Atlantic Sharpnose Shark:
The Atlantic sharpnose shark is one of the most common species of shark found along the gulf coast states of the United States. They are present in tropical and warm temperate waters of the western north Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. They can be found in salty estuaries, surf zones, and offshore around structure.
The Atlantic sharpnose shark can get as big as 4 feet in length. This species often forms large schools of the same size and sex. They spend the warmer months near shallow water and move to deeper water during the cooler months. This species feeds on fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.
The appearance of the Atlantic sharpnose shark is brown to gray on the dorsal side and white or lighter on the ventral side. The snout is long and parabolic with long upper furrows. The nostrils are far apart. Adults have light or faded white spots. The pectoral fins have a lighter trailing edge. These sharks has a slight interdorsal ridge between the first and second dorsal fin. The second dorsal fin is black or dusky.
Male Atlantic sharpnose sharks reach maturity by 31 inches in length while females mature by 35 inches. Maturity is usually reached by age four. They normally have four to seven pups at birth.
Blacknose Shark:
The blacknose shark is a fairly common species of shark found along the gulf coast states of the United States. Their range is limited to the Western Atlantic from North Carolina to Florida, Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, Antilles, Venezuela, and down to southern Brazil. Blacknose sharks can be found in shallow coastal areas, surf zones, and offshore waters around structure.
The blacknose shark can commonly reach 4 feet in length, but it can grow as long as 6 feet 6 inches. This species can form large schools. They feed primarily on small fishes.
The appearance of the blacknose shark can vary greatly. It has been observed having a gray, gray with a hint of green or yellow, or brown color. This species has a distinctive spot on the tip of the snout that is black or dusky in color. This spot fades with age. The dorsal fin starts just in front of the trailing edge of the pectoral fins. The first dorsal fin and pectoral fins are small in size. There is no interdorsal ridge. The second dorsal fin and dorsal caudal fin has black/dusky tips. This species is sometimes confused with a lemon shark due to its color. The lemon shark has a tall second dorsal fin. The blacknose shark has small second dorsal fin.
Both male and female blacknose sharks mature by the length of 3 feet 5 inches and at age two. This species has three to six pups in a litter that are usually 17 inches to 20 inches long at birth.
Blacktip Shark:
The blacktip shark is one of the most common species of shark found along the gulf coast states of the United States. This species is normally found in all tropical and subtropical waters of the world. They can be present in shallow water bays and lagoons, surf zones, and around offshore structures.
Best known for its hard runs and leaping ability, the blacktip is often confused with spinner sharks because of their leaping ability and looks. Both blacktip and spinner sharks share similar feeding behavior. They will swim up through a school of fish snapping their mouth open and shut while spinning. This often happens near the surface and the sharks are seen leaping out of the water. The shark then swims back and picks up pieces of fish. Feeding frenzies do occur with this method of feeding. They primarily feed on small fish and squid, but will feed on smaller sharks and rays.
Adult blacktip sharks form same sex schools. Males tend to stay in deeper, cooler waters while the females prefer the warmer, shallower waters. Juvenile blacktip sharks form mixed sex schools in shallow water areas.
The appearance of the blacktip shark is gray-bronze or gray-brown on the dorsal side and white on the ventral side. The dorsal fin is either in front or even with the trailing edge of the pectoral fins. They have a conspicuous white band along their flank. The pectoral fins have black tips. The anal fin does not have a blacktip tip like a spinner shark. No interdorsal ridge.
Male blacktip sharks mature at about 4 feet 6 inches in length. Females mature at about 5 feet in length. Once the female blacktip reaches maturity, it reproduces every two years. Conception happens in August and September. They carry their pups for 9 months. Birth of the pups happens in May and June. This species commonly has four to seven pups in a litter that are usually 22 to 26 inches at birth.
Bull Shark:
The bull shark is a fairly common species found along the gulf coast states of the United States. They are present along the coasts of all tropical to warm temperate waters of the world. This species can be found in rivers, bays, surf zones, and around offshore structures.
Bull sharks commonly reach 8 feet in length, but can get as big as 11 feet. They can tolerate a wide range of salinity and temperature ranges. Bull sharks have been known to travel far up into rivers. This species feeds on a wide variety of fish, sea turtles, rays, sharks, squids, and marine mammals.
The appearance of the bull shark is gray to brownish gray on the dorsal side and white on the ventral side. The snout is short and broad. They have a stocky body. Juveniles have black or dusky fin tips that fade with age. Adults may retain the black or dusky color on the underside of the pectoral fins. This species lacks an interdorsal ridge.
Male and female bulls sharks mature by 7 feet 6 inches in length. A bull shark's gestation period is about 11 months. They give birth to one to 13 pups that are 22 inches to 32 inches in length.
Finetooth Shark:
The finetooth shark is a common species along the gulf coast states of the United States. This species' range is limited to the Western Atlantic from New York to Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, and south to southern Brazil. The finetooth shark is primarily found in shallow coastal areas, surf zones, and offshore waters around structure.
The finetooth shark can commonly reach 5 feet in length, but can grow as long as 6 feet 6 inches in length. This species usually form large schools. They feed on small fishes and squid.
The appearance of the finetooth shark is a dark gray to a bluish gray on the dorsal side and white on the ventral side. The snout is long and pointed, the eyes are fairly large, and the gill slits are long. The dorsal fin is either in front or even with the trailing edge of the pectoral fins. The fins lack any type of conspicuous markings. The finetooth shark lacks an interdorsal ridge. The finetooth is often mistaken for a small dusky shark which has an interdorsal ridge and smaller gill slits.
