Checklist of Living Sharks

(Revised 1 January 2007)

I am frequently asked to provide shark enthusiasts an up-to-date list of known shark species. Such requests typically come from people who are convinced that there must be an internationally agreed-upon list of all known species by their correct scientific names, arranged in standard taxonomic groups, such as genus, family, and order. Regrettably, no such list exists and, with the best of current data, it is not possible to construct such a list with any certainty.

New phylogenetic approaches and tools — including, in particular, molecular genetics — are revolutionizing shark classification. But it is far from clear what these new data mean and how to rectify them with data from more traditional phylogenetic approaches, such as hard and soft tissue morphology. New evidence germane to shark classification pours in almost daily from paleontology, embryology, comparative physiology, zoogeography, and other scientific disciplines. But, rather than clarifying shark interrelationships, these data often make matters even more ambiguous.

What follows is my best attempt to classify all known extant shark species, both formally described and as-yet undescribed, in a way that seems to reflect their probable evolutionary relatedness. Although much of this list agrees well with recently published lists (see, for example, "Checklist of Living Chondrichthyan Fishes" by Leonard J.V. Compagno, pp 401-423 in Sarah L. Fowler et al. [eds.], Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras: the Status of the Chondrichthyan Fishes. IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group, Gland, 2005), it does differ in several important respects. This is very much a work in progress.

I am reasonably confident about the arrangement within the Squalea and most of the Galea, except for parts of the order Carcharhiniformes. A few of the more problematical areas are:

  1. the large deep-sea genus Apristurus (family Scyliorhinidae) is in dire need of systematic revision (there may be as many as 48 valid species or as few as 25),

  2. placement of Scoliodon remains uncertain (it is clearly allied with Rhizoprionodon and the hammerheads, family Sphyrnidae, but exactly how this poorly-known shark is related is difficult to determine),
  3. placement of Isogomphodon and Triaenodon are difficult because each of these monotypic genera feature a very odd combination of characters, and
  4. the family Carcharhinidae (as listed here) is perhaps the most complex and contentious group, especially those traditionally lumped within the genus Carcharhinus. If Prionace and Negaprion are valid genera, Carcharhinus is clearly polyphyletic. But how that genus should be sub-divided remains an open question which I am presently investigating with a colleague, geneticist Mahmood Shivji, of Nova Southeastern University.

I am by inclination a "lumper", preferring to classify creatures into the smallest number of groups that adequately reflects their evolutionary diversity. Despite this inclination, in many cases here it seemed best to provisionally split difficult or contentious taxa from more clearly defined groups. I hope that, eventually, these artificially separated groups can be re-inserted in their proper phylogenetic position and the total number of shark taxa can be significantly reduced. Until then, it is best to regard this list as highly provisional. If you want a more conservative list and don't mind one that's a little out-of-date, I would recommend the aforementioned checklist by Compagno.

Order Chlamydoselachiformes - Frilled Shark

Family Chlamydoselachidae - Frilled Shark

Genus Chlamydoselachus

Chlamydoselachus anguineus

Garman

1884

Frilled Shark

Chlamydoselachus sp. A

Ebert & Compagno

 

Southern African Frilled Shark

Order Hexanchiformes - Cow Sharks

Family Hexanchidae - Cow Sharks

Genus Heptranchias

Heptranchias perlo

(Bonnaterre)

1788

Sharpnose Sevengill Shark

 

Genus Hexanchus

Hexanchus griseus

(Bonnaterre)

1788

Bluntnose Sixgill Shark

Hexanchus nakamurai

Teng

1962

Bigeye Sixgill Shark

 

Genus Notorynchus

Notorynchus cepedianus

(Peron)

1807

Broadnose Sevengill Shark

 

Order Echinorhiniformes - Bramble Sharks

Family Echinorhinidae - Bramble Sharks

Genus Echinorhinus

Echinorhinus brucus

(Bonnaterre)

1788

Bramble Shark

Echinorhinus cookei

Pietschmann

1928

Prickly Shark

 

Order Squaliformes - Dogfish Sharks

Family Squalidae - Dogfish Sharks

Genus Cirrhigaleus

Cirrhigaleus asper

(Merrett)

1973

Roughskin Spurdog

Cirrhigaleus barbifer

Tanaka

1912

Mandarin Dogfish

 

Genus Squalus

Squalus acanthias

Linnaeus

1758

Spiny Dogfish

Squalus blainvillei?

