Shark Identification Guide

Hawaii’s approximately 40 species of sharks (see the species list) are each unique in their own way. There’s no mistaking a whale or hammerhead shark, and the characteristic blunt nose and dorsal stripes of a tiger shark make it fairly easy to recognize. But do you know how to tell the difference between a smooth hammerhead and a scalloped one?

Many of the more common inshore sharks, especially those of the family Carcharhinidae, are hard to distinguish from each other. But most have some kind of characteristic, often in the form of color patterns, that help in identification, if you can get a good look at them.

The offshore sharks are less frequently seen, but most are easy to recognize if you know what to look for. An exception is the silky shark, which has no particular markings. Some of the other sharks are rarely seen, especially the deepwater species. Most people never get the chance to try and identify them.

Some species of sharks change in appearance as they get older. These changes may include body shape or coloration. In the past, biologists have sometimes been confused by these changes, resulting in misidentification.

View the images and descriptive information about Hawaii’s various shark species below.

Inshore Sharks

Galapagos shark

Carcharhinus galapagensis
Image of Galapagos Shark

Length Up to 12 ft (maximum reported in Hawaii, 9.8 ft)
Description Brownish gray on dorsal surface; white underside; trailing edge of tail is dusky, but not black
Food Eats bottom fishes and cephalopods
Habitat Mostly found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Blacktip reef shark (Hawaiian: mano pa’ele)

Carcharhinus melanopterus
Image of Blacktip Reef Shark

Length Up to 6 ft, generally under 5 ft
Description Light brown with large black marks on the first dorsal fin and lower tail tips; no interdorsal ridge
Food Eats small reef fishes and invertebrates
Habitat Can be seen very close to the coastline and coral reef edge; found from the surface to 100 ft
Gray reef shark

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Image od Gray Reef Shark

Length Up to 8 ft, generally under 6 ft (maximum reported in Hawaii, 6.2 ft)
Description Gray with a slight white streak on the back edge of the dorsal fin and an easy-to-see black margin on the trailing edge of the tail; no interdorsal ridge
Food Eats bony fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans
Habitat Hawaiian records show caught from surface to 900 ft but most abundant at 320 ft; more common in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; tends to prefer reef areas with rugged terrain and strong currents
Bignose shark

Carcharhinus altimus
Image of Bignosed Shark

Length Up to 9.5 ft, average 6 ft
Description Gray, large shark with prominent nasal flaps and high interdorsal ridge
Food Eats deepwater fishes (including sharks and rays), cephalopods
Habitat From about 90 to 1,200 ft
Blacktip shark

Carcharhinus limbatus
Image of Blacktip Shark

Length Up to 8 ft
Description Gray with black edges on dorsal and pectoral fins; a pointed snout.
Food Eats octopus, squid, bony fishes, occasionally crustaceans
Habitat In Hawaii, caught at depths of 40-210 ft; pups seen from Kaneohe Bay to Midway Atoll
Sandbar shark

Carcharhinus plumbeus
image of Sandbar shark

Length Up to 8 ft, generally under 6 ft
Description Gray or light tan; high dorsal fin, strong interdorsal ridge; and no distinct marking
Food Eats small reef fishes, octopus and squid, crustaceans, mollusks
Habitat From about 30-900 ft; females cruise in shallower areas – average 223 ft
Tiger shark (Hawaiian: niuhi)

Galeocerdo cuvier
Image of Tiger Shark

Length Up to 18 ft, generally under 14 ft
Description Broadly rounded snout; distinctive curved serrated teeth; strong spotting pattern in young sharks, turning to stripes which fade with age
Food Eats wide variety of marine animals, carrion – has been called “garbage can of the sea”
Habitat Alternate between coastal and pelagic environments, from the surface to about 2500 ft. While in coastal habitats, move vertically between surface and bottom to depths of about 300 ft.
Scalloped hammerhead shark (Hawaiian: mano kihikihi)

