Shark Identification Links | Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Group	Links to pictures & information on other websites The Commission is not responsible for the content of other websites)
Large Coastal	Sandbar, Carcharhinus plumbeus - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Blacktip, Carcharhinus limbatus - b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Bull, Carcharhinus leucas - b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Great hammerhead, Sphyrna mokarran - b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Lemon, Negaprion brevirostris - b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Nurse, Ginglymostoma cirratum - b/w line (external site) - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Scalloped hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini - b/w line (external site) - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Silky, Carcharhinus falciformis - b/w line (external site) - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Smooth hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena - b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Spinner, Carcharhinus brevipinna - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Tiger, Galeocerdo cuvier - b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site)
Pelagic	Blue, Prionace glauca - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Oceanic whitetip, Carcharhinus longimanus - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Porbeagle, Lamna nasus - b/w line (external site) - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus - b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Thresher, Alopias vulpinus - b/w line & info (external site) - field key (external site)
Prohibited	Atlantic angel, Squatina dumeril - b/w line (external site) - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Basking, Cetorhinus maximus - b/w line (external site) - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Bigeye sand tiger, Odontaspis noronhai - b/w line (external site) - b/w line & info (external site) Bigeye sixgill, Hexanchus nakamurai - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Bigeye thresher, Alopias superciliosus - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Bignose, Carcharhinus altimus - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Caribbean reef, Carcharhinus perezi - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Caribbean sharpnose, Rhizoprionodon porosus - pic & info (external site) Dusky, Carcharhinus obscurus - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Galapagos, Carcharhinus galapagensis - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Longfin mako, Isurus paucus - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Narrowtooth, Carcharhinus brachyurus - pic & info (external site) Night, Carcharhinus signatus - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Sand tiger, Carcharias taurus - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Sevengill, Heptranchias perlo - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Sixgill, Hexanchus griseus - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Smalltail, Carcharhinus porosus - pic & info (external site) Whale, Rhincodon typus -b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) White, Carcharodon carcharias - b/w line (external site) - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site)
Small Coastal	Atlantic sharpnose, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae - b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Blacknose, Carcharhinus acronotus - b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Bonnethead, Sphyrna tiburo - b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Finetooth, Carcharhinus isodon - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site)
Dogfish	Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias - b/w line (external site) - b/w line & info (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site) Smooth Dogfish, Mustelus canis- b/w line (external site) - pic & info (external site) - field key (external site)
Link to VIMS shark FAQs (external site) NOAA shark ID video for recreational fishermen (external site) Link to NOAA/NMFS Atlantic shark identification placard for anglers (PDF) (external site) Additional NOAA Sea Grant Atlantic shark identification placards: One (PDF) and Two (PDF) Link to the regulation pertaining to sharks (external site)