NOVA Online | Island of the Sharks

Shark Taxonomy

Order HEXANCHIformES - Sixgill, Sevengill and Frilled Sharks

Family CHLAMYDOSELA - Frilled Sharks
One Species
- Chlamydoselachus anguineus #8212; Frilled shark
Family HEXANCHIDAE - Sixgill and Sevengill Sharks
Four Species
- Heptranchias perlo #8212; Sharpnose sevengill shark
- Hexanchus griseus #8212; Bluntnose sixgill shark
- Hexanchus vitulus #8212; Bigeye sixgill shark
- Notorynchus cepedianus #8212; Broadnose or spotted sevengill shark

Order SQUALIformES - Dogfish Sharks

Family ECHINORHINIDAE - Bramble Sharks
Two Species
- Echinorhinus brucus #8212; Bramble shark
- Echinorhinus cookei #8212; Prickly shark
Family SQUALIDAE - Dogfish sharks
70 Species
- Aculeola nigra #8212; Hooktooth dogfish
- Centrophorus acus #8212; Needle dogfish
- Centrophorus granulosus #8212; Gulper shark
- Centrophorus harrissoni #8212; Dumb gulper shark
- Centrophorus lusitanicus #8212; Lowfin gulper shark
- Centrophorus moluccensis #8212; Smallfin gulper shark
- Centrophorus niaukang #8212; Taiwan gulper shark
- Centrophorus squamosus #8212; Leafscale gulper shark
- Centrophorus tesselatus #8212; Mosaic gulper shark
- Centrophorus uyato #8212; Little gulper shark
- Centroscyllium fabricii #8212; Black dogfish
- Centroscyllium granulatum #8212; Granular dogfish
- Centroscyllium kamoharai #8212; Bareskin dogfish
- Centroscyllium nigrum #8212; Combtooth dogfish
- Centroscyllium ornatum #8212; Ornate dogfish
- Centroscyllium ritteri #8212; Whitefin dogfish
- Centroscymnus coelolepis #8212; Portuguese dogfish
- Centroscymnus crepidater #8212; Longnose velvet dogfish
- Centroscymnus cryptacanthus #8212; Shortnose velvet dogfish
- Centroscymnus macracanthus #8212; Largespine velvet dogfish
- Centroscymnus owstoni #8212; Roughskin dogfish
- Centroscymnus plunketi #8212; Plunket shark
- Cirrhigaleus barbifer #8212; Mandarin dogfish
- Dalatias licha #8212; Kitefin shark
- Deania calcea #8212; Birdbeak dogfish
- Deania hystricosum #8212; Rough longnose dogfish
- Deania profundorum #8212; Arrowhead dogfish
- Deania quadrispinosum #8212; Longsnout dogfish
- Etmopterus baxteri #8212; New Zealand lanternshark
- Etmopterus brachyurus #8212; Shorttail lanternshark
- Etmopterus bullisi #8212; Lined lanternshark
- Etmopterus carteri #8212; Cylindrical lanternshark
- Etmopterus decacuspidatus #8212; Combtooth lanternshark
- Etmopterus gracilispinis #8212; Broadband lanternshark
- Etmopterus granulosus #8212; Southern lanternshark
- Etmopterus hillianus #8212; Carribean lanternshark
- Etmopterus lucifer #8212; Blackbelly lanternshark
- Etmopterus perryi #8212; Dwarf lanternshark
- Etmopterus polli #8212; African lanternshark
- Etmopterus princeps #8212; Great lanternshark
- Etmopterus pusillus—Smooth lanternshark
- Etmopterus schultzi #8212; Fringefin lanternshark
- Etmopterus sentosus #8212; Thorny lanternshark
- Etmopterus spinax #8212; Velvet belly
- Etmopterus unicolor #8212; Brown lanternshark
- Etmopterus villosus #8212; Hawaiian lanternshark
- Etmopterus virens #8212; Green lanternshark
- Euprotomicroides zantedeschia #8212; Taillight shark
- Europtomicrus bispinatus #8212; Pygmy shark
- Heteroscymnoides marleyi #8212; Longnose pygmy shark
- Isistius brasiliensis #8212; Cookiecutter or cigar shark
- Isistius plutodus #8212; Largetooth cookiecutter shark
- Mollisquama parini #8212; Softskin dogfish
- Scymnodalatias sherwoodi #8212; Sherwood dogfish
- Scymnodon ichiharai #8212; Japanese velvet dogfish
- Scymnodon ringens #8212; Knifetooth dogfish
- Scymnodon squamulosus #8212; Greenland sleeper shark
- Somniosus pacificus #8212; Pacific sleeper shark
- Somniosus rostratus #8212; Little sleeper shark
- Squaliolus laticaudus #8212; Spined pygmy shark
- Squalus acanthias #8212; Piked dogfish
- Squalus asper #8212; Roughskin spurdog
- Squalus blainvillei #8212; Longnose spurdog
- Squalus cubensis #8212; Cuban dogfish
- Squalus japonicus #8212; Japanese spurdog
- Squalus magalops #8212; Shortnose spurdog
- Squalus melanurus #8212; Blacktail spurdog
- Squalus mitsukurii #8212; Shortspine spurdog
- Squalus rancureli #8212; Cyrano spurdog
Family OXYNOTIDAE - Roughsharks
Five Species
- Oxynotus bruniensis #8212; Prickly dogfish
- Oxynotus carribaeus #8212; Carribean roughshark
- Oxynotus centrina #8212; Angular roughshark
- Oxynotus japonicus #8212; Japanese roughshark
- Oxynotus paradoxus #8212; Sailfin roughshark