Sphyrna lewini
Image of Scallop Hammer Shark

Length Up to 14 ft, generally under 7 ft
Description Gray with flattened hammer-like head with a central indentation
Food Eats reef fishes, sharks and rays, cephalopods, crustaceans
Habitat Adults live off shore and come into shallower waters of Hilo Bay, Kaneohe Bay, Waimea Bay and other areas in Hawaii to pup – juveniles tracked in Kaneohe Bay stay near the bottom in deeper areas
Smooth hammerhead shark (Hawaiian: mano kihikihi)

Sphyrna zygaena
Image of Smooth Hammerhead Shark

Length Up to 13 f, generally under 8 ft
Description Gray with a flattened hammer-like head without median indentation
Food Eats bony fishes, small sharks and rays, cephalopods, crustaceans
Habitat In Hawaii, juveniles have been caught at depths of about 110-225 ft
Whitetip reef shark (Hawaiian: mano lalakea)

Triaenodon obesus
Image of Whitetip Reef Shark

Length Up to 7 f, generally under 5 ft
Description Gray; slightly flat-headed with small white tips on the tops of the first and second dorsal and tail fins
Food Eats reef fishes, octopuses, crustaceans.
Habitat At depths of about 25-130 ft near coral reefs; seen resting in caves, sometimes for extended periods

Odd Relatives

CHIMAERAS

Purple chimaera

Hydrolagus purpurescens

Length Up to 3 ft or more
Description Purplish-gray dorsally, becoming darker ventrally; fins dark, with possible lighter spots on dorsal fin; dark lateral line including canals about head; fairly large green eyes
Food Presumed to feed on benthic invertebrates, perhaps fishes
Habitat Bottom areas in deep water, to depths of over 6,000 ft
Reproduction Ovipary; litter size possibly two; size at maturity uncertain
Longnosed chimaera (Pacific spookfish)

Rhinochimaera pacifica

Length Up to 4 ft
Description Pale brown dorsally, grayish-brown ventrally and around gill cover; white area around mouth and over snout; very long pointed snout; small eyes
Food Presumed to feed on benthic invertebrates
Habitat Bottom areas in deep water, to depths of over 4,000 ft
Reproduction Ovipary; litter size uncertain; size at maturity possibly 3.3 ftsnout; small eyes

COASTAL RAYS

Diamond stingray

Dasyatis dipterura

Length Disc width up to 3.2 ft or more
Description Brownish-black dorsally, white ventrally; dorsal and ventral folds on tail.
Food Eats crustaceans, mollusks, and bony fish
Habitat Sand and mud bottom areas to depths of 55 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, embryos feed on uterine milk after using up yolk sac; litter size and size at maturity uncertain
Brown stingray

Dasyatis lata

Length Disc width up to 5 ft
Description Olive- to blackish-brown dorsally, pale ventrally; distinctive snout; tail covered with tubercles
Food Eats crustaceans and bony fish
Habitat Sand and mud bottom areas from very shallow to depths of 700 ft or more
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, embryos feed on uterine milk after using up yolk sac; litter size 3-4; size at maturity 3 ft disc width for males, 3.7 ft for females
Spotted eagle ray

Aetobatus narinari

Length Wingspan up to 6 ft or more (11.5 ft given in some references)
Description Black or bluish-black with white or light blue spots or rings dorsally, white ventrally; black pattern on underside of wings; pointed snout
Food Eats bivalves, crustaceans, worms, bony fishes
Habitat Generally inhabits bottom areas near land, from very shallow to depths of 230 ft or more, but often swims close to the surface
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, embryos feed on uterine milk after using up yolk sac; litter size 1-4; size at maturity 4.6 ft wingspan for females (4-6 yrs), uncertain for males
Manta ray

Manta birostris

Length Wingspan up to 22 ft or more
Description Grayish-blue or greenish-brown to black dorsally, pale fin edges, white ventrally; pale patches on dorsal surface and dark blotches on ventral are unique to individuals and can be used for identification; rectangular terminal mouth with large cephalic lobes on each side
Food Eats planktonic crustaceans, small schooling bony fishes
Habitat Nearshore to pelagic waters, from near the surface to depths of 120 ft or more
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, embryos feed on uterine milk after using up yolk sac; litter size 1-2; size at maturity may be 13 ft wingspan for males, 15 ft for females, although smaller size have been reported
Spinetail devil ray