(Risso)

1826

Longnose Spurdog

Squalus brevirostris

Tanaka

1912

Japanese Shortnose Spurdog

Squalus cubensis

Howell-Rivero

1936

Cuban Dogfish

Squalus japonicus

Ishikawa

1908

Japanese Spurdog

Squalus lalannei

Baranes

2003

Seychelles Spurdog

Squalus megalops

Macleay

1881

Shortnose Spurdog

Squalus melanurus

Fourmanoir

1979

Blacktail Spurdog

Squalus mitsukurii

Jordan & Snyder

1903

Shortspine Spurdog

Squalus probatovi

Myagkov & Kondyurin

1986

Angola Dogfish

Squalus rancureli

Fourmanoir

1978

Cyrano Spurdog

Squalus sp. A

Last & Stevens

1994

Bartail Spurdog

Squalus sp. B

Last & Stevens

1994

Eastern Highfin Spurdog

Squalus sp. C

Last & Stevens

1994

Western Highfin Spurdog

Squalus sp. D

Last & Stevens

1994

Fatspine Spurdog

Squalus sp. E

Last & Stevens

1994

Western Longnose Spurdog

Squalus sp. F

Last & Stevens

1994

Eastern Longnose Spurdog

Squalus sp. G

Last & Compagno

in prep.

Philippines Longnose Spurdog

 

Family Centrophoridae - Gulper Sharks

Genus Centrophorus

Centrophorus acus

Garman

1913

Needle Dogfish

Centrophorus atromarginatus

(Bloch & Schneider)

1801

Gulper Shark

Centrophorus harrissoni

McCulloch

1915

Longnose Gulper Shark

Centrophorus isodon

Chu, Meng & Liu

1981

Blackfin Gulper Shark

Centrophorus lusitanicus

Bocage & Capello

1864

Lowfin Gulper Shark

Centrophorus moluccensis

Bleeker

1860

Smallfin Gulper Shark

Centrophorus niaukang

Teng

1959

Taiwan Gulper Shark

Centrophorus sechellorum

Baranes

2003

Seychelles Gulper Shark

Centrophorus squamosus

(Bonnaterre)

1788

Leafscale Gulper Shark

Centrophorus tessellatus

Garman

1906

Mosaic Gulper Shark

Centrophorus sp. A

Séret

in prep.

New Caledonian Gulper Shark

 

Genus Deania

Deania calcea

(Lowe)

1839

Birdbeak Dogfish

Deania hystricosum

(Garman)

1906

Rough Longnose Dogfish

Deania profundorum

(Smith & Radcliffe)

1912

Arrowhead Dogfish

Deania quadrispinosum

(McCulloch)

1915

Longsnout Dogfish

 

Family Etmopteridae - Lantern Sharks

Genus Aculeola

Aculeola nigra

de Buen

1959

Hooktooth Dogfish

 

Genus Centroscyllium

Centroscyllium excelsum

Shirai & Nakaya

1990

Highfin Dogfish

Centroscyllium fabricii

(Reinhardt)

1825

Black Dogfish

Centroscyllium granulatum

Günther

1887

Granular Dogfish

Centroscyllium kamoharai

Abe

1966

Bareskin Dogfish

Centroscyllium nigrum

Garman

1899

Combtooth Dogfish

Centroscyllium ornatum

(Alcock)

1889

Ornate Dogfish

Centroscyllium ritteri

Jordan & Fowler

1903

Whitefin Dogfish

 

Genus Etmopterus

Etmopterus baxteri

Garrick

1957

New Zealand Lanternshark

Etmopterus bigelowi

Shirai & Tachikawa

1993

Blurred Smooth Lanternshark

Etmopterus brachyurus

Smith & Radcliffe

1912

Shorttail Lanternshark

Etmopterus bullisi

Bigelow & Schroeder

1957

Lined Lanternshark

Etmopterus burgessi

Schaaf-da Silva & Ebert

2006

Taiwan Lanternshark

Etmopterus carteri

Springer & Burgess

1985

Cylindrical Lanternshark

Etmopterus caudistigmus

Last, Burgess & Séret

2002

Tailspot Lanternshark

Etmopterus compagnoi

Frike & Koch

1990

Brown Lanternshark

Etmopterus decacuspidatus

Chan

1966

Combtooth Lanternshark

Etmopterus dianthus

Last, Burgess & Séret

2002

Pink Lanternshark

Etmopterus dislineatus

Last, Burgess & Séret

2002

Lined Lanternshark

Etmopterus evansi

Last, Burgess & Séret

2002

Blackmouth Lanternshark

Etmopterus fuscus

Last, Burgess & Séret

2002

Pygmy Lanternshark

Etmopterus gracilispinis

Krefft

1968

Broadband Lanternshark

Etmopterus granulosus

(Günther)

1880

Southern Lanternshark

Etmopterus hillianus

(Poey)