Order PRISTIOPHORIformES - Sawsharks

Family PRISTIOPHORIDAE - Sawsharks
Five Species
- Pliotrema warreni #8212; Sixgill sawshark
- Pristiophorus cirratus #8212; Longnose sawshark
- Pristiophorus japonicus #8212; Japanese sawshark
- Pristiophorus nudipinnis #8212; Shortnose sawshark
- Pristiophorus schroederi #8212; Bahamas sawshark

Order SQUATINIformES - Angelsharks

Family SQUATINIDAE - Angelsharks
13 Species
- Squatina aculeata #8212; Sawback angelshark
- Squatina africana #8212; African angelshark
- Squatina argentina #8212; Argentine angelshark
- Squatina australis #8212; Australian angelshark
- Squatina californica #8212; Pacific angelshark
- Squatina dumeril #8212; Sand devil
- Squatina formosa #8212; Taiwan angelshark
- Squatina japonica #8212; Japanese angelshark
- Squatina nebulosa #8212; Clouded angelshark
- Squatina oculata #8212; Smoothback angelshark
- Squatina squatina #8212; Angelshark
- Squatina tergocellata #8212; Ornate angelshark
- Squatina tergocellatoides #8212; Ocellated angelshark

Order HETERODONTIformES - Bullhead Sharks

Family HETERODONTIDAE - Bullhead sharks
Eight Species
- Heterodontus francisci #8212; Horn shark
- Heterodontus galeatus #8212; Crested bullhead shark
- Heterodontus japonicus #8212; Japanese bullhead shark
- Heterodontus mexicanus #8212; Mexican hornshark
- Heterodontus portusjacksonj #8212; Port Jackson shark
- Heterodontus quoyi #8212; Galapagos bullhead shark
- Heterodontus ramalheira #8212; Whitespotted bullhead shark
- Heterodontus zebra #8212; Zebra bullhead shark