Mobula japanica

Length Disc width up to 10 ft
Description Dark blue to black dorsally; white ventrally, often with dark patches; cephalic fins silvery-gray on inner surface with black tips; white markings behind eye; row of white denticles on each side of tail
Food Eats zooplankton
Habitat Nearshore to possibly pelagic surface waters, sometimes near sea floor, to depths of at least 60 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, embryos feed on uterine milk after using up yolk sac; litter size 1; size at maturity 6.5 ft disc width for females, uncertain for males

DEEPWATER RAYS

Torpedo ray

Torpedo sp.

Length Maximum disc width uncertain; specimens observed from submersible have not been positively identified to species level, and those captured by trawls have not been formally identified
Description Specimens photographed from submersible appear dark gray; broad body and short spineless tail
Food Diet uncertain; stuns prey with shock produced by electric organs located behind the eyes
Habitat Bottom areas in deep water, to depths of at least 1,500 ft
Reproduction Presumed aplacental vivipary with embryos feed on uterine milk after using up yolk sac; litter size and size at maturity uncertain
Giant stingaree (Deepwater stingray)

Plesiobatis daviesi

Length Disc width up to 5 ft
Description Grayish-brown to black dorsally, white with dark edges ventrally; long snout
Food Eats crustaceans, octopus, and some bony fishes
Habitat Bottom areas in deep water, to depths of at least 2,000 ft
Reproduction Presumed aplacental vivipary; uncertain if embryos receive uterine milk; litter size uncertain; size at maturity possibly 4.2 ft disc width for males, uncertain for females
Sixgill stingray

Hexatrygon bickelli

Length Disc width to at least 1 ft
Description Purplish-brown dorsally, white with dusky margins ventrally; underside of tail dark; long pointed snout, shape may be variable
Food Uncertain
Habitat Soft bottom areas in deep water, to depths of at least 3,200 ft
Reproduction Uncertain; litter size apparently 4; size at maturity uncertain

PELAGIC RAYS

Pelagic stingray


Pteroplatytrygon violacea

Length Disc width up to 2.6 ft
Description Dark brown to black dorsally and ventrally
Food Eats squid, crustaceans, bony fishes
Habitat Pelagic waters from near the surface by night to depths of 300 to 600 ft or more by day
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, embryos feed on uterine milk after using up yolk sac; litter size possibly 4-7; size at maturity 1.1 ft disc width for males, 1.3 ft for females

Offshore Sharks

White shark (Hawaiian: niuhi)

Carcharodon carcharias
Image of White Shark

Length Up to 21 ft or more
Description Gray with white underside; large; conical snout; large gill slits; sharp triangular teeth; strong keel and nearly symmetrical tail
Food Eats variety of bony fishes, sharks and rays, marine mammals, carrion, occasionally sea turtles and birds
Habitat Rare in Hawaiian waters
Shortfin mako shark

Isurus oxyrinchus
Image of Shortfin Mako Shark

Length Up to 14 ft
Description Short pectoral fins; very pointed conical snout with long dagger-like teeth; tail lobes nearly equal in size; pronounced keel at base of tail
Food Eats variety of fishes including tunas, mackerels, sharks
Habitat From depths of about 110-920 ft
Silky shark

Carcharhinus falciformis
Image of Silky Shark

Length Up to 10 ft, most are much smaller
Description Brownish-gray, large shark with small rounded dorsal fin, an interdorsal ridge and no distinctive markings
Food Eats bony fishes, including mackerels and tunas, cephalopods, pelagic crabs
Habitat In Hawaii, rarely appears in coastal waters
Blue shark

Prionace glauca
Image of Blue Shark

Length Up to 12-13 ft, possibly up to 20 ft
Description Bluish gray, large slender shark with pointed snout, long pectoral fins, and anterior
Food Eats cephalopods, small bony fishes, crustaceans, mammalian carrion
Habitat Vertically migrates between the surface and 1,800 ft during the day and surface and 600 ft at night; near islands remains offshore during summer months, but appears to move closer to shore at twilight in the spring, returning to open ocean before sunrise
Whale shark