1861

Caribbean Lanternshark

Etmopterus litvinovi

Parin & Kotlyar

1990

Smalleye Lanternshark

Etmopterus lucifer

Jordan & Snyder

1902

Blackbelly Lanternshark

Etmopterus molleri

(Whitley)

1939

Slendertail Lanternshark

Etmopterus perryi

Springer & Burgess

1985

Dwarf Lanternshark

Etmopterus polli

Bigelow, Schroeder & Springer

1953

African Lanternshark

Etmopterus princeps

Collett

1904

Great Lanternshark

Etmopterus pseudosqualiolus

Last, Burgess & Séret

2002

False Pygmy Shark

Etmopterus pusillus

(Lowe)

1839

Smooth Lanternshark

Etmopterus pycnolepis

Kotlyar

1990

Densescale Lanternshark

Etmopterus robinsi

Schofield & Burgess

1997

West Indian Lanternshark

Etmopterus schmidti

Dolganov

1986

Darkbelly Lanternshark

Etmopterus schultzi

Bigelow, Schroeder & Springer

1953

Fringefin Lanternshark

Etmopterus sentosus

Bass, D'Aubrey & Kistnasamy

1976

Thorny Lanternshark

Etmopterus spinax

(Linneaus)

1758

Velvet Belly

Etmopterus splendidus

Yano

1988

Splendid Lanternshark

Etmopterus tasmaniensis?

Myagkov & Pavlov

1986

Tasmanian Lanternshark

Etmopterus unicolor

(Engelhardt)

1912

Brown Lanternshark

Etmopterus villosus

Gilbert

1905

Hawaiian Lanternshark

Etmopterus virens

Bigelow, Schroeder & Springer

1953

Green Lanternshark

Etmopterus sp. B?

Last & Stevens

1994

Bristled Lanternshark

Etmopterus sp.

Compagno

in prep.

Guadalupe Lanternshark

Etmopterus sp.

Compagno

in prep.

Chillean Lanternshark

Etmopterus sp. near brachyurus

Compagno & Ebert

in prep.

Sculpted Lanternshark (southern Africa)

Etmopterus sp. near princeps

Compagno

in prep.

(Inaccessible Island)

Etmopterus sp. near baxteri

Compagno & Ebert

in prep.

Giant Lanternshark (southern Africa)

 

Genus Miroscyllium

Miroscyllium skeikoi

Dolganov

1986

Rasptooth Dogfish

 

Genus Trigonognathus

Trigonognathus kabeyai

Mochizuki & Ohe

1990

Viper Dogfish

 

Family Somniosidae - Sleeper Sharks

Genus Centroscymnus

Centroscymnus coelolepis

Bocage & Capello

1864

Portugese Dogfish

Centroscymnus owstoni

Garman

1906

Roughskin Dogfish

 

Genus Centroselachus

Centroselachus crepidator

(Bocage & Capello)

1864

Longnose Velvet Dogfish

 

Genus Proscymnodon

Proscymnodon macracanthus

(Regan)

1906

Largespine Velvet Dogfish

Proscymnodon plunketi

(Waite)

1910

Plunket Shark

 

Genus Scymnodalatias

Scymnodalatias albicauda

Taniuchi & Garrick

1986

Whitetail Dogfish

Scymnodalatias garricki

Kukuyev & Konovalenko

1988

Azores Dogfish

Scymnodalatias oligodon

Kukuyev & Konovalenko

1988

Sparsetooth Dogfish

Scymnodalatias sherwoodi

(Archey)

1921

Sherwood Dogfish

 

Genus Scymnodon

Scymnodon ringens

Bocage & Capello

1864

Knifetooth Dogfish

 

Genus Somniosus

Somniosus antarcticus

Whitley

1939

Southern Sleeper Shark

Somniosus longus

Tanaka

1912

Frog Shark

Somniosus microcephalus

(Bloch & Schneider)

1801

Greenland Shark

Somniosus pacificus

Bigelow & Schroeder

1944

Pacific Sleeper Shark

Somniosus rostratus

(Risso)

1810

Little Sleeper Shark

Somniosus sp?