Order ORECTOLOBIformES - Carpetsharks

Family PARASCYLLIIDAE - Collared Carpetsharks
Six Species
- Cirrhoscyllium expolitum #8212; Barbelthroat carpetshark
- Cirrhoscyllium formosanum #8212; Taiwan saddled carpetshark
- Cirrhoscyllium japonicum #8212; Saddled carpetshark
- Parascyllium ferrugineum—Rusty carpetshark
- Parascyllium multimaculatum #8212; Tasmanian carpetshark
- Parascyllium variolatum #8212; Necklace carpetshark or Varied carpetshark
Family BRACHAELURIDAE - Blind sharks
Two Species
- Brachaelurus waddi #8212; Blind shark
- Heteroscyllium colcloughi #8212; Bluegrey carpetshark
Family ORECTOLOBIDAE - Wobbegongs
Six species
- Eucrossorhinus dasypogon #8212; Tasselled wobbegong
- Orectolobus japonicus #8212; Japanese wobbegong
- Orectolobus maculatus #8212; Spotted wobbegong
- Orectolobus ornatus #8212; Ornate wobbegong
- Orectolobus wardi #8212; Northern wobbegong
- Sutorectus tentaculatus #8212; Cobbler wobbegong
Family HEMISCYLLIIDAE - Longtailed Carpetshark
12 species
- Chiloscyllium arabicum #8212; Arabian carpetshark
- Chiloscyllium burmensis #8212; Burmese bambooshark
- Chiloscyllium caerulopunctatum #8212; Bluespotted bambooshark
- Chiloscyllium griseum #8212; Grey bambooshark
- Chiloscyllium hasselti #8212; Indonesian bambooshark
- Chiloscyllium indicum #8212; Slender bambooshark
- Chiloscyllium plagiosum #8212; Whitespotted bambooshark
- Chiloscyllium punctatum #8212; Brownbanded bambooshark
- Hemiscyllium freycineti #8212; Indonesian speckled carpetshark
- Hemiscyllium hallstromi #8212; Papuan epaulette shark
- Hemiscyllium ocellatum #8212; Epaulette shark
- Hemiscyllium strahani #8212; Hooded carpetshark
- Hemiscyllium trispeculare #8212; Speckled carpetshark
Family GINGLYMOSTOMATIDAE - Nurse Sharks
Three species
- Ginglymostoma brevicaudatum #8212; Shorttail nurse shark
- Ginglymostoma cirratum #8212; Nurse shark
- Nebrius ferrugineus #8212; Tawny nurse shark or giant sleepy shark
Family STEGOSTOMATIDAE - Zebra Sharks
One species
- Stegostoma fasciatum #8212; Zebra shark
Family RHINCODONTIDAE - Whale Sharks
One Species
- Rhincodon typus #8212; Whale shark

Order LAMNIformES - Mackerel Sharks

Family ODONTASPIDIDAE - Sand Tiger Sharks
Four Species
- Carcharias taurus #8212; Sand tiger, spotted raggedtooth, or grey nurse shark
- Eugomphodus tricuspidatus #8212; Indian sand tiger
- Odontaspis ferox #8212; Smalltooth sand tiger or bumpytail raggedtooth
- Odontaspis noronhai #8212; Bigeye sand tiger
Family PSEUDOCARCHARIIDAE - Crocodile Sharks
One Species
- Pseudocarcharias kamoharai #8212; Crocodile shark
Family MITSUKURINIDAE - Goblin Sharks
One Species
- Mitsukurina owstoni #8212; Goblin shark
Family MEGACHASMIDAE - Megamouth Sharks
One Species
- Megachasma pelagios #8212; Megamouth Shark
Family ALOPIIDAE - Thresher Sharks
Three Species
- Alopias pelagicus #8212; Pelagic thresher
- Alopias superciliosus #8212; Bigeye thresher
- Alopias vulpinus #8212; Thresher shark
Family CETORHINIDAE - Basking Sharks
One Species
- Cetorhinus maximus #8212; Basking shark
Family LAMNIDAE - Mackerel Sharks
Five Species
- Carcharodon carcharias #8212; Great white shark
- Isurus oxyrinchus #8212; Shortfin mako
- Isurus paucus #8212; Longfin mako
- Lamna ditropis #8212; Salmon shark
- Lamna nasus #8212; Probeagle shark