Male finetooth sharks mature at about 4 feet 7 inches in length. Females mature at about 5 feet in length. This species commonly has one to six pups in a litter that are usually 19 to 24 inches at birth.
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Great Hammerhead Shark:
The great hammerhead shark is a fairly common species of shark found along the gulf coast states of the United States. This species can be found in nearly all tropical and warm temperate waters of the world. They can be found near to shore around structure, coral reefs, and sandy bottom areas, but are more common around offshore structure and over the continental shelf.
Great hammerhead sharks can commonly reach up to 12 feet in length, but some individuals have been observed as big as 20 feet long. This species feeds on a wide variety of fish, but it has a particular liking for sharks and rays. It will pin a ray down with the side of the head, then continues to pin down the ray while swimming in circles and biting chunks off until it is completely consumed.
The appearance of the great hammerhead shark is gray to brown on the dorsal side and a white or lighter ventral side. The leading edge of the head is straight with the exception of an indentation near the center. When compared to the other hammerhead species, the great hammerhead shark has the tallest dorsal fin. Adults have no fin markings, but juveniles do have a dusky color tip on the second dorsal fin. There is no interdorsal ridge present on this species.
Male great hammerheads mature by 9 feet in length while females mature by 10 feet. They have a gestation period of 11 months and give birth to 10 to 40 pups per litter. These pups are 25 inches to 28 inches long at birth.
Lemon Shark:
The lemon shark is present in all tropical and subtropical waters of the world, but in the Gulf of Mexico is only common in the eastern portion. They are present in inshore bays that have seagrass and mangroves habitats and out to shallow offshore structures.
Lemon sharks can tolerate a wide range of salinity levels. They can also tolerate low levels of oxygen. Lemon sharks can commonly reach up to 8 feet in length, but can grow as large as 11 feet long. They feed on fish, crustaceans, rays, and mollusks.
The appearance of the lemon shark is yellow-brown color on the dorsal side and white to lighter color on the ventral side. The fins are large. The first and second dorsal fin are almost equal in size. The eyes are large and the snout is short. The lemon shark has dagger-like teeth. The head is broad and flat. They do not have any markings on their fins or an interdorsal ridge.
Female lemon sharks mature by 8 feet in length. This species only reproduces every two years. They have a gestation period of 12 months and give birth to 4 to 17 pups per litter. These pups are 23 inches to 28 inches long at birth.
Sandbar Shark:
The sandbar shark is a common species of shark found along the gulf coast states of the United States. This species is usually found in all tropical and temperate waters of the world. They are often found over continental and island shelves, but can be found along sandy beaches. They move into bay systems and shallow water estuaries to give birth.
They are hard swimming sharks that make for a great fight. This species is highly migratory and often cover a lot ground. It is believed that sandbar sharks may have seasonal movements from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Adult sandbar sharks form same sex schools. These schools can consist of a hundred sharks.
The appearance of the sandbar shark is gray-bronze or gray-brown on the dorsal side and white on the ventral side. The dorsal fin is either in front or even with the trailing edge of the pectoral fins. The underside of the pectoral fins have dusky tips. The dorsal fin is tall with a rounded apex. They have an interdorsal ridge between the first and second dorsal fin. The snout is rounded, but not as blunt as a bull shark or tiger shark.
Male sandbar sharks mature between 4 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 10 inches in length. Females mature between 4 feet 9 inches and 6 feet in length. Female sandbar sharks have a bi-annual reproductive cycle. They take a year off between pregnancies. Mating can occur in the spring and summer months. The gestation period is 8 to 12 months long. They give birth from June to August and have between one and 14 pups. At birth, the size of the pups can range from 22 inches to 30 inches.
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark:
The scalloped hammerhead shark is the most abundant species of hammerheads along the gulf coast states of the United States. This species is present in all tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate waters of the world. They can be found in shallow water estuaries, surf zones, and offshore structures.
Scalloped hammerheads commonly reach 10 feet in length, but can reach 13 feet in length. This species can be found in large schools, especially around structure. They primarily feed on small fishes and squids, but will feed on smaller sharks.
The appearance of the scalloped hammerhead shark is olive or gray-brown on the dorsal side and white on the ventral side. The dorsal fin starts over or just behind the trailing edge of the pectoral fins. The head has a indentation at the center of the head and two smaller lobes towards the ends.
Male scalloped hammerhead sharks mature by the time they reach 5 feet 3 inches in length. Females mature at about 6 feet 7 inches in length. After conception, the gestation period is usually nine to ten months long. This species commonly has 15 to 30 pups that are 15 inches to 20 inches at birth.
Tiger Shark:
The tiger shark was once an abundant species along the gulf coast states of the United States, but now it is considered an uncommon catch for anglers. The species can be found in all tropical and temperate waters of the world. They are more commonly found in coastal waters, surf zones, and offshore structures; but can exist in pelagic environments.
Tiger sharks commonly reach 13 feet in length, but they have been known to exceed 15 feet. This species usually lives a solitary life. They appear to be sluggish, but they are capable of quick bursts of speed. Tiger sharks are known as the garbage cans of the sea. They will eat just about anything. Their diet includes sea turtles, sea birds, sharks, rays, marine mammals, and fish.
The appearance of the tiger shark is gray with brown stripes on adults and spots on juveniles. The ventral side is lighter in color. The stripes fade with age. The snout is blunt and almost square in shape. The body is stocky, but the tail is slender.
Both male and female tiger sharks reach maturity at about 10 feet in length and about age seven. Tiger sharks have a two year reproductive cycle. Gestation last a little longer than a year before they give birth to 10 to 80 pups in the late spring or early summer. The pups are usually 20 inches to 30 inches long at birth.
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