Compagno

1984

Longnose Sleeper Shark

 

Genus Zameus

Zameus ichiharai

(Yano & Tanaka)

1984

Japanese Velvet Dogfish

Zameus squamulosus

(Günther)

1877

Velvet Dogfish

 

Family Oxynotidae - Rough Sharks

Genus Oxynotus

Oxynotus bruniensis

(Ogilby)

1893

Prickly Dogfish

Oxynotus caribbaeus

Cervigon

1961

Caribbean Roughshark

Oxynotus centrina

(Linneaus)

1758

Angular Roughshark

Oxynotus japonicus

Yano & Morofushi

1985

Japanese Roughshark

Oxynotus paradoxus

Frade

1929

Sailfin Roughshark

 

Family Dalatiidae - Kitefin Sharks

Genus Dalatias

Dalatias licha

(Bonnaterre)

1788

Kitefin Shark

 

Genus Euprotomicroides

Euprotomicroides zantedeschia

Hulley & Penrith

1966

Taillight Shark

 

Genus Euprotomicrus

Euprotomicrus bispinatus

(Quoy & Gaimard)

1824

Pygmy Shark

 

Genus Heteroscymnoides

Heteroscymnoides marleyi

Fowler

1934

Longnose Pygmy Shark

 

Genus Isistius

Isistius brasiliensis

(Quoy & Gaimard)

1824

Cookiecutter Shark

Isistius labialis

Meng, Chu & Li

1985

South China Cookiecutter Shark

Isistius plutodus

Garrick & Springer

1964

Largetooth Cookie Cutter Shark

 

Genus Mollisquama

Mollisquama parini

Dolganov

1984

Pocket Shark

 

Genus Squaliolus

Squaliolus aliae

Teng

1959

Smalleye Pygmy Shark

Squaliolus laticaudus

Smith & Radcliffe

1912

Spined Pygmy Shark

 

Order Squatiniformes - Angel Sharks

Family Squatinidae - Angel Sharks

Genus Squatina

Squatina aculeata

Dumeril

1817

Sawback Angelshark

Squatina africana

Regan

1908

African Angelshark

Squatina argentina

Marini

1930

Argentine Angelshark

Squatina armata

(Phillipi)

1887

Chilean Angelshark

Squatina australis

Regan

1906

Australian Angelshark

Squatina californica

Ayres

1859

Pacific Angelshark

Squatina dumeril

Lesueur

1818

Sand Devil

Squatina formosa

Shen & Ting

1972

Taiwan Angelshark

Squatina guggenheim

Marini

1936

Hidden Angelshark

Squatina japonica

Bleeker

1858

Japanese Angelshark

Squatina nebulosa

Regan

1906

Clouded Angelshark

Squatina oculata

Bonaparte

1840

Smoothback Angelshark

Squatina punctata

Marini

1936

Angular Angelshark

Squatina squatina

(Linneaus)

1758

Angelshark

Squatina tergocellata

McCulloch

1914

Ornate Angelshark

Squatina tergocellatoides

Chen

1963

Ocellated Angelshark

Squatina sp. A

Last & Stevens

1994

Eastern Angelshark

Squatina sp. B

Last & Stevens

1994

Western Angelshark

Squatina sp.

Applegate

in prep.

Cortez Angelshark

 

Order Pristiophoriformes - Saw Sharks

Family Pristiophoridae - Saw Sharks

Genus Pliotrema

Pliotrema warreni

Regan

1906

Sixgill Sawshark

 

Genus Pristiophorus

Pristiophorus cirratus

(Latham)

1794

Longnose Sawshark

Pristiophorus japonicus

Günther

1870

Japanese Sawshark

Pristiophorus nudipinnis

Günther

1870

Shortnose Sawshark

Pristiophorus schroederi

Springer & Bullis

1960

Bahamas Sawshark

Pristiophorus sp. A

Last & Stevens

1994

Eastern Sawshark

Pristiophorus sp. B

Last & Stevens

1994

Tropical Sawshark

Pristiophorus sp.

Compagno

in prep.

Philippine Sawshark

Pristiophorus sp.

Stehmann

in prep.

Dwarf Sawshark (western Indian Ocean)

 

Order Heterodontiformes - Bullhead Sharks

Family Heterodontidae - Bullhead Sharks

Genus Heterodontus

Heterodontus francisci

(Girard)

1854

Horn Shark

Heterodontus galeatus

(Günther)

1870

Crested Bullhead Shark

Heterodontus japonicus

(Maclay & Macleay)

1884

Japansese Horn Shark

Heterodontus mexicanus

Taylor & Castro-Aguirre

1972

Mexican Hornshark

Heterodontus omanensis

Baldwin

2005

Oman Bullhead Shark

Heterodontus portusjacksoni

(Meyer)

1793

Port Jackson Shark

Heterodontus quoyi

(Freminville)

1840

Galapagos Bullhead Shark

Heterodontus ramalheira

(Smith)

1949

Whitespotted Bullhead Shark

Heterodontus zebra

(Gray)

1831

Zebra Bullhead Shark

 