Order CARCHARHINIformES - Ground Sharks

Family SCYLIORHINIDAE - Catsharks
92 Species
- Apristurus atlanticus #8212; Atlantic ghost catshark
- Apristurus brunneus #8212; Brown catshark
- Apristurus canutus #8212; Hoary catshark
- Apristurus federovi #8212; Federov's catshark
- Apristurus herklotsi #8212; Longfin catshark
- Apristurus indicus #8212; Smallbelly catshark
- Apristurus investigatoris #8212; Broadnose catshark
- Apristurus japonicus #8212; Japanese catshark
- Apristurus kampae #8212; Longnose catshark
- Apristurus laurussoni #8212; Iceland catshark
- Apristurus longicephalus #8212; Longhead catshark
- Apristurus macrorhynchus #8212; Flathead catshark
- Apristurus maderensis #8212; Madeira catshark
- Apristurus manis #8212; Ghost catshark
- Apristurus microps #8212; Smalleye catshark
- Apristurus nasutus #8212; Largenose catshark
- Apristurus parvipinnis #8212; Smallfin catshark
- Apristurus pinguis #8212; Fat catshark
- Apristurus platyrhynchus #8212; Spatulasnout catshark
- Apristurus profundorum #8212; Deepwater catshark
- Apristurus riveri #8212; Broadgill catshark
- Apristurus saldanha #8212; Saldanha catshark
- Apristurus sibogae #8212; Pale catshark
- Apristurus sinensis #8212; South China catshark
- Apristurus spongiceps #8212; Spongehead catshark
- Apristurus stenseni #8212; Panama ghost catshark
- Apristurus verweyi #8212; Borneo catshark
- Asymbolus analis #8212; Australian spotted catshark
- Asymbolus vincenti #8212; Gulf catshark
- Atelomycterus macleayi #8212; Australian marbled catshark
- Atelomycterus marmoratus #8212; Coral catshark
- Aulohalaelurus labiosus #8212; Blackspotted catshark
- Cephaloscyllium fasciatum #8212; Reticulated swellshark
- Cephaloscyllium isabellum #8212; Draughtsboard shark
- Cephaloscyllium laticeps #8212; Australian swellshark
- Cephaloscyllium nascione #8212; Whitefinned swellshark
- Cephaloscyllium silasi #8212; Indian swellshark
- Cephaloscyllium sufflans #8212; Balloon shark
- Cephaloscyllium ventriosum #8212; Swellshark
- Cephalurus cephalus #8212; Lollipop catshark
- Galeus arae #8212; Roughtail catshark
- Galeus boardmani #8212; Australian sawtail catshark
- Galeus eastmani #8212; Gecko catshark
- Galeus melastomus #8212; Blackmouth catshark
- Galeus murinus #8212; Mouse catshark
- Galeus nipponensis #8212; Broadfin sawtail catshark
- Galeus piperatus #8212; Peppered catshark
- Galeus polli #8212; African sawtail catshark
- Galeus sauteri #8212; Blacktip sawtail catshark
- Galeus schultzi #8212; Dwarf sawtail catshark
- Halaelurus alcocki #8212; Arabian catshark
- Halaelurus boesemani #8212; Speckled catshark
- Halaelurus buergeri #8212; Blackspotted catshark
- Halaelurus canescens #8212; Dusky catshark
- Halaelurus dawsoni #8212; New Zealand catshark
- Halaelurus hispidus #8212; Bristly catshark
- Halaelurus immaculatus #8212; Spotless catshark
- Halaelurus lineatus #8212; Lined catshark
- Halaelurus lutarius #8212; Mud catshark
- Halaelurus natalensis #8212; Tiger catshark
- Halaelurus quagga #8212; Quagga catshark
- Haploblepharus edwardsii #8212; Puffadder shyshark
- Haploblepharus fuscus #8212; Brown shyshark
- Haploblepharus pictus #8212; Dark shyshark
- Holohalaelurus punctatus #8212; African spotted catshark
- Holohalaelurus regani #8212; Izak catshark
- Parmaturus campechiensis #8212; Campeche catshark
- Parmaturus macmillani #8212; New Zealand filetail
