Hawaiʻi Sharks

Species list for Hawaiian waters.

Common name, Scientific name, IUCN status worldwide
(DD=data deficient; LC=least concern; NT=near threatened; VU=Vulnerable; EN=Endangered)

Sharks

Order Orectolobiformes
Family Rhincodontidae
Whale shark, Rhincodon typus, VU

Order Carcharhiniformes
Family Scyliorhinidae
Sponge-headed cat shark, Apristurus spongiceps, DD

Family Pseudotriakidae
False cat shark, Pseudotriakis microdon, DD

Family Carcharhinidae
Bignose shark, Carcharhinus altimus, DD
Gray reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, NT
Silky shark, Carcharhinus falicformes, NT
Galapagos shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis, NT
Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, NT
Oceanic whitetip, Carcharhinus longimanus, VU
Blacktip reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus, NT
Sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus, VU
Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, NT
Blue shark, Prionace glauca, NT
Whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus, NT

Family Sphyrnidae
Scalloped hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini, EN
Smooth hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena, VU

Order Lamniformes
Family Odontaspididae
Smalltooth sand tiger shark, Odontaspis ferox, VU
Bigeye sand tiger shark, Odontaspis noronhai, DD

Family Psedocarchariidae
Crocodile shark, Pseudocarcharias kamoharai, NT

Family Megachasmidae
Megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios, DD

Family Alopiidae
Pelagic thresher shark, Alopias pelagicus, VU
Bigeye thresher shark, Alopias superciliosus, VU

Family Lamnidae
White shark, Carcharodon carcharias, VU
Short-finned mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, VU
Longfin mako, Isurus paucus, VU

Order Hexanchiformes
Family Hexanchidae
Frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus anguineus, NT
Bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus, NT

Order Squaliformes
Family Echinorhinidae
Prickly shark, Echinorhinus cookei, NT

Family Dalatiidae
Combtooth dogfish, Centroscyllium nigrum, DD
Kitefin shark, Dalatias licha, NT
Blurred smooth lantern shark, Etmopterus bigelowi, LC
Blackbelly lantern shark, Etmopterus lucifer, LC 
Smooth lantern shark, Etmopterus pussilus, LC
Hawaiian lantern shark, Etmopterus villosus, LC
Pygmy shark, Euprotomicrus bispinatus, LC
Cookiecutter shark, Isistius brasiliensis, LC
Viper dogfish, Trigonognathus kabeyai, DD
Velvet dogfish, Scymnodon squamulosus, DD

Family Centrophoridae
Mosaic gulper shark, Centrophorus tessellatus, DD
Gulper shark, Centrophorus granulosus, VU

Family Squalidae
Shortspine spurdog shark, Squalus mitsukurii, DD

Rays

Order Torpediniformes
Family Torpedinidae
Torpedo ray, Torpedo sp., DD or LC, depending on species

Order Myliobatiformes
Family Plesiobatidae
Giant stingaree, Plesiobatis daviesi, LC

Family Hexatrygonidae
Sixgill stingray, Hexatrygon bickelli, LC
Longnosed deepwater ray, Hexatrygon longirostra, IUCN uncertain whether separate species

Family Dasyatidae
Diamond stingray, Dasyatis dipterura, DD
Brown stingray, Dasyatis lata, LC
Pelagic stingray, Pteroplatytrygon violacea, LC

Family Myliobatidae
Spotted eagle ray, Aetobatus narinari, NT

Family Mobulidae
Manta ray, Manta birostris, VU
Spinetail devil ray, Mobula japanica, NT

Chimaeras

Order Chimaeriformes
Family Chimeridae
Purple chimaera, Hydrolagus purpurescens, DD

Family Rhinochimaeridae
Longnosed chimaera, Rhinochimaera pacifica, LC