Rhincodon typus
Image of Whale Shark

Length Possibly up to 60 ft, usually 13-40 ft; world’s largest fish
Description A nearly terminal mouth, 300 rows of backcurved teeth (which are not used in feeding) and a unique checkerboard spot pattern on the body
Food Eats wide variety of plankton and nekton, including small fishes, crustaceans, squid
Habitat Often seen feeding at the surface; reported caught between 8,500 to 15,000 ft; in Hawaii, rarely found north of Kauai
Thresher shark (Hawaiian: mano hi‘uka or mano laukahi‘u)

Alopias pelagicus
Image of Thresher Shark

Length Up to about 11 ft, generally under 10 ft
Description Very long tail, almost as long as rest of body; bluish-black dorsally becoming lighter on sides, off-white ventrally with white coloration not extending above pectoral insertions
Food Eats squid and bony fishes; stuns prey with tail before feeding
Habitat Pelagic waters from the surface to depths of over 500 ft
Oceanic whitetip shark

Carcharhinus longimanus
Image of Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Length Up to 13 ft, generally less than 10 ft
Description Gray; mottled tail and fin tips; enlarged first dorsal fin and long, paddle-shaped pectoral fins
Food Eats pelagic fishes, cephalopods, sea turtles, sea birds, marine mammal carrion
Habitat From the surface to 500 ft, most abundant in the tropics
Megamouth shark

Megachasma pelagios
Image of Megamouth shark

Length Up to 18 ft
Description Blackish brown on back and sides, creamy underside; large head and huge distending mouth; large fleshy tail; white-tipped pectoral fins
Food Eats mostly pelagic crustaceans, some jellyfishes
Habitat Presumed vertically migratory from about 40 to 80 ft at night and 400 to 640 ft during the day; extremely rare; discovered off O‘ahu in 1976.
Cookiecutter shark

Isistius brasiliensis
Image of Cookiecutter shark

Length Up to 20 in
Description Brownish black with a dark collar around the gill region and bright green eyes; sometimes referred to as the “cigar” shark; small dorsal fins are at the rear of its body
Food Eats squid, small fish, crustaceans; also bites off flesh from larger fishes, cetaceans and sharks
Habitat Caught at night, sometimes at surface or at depths up to 11,500 ft

Other Sharks

COASTAL

Bluntnose six-gill shark

Hexanchus griseus

Length Up to 16 ft, generally under 10 ft
Description Olive-green to brownish-gray, becoming paler ventrally, light colored lateral line; fins may have white edges; six long gill slits; broad rounded snout, small green eyes
Food Eats crustaceans, mollusks, fishes (including sharks), marine mammals
Habitat Coastal and deepwater, near the bottom and in the water column, from the surface to depths of over 6,000 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary; litter size 22-108; size at maturity 9.5 ft for males, 13.5 ft for females

DEEPWATER

False cat shark

Pseudotriakis microdon

Length Length up to 10 ft
Description Dark brown to gray coloration; fin edges somewhat darker; long cat-like eyes; large spiracles; long anterior dorsal fin
Food Eats shrimp, octopus, fishes (including sharks)
Habitat Bottom-dweller at depths of about 600 to 5,000 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, embryos feed on eggs in uterus after using up yolk sac; litter size normally 2; size at maturity 6.5 ft for males, 7 ft for females
Sponge-headed cat shark

Apristurus spongiceps

Length Up to 1.6 ft or more
Description Dark brown body; thick body and head, grooves and pleats around gill slits and throat
Food Uncertain
Habitat Extremely rare; known for many years from only 2 specimens: one taken from Hawaii at 1,900 ft, the other from the Banda Sea at 4,800 ft
Reproduction Ovipary; only egg-laying shark in Hawaiian waters; litter size and size at maturity unknown.
Prickly shark (Cooke’s shark)