- Parmaturus melanobranchius #8212; Blackgill catshark
- Parmaturus pilosus #8212; Salamander shark
- Parmaturus xaniurus #8212; Filetail catshark
- Pentanchus profundicolus #8212; Onefin catshark
- Poroderma africanum #8212; Striped catshark or pyjama shark
- Poroderma marleyi #8212; Barbeled catshark
- Poroderma patherinum #8212; Leopard catshark
- Schroederichthys bivius #8212; Narrowmouth catshark
- Schroederichthys chilensis #8212; Redspotted catshark
- Schroederichthys maculatus #8212; Narrowtail catshark
- Schroederichthys tenuis #8212; Slender catshark
- Scyliorhinus besnardi #8212; Polkadot catshark
- Scyliorhinus boa #8212; Boa catshark
- Scyliorhinus canicula #8212; Smallspotted catshark
- Scyliorhinus capensis #8212; Yellowspotted catshark
- Scyliorhinus cervigoni #8212; West African catshark
- Scyliorhinus garmani #8212; Brownspotted catshark
- Scyliorhinus haeckelii #8212; Freckled catshark
- Scyliorhinus hesperius #8212; Whitesaddled catshark
- Scyliorhinus meadi #8212; Blotched catshark
- Scyliorhinus retifer #8212; Chain catshark
- Scyliorhinus stellaris #8212; Nursehound
- Scyliorhinus torazame #8212; Cloudy catshark
- Scyliorhinus torrei #8212; Dwarf catshark
Family PROSCYLLIIDAE - Finback Catsharks
Six Species
- Ctenacis fehlmanni #8212; Harlequin catshark
- Eridacnis barbouri #8212; Cuban ribbontail catshark
- Eridacnis radcliffei #8212; Pygmy ribbontail catshark
- Eridacnis sinuans #8212; African ribbontail catshark
- Gollum attentuatus #8212; Slender smoothhound
- Proscyllium habereri #8212; Graceful catshark
Family PSEUDOTRIAKIDAE - False Catsharks
One Species
- Pseudotriakis microdon #8212; False catshark
Family LEPTOCHARIIDAE - Barbeled Houndshark
One species
- Leptocharias smithii #8212; Barbeled houndshark
Family TRIAKIDAE - Houndsharks
34 species
- Furgaleus macki #8212; Whiskery shark
- Galeorhinus galeus #8212; Tope shark
- Gogolia filewoodi #8212; Sailback houndshark
- Hemitriakis japanica #8212; Japanese topeshark
- Hemitriakis leucoperiptera #8212; Whitefin topeshark
- Hypogaleus hyugaensis #8212; Blacktip topeshark
- Iago garricki #8212; Longnose houndshark
- Iago omanensis #8212; Bigeye houndshark
- Mustelus antarcticus #8212; Gummy shark
- Mustelus asterias #8212; Starry smoothhound
- Mustelus californicus #8212; Grey smoothhound
- Mustelus canis #8212; Dusky smoothhound
- Mustelus dorsalis #8212; Sharpnose smoothhound
- Mustelus fasciatus #8212; Striped smoothhound
- Mustelus griseus #8212; Spotless smoothhound
- Mustelus henlei #8212; Brown smoothhound
- Mustelus higmani #8212; Smalleye smoothhound
- Mustelus lenticulatus #8212; Spotted estuary smoothhound or rig
- Mustelus lunulatus #8212; Sicklefin smoothhound
- Mustelus manazo #8212; Starspotted smoothhound
- Mustelus mento #8212; Speckled smoothhound
- Mustelus mosis #8212; Arabian, hardnose, or Moses smoothhound
- Mustelus mustelus #8212; Smoothhound
- Mustelus norrisi #8212; Narrowfin or Florida smoothhound
- Mustelus palumbes #8212; Whitespot smoothhound
- Mustelus punctulatus #8212; Blackspot smoothhound
- Mustelus schmitti #8212; Narrownose smoothhound
- Mustelus whitneyi #8212; Humpback smoothhound
- Scylliogaleus quecketti #8212; Flapnose houndshark
- Triakis acutipinna #8212; Sharpfin houndshark
- Triakis maculata #8212; Spotted houndshark
- Triakis megalopterus #8212; Sharptooth houndshark or spotted gully shark
