Lifespan: 70+ years.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, 2–10 pups per litter.

How to Spot: Large torpedo-shaped body, gray top with white underbelly, triangular serrated teeth.

Where to Find: USA (California, Massachusetts), South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan, Mediterranean Sea.

 

 

 

Tiger Shark

 

Tiger Shark

Scientific Name: Galeocerdo cuvier

Habitat: Warm tropical and subtropical waters, coastal areas.

Diet: Fish, turtles, seabirds, smaller sharks, carrion.

Lifespan: 27–50 years.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, 10–80 pups per litter.

How to Spot: Dark vertical stripes on a gray body, large head, blunt nose.

Where to Find: Hawaii, Florida, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Australia, Southeast Asia.

 

 

Hammerhead Shark

Hammerhead Shark (Multiple Species)

Scientific Name: Sphyrnidae (family)

Habitat: Coastal waters, continental shelves, coral reefs.

Diet: Fish, stingrays, squid, octopus.

Lifespan: 20–35 years.

Reproduction: Viviparous, 6–42 pups per litter.

How to Spot: Distinct hammer-shaped head, wide-set eyes.

Where to Find: Florida, Galápagos, Costa Rica, Australia, Maldives, Philippines.

 

 

Bull Shark

Bull Shark

Scientific Name: Carcharhinus leucas

Habitat: Coastal waters, estuaries, freshwater rivers.

Diet: Fish, dolphins, birds, turtles, other sharks.

Lifespan: ~25 years.

Reproduction: Viviparous, 1–13 pups per litter.

How to Spot: Stocky body, blunt snout, grayish-brown color.

Where to Find: USA (Florida, Texas), Amazon River, India (Ganges), Australia, South Africa.

 

 

Whale Shark

Whale Shark

Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus

Habitat: Warm open ocean, coral reefs.

Diet: Plankton, small fish (filter feeder).

Lifespan: 80–130 years.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, 300+ pups per litter.

How to Spot: Huge size (up to 18m), spotted body, wide flat mouth.

Where to Find: Mexico (Isla Mujeres), Maldives, Philippines, Australia (Ningaloo Reef), Thailand.

 

 

 

Mako Shark

Mako Shark (Shortfin Mako)

Scientific Name: Isurus oxyrinchus

Habitat: Deep open ocean (temperate and tropical).

Diet: Fish (tuna, mackerel), squid, seabirds.

Lifespan: 30–35 years.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, 4–25 pups per litter.

How to Spot: Streamlined body, pointed snout, metallic blue color, very fast swimmer.

Where to Find: USA (California, Gulf of Mexico), New Zealand, Japan, South Africa.

 

 

 

Oceanic Whitetip

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Scientific Name: Carcharhinus longimanus

Habitat: Deep open ocean, tropical and warm waters.

Diet: Fish, squid, sea birds, carrion.

Lifespan: ~25 years.

Reproduction: Viviparous, 5–15 pups per litter.

How to Spot: Large, rounded pectoral fins with white tips.

Where to Find: Caribbean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Red Sea.

 

 

 

Blacktip reef shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

Scientific Name: Carcharhinus melanopterus

Habitat: Shallow coral reefs, lagoons.

Diet: Small fish, crustaceans.

Lifespan: ~12–15 years.

Reproduction: Viviparous, 2–5 pups per litter.

How to Spot: Black tips on fins, often in shallow water.

Where to Find: Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Seychelles.

 

 

Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

Scientific Name: Triaenodon obesus

Habitat: Coral reefs, caves.

Diet: Small fish, octopus, lobsters.

Lifespan: 25 years.

Reproduction: Viviparous, 1–5 pups per litter.

How to Spot: Slender body, white-tipped dorsal and tail fins, often seen resting.

Where to Find: Maldives, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia

 

 

 

Guitar Shark

Guitarfish (Guitar Sharks)

Scientific Name: Rhinobatidae (family)

Habitat: Sandy seabeds, estuaries.

Diet: Crustaceans, mollusks, small fish.

Lifespan: 15–25 years.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, 6–10 pups per litter.

How to Spot: Flattened body like a mix of shark and ray.

Where to Find: India, Australia, Mediterranean, West Africa.

 

 

 

Thresher Shark

Thresher Shark

Scientific Name: Alopias (Genus)

Habitat: Deep open ocean, continental shelves, sometimes near coastlines.

Diet: Small fish, squid, schooling fish (uses its long tail to stun prey).

Lifespan: 20–50 years.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, 2–6 pups per litter.

How to Spot:

Extremely long tail (half the body length).

Large eyes, small mouth, torpedo-shaped body.

Silvery-blue or dark gray on top, lighter underside.

Where to Find:

Philippines (Malapascua Island)

Indonesia

USA (California, East Coast)

Mediterranean Sea

South Africa

 

 

 

Brownbanded Bamboo Shark

Bamboo Sharks (Several Species)

Scientific Name: Hemiscylliidae (Family)

Habitat: Coral reefs, shallow waters, sandy seabeds.

Diet: Small fish, crustaceans, mollusks.

Lifespan: 20–25 years.

Reproduction: Oviparous (lays eggs), egg cases called “mermaid’s purses”.

How to Spot:

Small, elongated body (up to 1.2m).

Distinct patterns and stripes/spots.

Often seen resting on the ocean floor.

Types of Bamboo Sharks:

Brownbanded Bamboo Shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum)

White-spotted Bamboo Shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum)

Gray Bamboo Shark (Chiloscyllium griseum)

Where to Find:

Indonesia

Thailand

Australia

Philippines

Malaysia

 

 

 

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

Scientific Name: Ginglymostoma cirratum

Habitat: Shallow coral reefs, mangroves, sandy bottoms.

Diet: Crustaceans, small fish, squid, sea urchins.

Lifespan: 25–35 years.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, 20–30 pups per litter.

How to Spot:

Large, sluggish bottom-dwelling shark (up to 4m).

Smooth brownish-tan body with barbels near the mouth.

Often seen resting in groups during the day.

Where to Find:

Caribbean (Bahamas, Florida, Mexico)

Gulf of Mexico

Brazil

West Africa

Leopard Shark

Leopard Shark

Scientific Name: Triakis semifasciata

Habitat: Shallow coastal waters, sandy flats, bays.

Diet: Small fish, crustaceans, mollusks.

Lifespan: 20–30 years.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, 7–37 pups per litter.

How to Spot:

Slender body with black saddle-like patterns and spots.

Small, rounded snout with long fins.

Where to Find:

USA (California)

Mexico (Baja California)

Australia

New Zealand