Echinorhinus cookei

Length Up to 13 ft
Description Grayish-brown body with black margins on fins; underside of snout light colored; no anal fin; large thorny denticles scattered about body and fins
Food Mollusks, fish (including sharks)
Habitat Bottom areas to depths of over 1,300 ft
Reproduction Uncertain, presumed aplacental vivipary; litter size to at least 114; size at maturity 6 ft for males, 6.5 ft for females
Combtooth dogfish

Centroscyllium nigrum

Length  Up to 1.6 ft
Description Stippled black body; white tips on dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins; dorsal fin spines; no anal fin
Food Uncertain
Habitat Bottom areas to depths of over 3,700 ft
Reproduction Presumed aplacental vivipary; litter size uncertain; size at maturity 14 inches for males, females unknown
Blurred smooth lantern shark

Etmopterus bigelowi

Length Up to 2.2 ft
Description Black body; dorsal fin spines; no anal fin; luminescent ventrally
Food Eats squid and bony fishes
Habitat Bottom areas to depths of over 3,000 ft
Reproduction Presumed aplacental vivipary; litter size uncertain; size at maturity 1.4 ft for males, 1.6 ft for females
Blackbelly lantern shark

Etmopterus lucifer

Length Up to 1.6 ft
Description Dusky brown dorsally, becoming abruptly black ventrally; narrow black band around pelvic fins; no anal fin; luminescent ventrally
Food Squid, bony fishes, crustaceans
Habitat Vertical migrator, between depths of 600 to over 6,000 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary; litter size to at least 8; size at maturity 7 inches for males, 8 inches for females
Hawaiian lantern shark

Etmopterus villosus

Length Up to 1.5 ft
Description Dark brown dorsally, darker ventrally; dark markings above pelvic fins; dorsal fin spines; no anal fin; luminescent ventrally
Food Uncertain
Habitat On or near bottom at depths of 1,200 to over 3,000 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary; litter size and size at maturity uncertain
Mosaic gulper shark

Centrophorus tessellatus

Length Up to 3 ft
Description Light gray body, lighter bands at fin edges; green eyes; dorsal fin spines; no anal fin
Food Uncertain
Habitat Bottom areas to depths of over 2,300 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary; litter size and size at maturity uncertain
Gulper shark

Centrophorus granulosus

Length Up to 5.5 ft
Description Light grayish brown dorsally, paler ventrally, greenish eyes, dorsal fins of adults have dusky tips
Food Eats bony fishes, squid, and crustaceans
Habitat Bottom areas to depths of 4,700 ft.
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, litter size one or two, size at maturity average 3.6 ft.
Note Known from a single individual observed and photographed from a submersible
Shortspine spurdog shark (Gray dogfish)

Squalus mitsukurii

Length Up to 3.5 feet
Description Dusky gray body, lighter bands at fin edges; green eyes; dorsal fin spines; no anal fin
Food Eats crustaceans, mollusks, and bony fish
Habitat Bottom areas to depths of over 2,400 feet
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary; litter size 1-6; size at maturity 16 inches (14 years) for males, 25 inches (15 years) for females

PELAGIC

Smalltooth sand tiger shark

Odontaspis ferox

Length Up to 12 ft, generally 5 to 7 ft
Description Medium to dark gray dorsally, sometimes with scattered darker reddish spots on sides, lighter ventrally with blotches; pointed snout
Food Eats crustaceans, squid, fishes (including rays)
Habitat Pelagic waters and at deep bottom areas, from near the surface to depths of over 2,500 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, presumed uterine cannibal; litter size uncertain; size at maturity 9 ft for males, females uncertain
Bigeye sand tiger shark

Odontaspis noronhai

Length Up to 11 ft or more
Description Uniform dark chocolate brown; fins with dark margin on posterior edge; pointed snout
Food Uncertain, but known to eat bony fishes and squid
Habitat Pelagic and deep waters to depths of over 3,000 ft; habitat utilization not well understood
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, presumed uterine cannibal; litter size uncertain; size at maturity about 11 ft for males and females
Crocodile shark