- Triakis scyllium #8212; Banded houndshark
- Triakis semifasciata #8212; Leopard shark
Family HEMIGALEIDAE - Weasel sharks
Six Species
- Chaenogaleus macrostoma #8212; Hooktooth shark
- Hemigaleus microstoma #8212; Sicklefin weasel shark
- Hemipristis elongatus #8212; Snaggletooth shark
- Paragaleus leucolomatus #8212; Whitetip weasel shark
- Paragaleus pectoralis #8212; Atlantic weasel shark
- Paragaleus tengi #8212; Straighttooth weasel shark
Family CARCHARHINIDAE - Requiem sharks
48 Species
- Carcharhinus acronotus #8212; Blacknose shark
- Carcharhinus albimarginatus #8212; Silvertip shark
- Carcharhinus altimus #8212; Bignose shark
- Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides #8212; Graceful shark
- Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos #8212; Grey reef shark
- Carcharhinus amboinensis #8212; Pigeye or Java shark
- Carcharhinus borneensis #8212; Borneo shark
- Carcharhinus brachyurus #8212; Copper shark or bronze whaler
- Carcharhinus brevipinna #8212; Spinner shark
- Carcharhinus cautus #8212; Nervous shark
- Carcharhinus dussumieri #8212; Whitecheek shark
- Carcharhinus falciformis #8212; Silky shark
- Carcharhinus fitzroyensis #8212; Creek whaler
- Carcharhinus galapagenisis #8212; Galapagos shark
- Carcharhinus hemiodon #8212; Pondicherry shark
- Carcharhinus isodon #8212; Finetooth shark
- Carcharhinus leucas #8212; Bull or Zambezi shark
- Carcharhinus limbatus #8212; Blacktip shark
- Carcharhinus longimanus #8212; Oceanic whitetip shark
- Carcharhinus macloti #8212; Hardnose shark
- Carcharhinus melanopterus #8212; Blacktip reef shark
- Carcharhinus obscurus #8212; Dusky shark
- Carcharhinus perezi #8212; Caribbean reef shark
- Carcharhinus plumbeus #8212; Sandbar shark
- Carcharhinus porosus #8212; Smalltail shark
- Carcharhinus sealei #8212; Blackspot shark
- Carcharhinus signatus #8212; Night shark
- Carcharhinus sorrah #8212; Spottail shark
- Carcharhinus wheeleri #8212; Blacktail reef shark
- Galeocerdo cuvier #8212; Tiger shark
- Glyphis gangeticus #8212; Ganges shark
- Glyphis glyphis #8212; Speartooth shark
- Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus #8212; Daggernose shark
- Lamiopsis temmincki #8212; Broadfin shark
- Loxodon macrorhinus #8212; Sliteye shark
- Nasolamia velox #8212; Whitenose shark
- Negraprion acutidens #8212; Sharptooth lemon shark
- Negraprion brevirostris #8212; Lemon shark
- Prionace glauca #8212; Blue shark
- Rhizoprionodon acutus #8212; Milk shark
- Rhizoprionodon lalandei #8212; Brazilian sharpnose shark
- Rhizoprionodon longurio #8212; Pacific sharpnose shark
- Rhizoprionodon oligolinx #8212; Grey sharpnose shark
- Rhizopriondon porosus #8212; Carribean sharpnose shark
- Rhizopriondon taylori #8212; Australian sharpnose shark
- Rhizopriondon terraenovae #8212; Atlantic sharpnose shark
- Scoliodon laticaudus #8212; Spadenose shark
- Triaenodon obesus #8212; Whitetip reef shark
Family SPHYRNIDAE - Hammerhead sharks
Nine Species
- Eusphyra blochii — Winghead shark
- Sphyrna corona #8212; Mallethead shark
- Sphyrna couardi #8212; Whitefin hammerhead
- Sphyrna lewini #8212; Scalloped hammerhead
- Sphyrna media #8212; Scoophead shark
- Sphyrna mokarran #8212; Great hammerhead
- Sphyrna tiburo #8212; Bonnethead shark
- Sphyrna tudes #8212; Smalleye hammerhead
- Sphyrna zygaena #8212; Smooth hammerhead