Pseudocarcharias kamoharai

Length Up to 3.6 ft; smallest lamnoid shark
Description Dark brown dorsally, sometimes with dark blotches on sides and ventral surface; pointed snout, long gill slits, very large eyes
Food Eats crustaceans, mollusks, bony fishes
Habitat Pelagic waters from the surface to about 1,900 ft; sometimes found near the bottom closer to shore
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, embryos feed on eggs and possibly younger embryos in uterus after using up yolk sac; litter size generally 4; size at maturity 2.4 ft for males, 2.9 ft for females
Bigeye thresher shark

Alopias superciliosus

Length Up to 16 ft, generally under 13 ft
Description Very long tail, almost as long as rest of body; violet-gray dorsally becoming lighter on sides; distinctive v-shaped groove on top of head gives helmet-like appearance
Food Eats squid and bony fishes; stuns prey with tail before feeding
Habitat Pelagic waters and at deep bottom areas, from the surface to depths of over 1,600 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, embryos feed on eggs in uterus after using up yolk sac; litter size normally 2; size at maturity 9 ft (9-10 yrs) for males, 11 ft (12-13 yrs) for females
Longfin mako

Isurus paucus

Length Up to about 14 ft, generally around 7 ft
Description Dark blue to bluish-black dorsally, fading somewhat on the sides; conical snout
Food Uncertain, but thought to feed on squid and bony fishes
Habitat Pelagic waters from near the surface to depths of about 700 ft, but may go much deeper; may be vertical migrator between midwaters by day and surface waters at night
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary, embryos feed on eggs in uterus after using up yolk sac; litter size 2-8; size at maturity 7 ft for males, 8 ft for females
Frilled shark

Chlamydoselachus anguineus

Length Up to 6 ft or more
Description Brownish coloration with long narrow body, six frilled gill slits
Food Eats squid, fish
Habitat Pelagic surface waters to bottom areas at depths of over 4,000 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary; litter size 2-12; size at maturity about 3 ft for males, 4.5 ft for females
Kitefin shark

Dalatias licha

Length Up to 5.3 ft
Description Black to brownish-gray body, may have darker spots; blunt snout with thick lips
Food Eats worms, mollusks, crustaceans, fish (including sharks and rays)
Habitat Pelagic waters from about 100 ft to bottom areas at depths of over 5,000 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary; litter size 10-16; size at maturity 2.5 ft for males, 3.9 ft for females
Smooth lantern shark

Etmopterus pussilus

Length Up to 1.6 ft
Description Black body, yellow spot on head; broad dark mark around pelvic fins; dorsal fin spines; no anal fin; luminescent ventrally
Food Squid, fish (including small sharks)
Habitat Pelagic waters from near the surface to depths of over 3,000 ft
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary; litter size uncertain; size at maturity 1.2 ft for males and females
Pygmy shark

Euprotomicrus bispinatus

Length Up to 11 inches; smallest shark in Hawaiian waters
Description Charcoal gray to black body; clear fin edges; luminescent ventrally
Food Crustaceans, squid, bony fishes
Habitat Vertical migrator, from surface to depths of over 1,300 ft and possibly much deeper
Reproduction Aplacental vivipary; litter size to at least 8; size at maturity 7 inches for males, 9 inches for females
Viper dogfish

Trigonognathus kabeyai

Length Up to 1.3 ft
Description Dark brown to blackish body; dorsal fin spines; no anal fin
Food Crustaceans and bony fishes
Habitat Pelagic waters to depths of over 1,000 ft
Reproduction Presumed aplacental vivipary; litter size uncertain; size at maturity 14 inches for males, females uncertain
Velvet dogfish

Scymnodon squamulosus

Length Up to 2.8 ft
Description Black body; flat head, broad pectoral fins, dorsal fin spines; no anal fin
Food Uncertain
Habitat Deep pelagic waters to depths of over 6,000 ft
Reproduction Presumed aplacental vivipary; litter size uncertain; size at maturity 1.6 ft for males, 2.5 ft for females