Order Orectolobiformes - Carpet Sharks

Family Parascylliidae - Collared Carpetsharks

Genus Cirroscyllium

Cirrhoscyllium expolitum

Smith & Radcliffe

1913

Barbelthroat Carpetshark

Cirrhoscyllium formosanum

Teng

1959

Taiwan Saddled Carpetshark

Cirrhoscyllium japonicum

Kamohara

1943

Saddled Carpetshark

 

Genus Parascyllium

Parascyllium collarae

Ramsay & Ogilby

1888

Collared Carpetshark

Parascyllium ferrugineum

McCulloch

1911

Rusty Carpetshark

Parascyllium sparsimaculatum

Goto & Last

2002

Ginger Carpetshark

Parascyllium variolatum

(Dumeril)

1843

Necklace Carpetshark

 

Family Brachaeluridae - Blind Sharks

Genus Brachaelurus

Brachaelurus waddi

(Bloch & Schneider)

1801

Blind Shark

 

Genus Heteroscyllium

Heteroscyllium colcloughi

(Ogilby)

1908

Bluegrey Carpetshark

 

Family Orectolobidae - Wobbegongs

Genus Eucrossorhinus

Eucrossorhinus dasypogon

(Bleeker)

1867

Tasselled Wobbegong

 

Genus Orectolobus

Orectolobus halei

Whitley

1940

Gulf Wobbegong

Orectolobus hutchinsi

Last, Chidlow & Compagno

2006

Western Wobbegong

Orectolobus japonicus

Regan

1906

Japanese Wobbegong

Orectolobus maculatus

(Bonnaterre)

1788

Spotted Wobbegong

Orectolobus ornatus

(de Vis)

1883

Ornate Wobbegong

Orectolobus wardi

Whitley

1939

Northern Wobbegong

Orectolobus sp.

 

 

Dwarf Spotted Wobbegong (Western Australia)

Orectolobus sp.

 

 

False Cobbler Wobbegong (Western Australia)

 

Genus Sutorectus

Sutorectus tentaculatus

(Peters)

1864

Cobbler Wobbegong

 

Family Hemiscylliidae - Bamboo Sharks

Genus Chiloscyllium

Chiloscyllium arabicum

Gubanov

1980

Arabian Carpetshark

Chiloscyllium burmensis

Dingerkus & DeFino

1983

Burmese Bambooshark

Chiloscyllium griseum

Müller & Henle

1838

Grey Bambooshark

Chiloscyllium hasselti

Bleeker

1852

Indonesian Bambooshark

Chiloscyllium indicum

(Gmelin)

1789

Slender Bambooshark

Chiloscyllium plagiosum

(Bennett)

1830

Whitespotted Bambooshark

Chiloscyllium punctatum

Müller & Henle

1838

Brownbanded Bambooshark

 

Genus Hemiscyllium

Hemiscyllium freycineti

(Quoy & Gaimard)

1824

Indonesian Speckled Carpetshark

Hemiscyllium hallstromi

Whitley

1967

Papuan Epaulette Shark

Hemiscyllium ocellatum

(Bonnaterre)

1788

Epaulette Shark

Hemiscyllium strahani

Whitley

1967

Hooded Carpetshark

Hemiscyllium trispeculare

Richardson

1843

Speckled Carpetshark

Hemiscyllium sp.

Compagno

 

Seychelles Carpetshark

Hemiscyllium sp.

Erdmann

 

(Papua New Guinea)

Hemiscyllium sp.

Erdmann

 

(Papua New Guinea)

 

Family Ginglymostomatidae - Nurse Sharks

Genus Ginglymostoma

Ginglymostoma cirratum

(Bonnaterre)

1788

Nurse Shark

 

Genus Nebrius

Nebrius ferrigineus

(Lesson)

1830

Tawny Nurse Shark

 

Genus Pseudoginglymostoma

Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudata

(Günther)

1866

Shorttail Nurse Shark

 

Family Stegostomatidae - Zebra Shark

Genus Stegostoma

Stegostoma varium

Seba

1758

Zebra Shark

 

Family Rhincodontidae - Whale Shark

Genus Rhincodon

Rhincodon typus

Smith

1828

Whale Shark

 

Order Lamniformes - Mackerel Sharks

Family Mitsukurinidae - Goblin Shark

Genus Mitsukurina

Mitsukurina owstoni

Jordan

1898

Goblin Shark

 

Family Carchariidae - Sandtiger Shark

Genus Carcharias

Carcharias taurus

Rafinesque

1810

Sandtiger

 

Family Odontaspididae - Ragged-Tooth Sharks

Genus Odontaspis

Odontaspis ferox

(Risso)

1810

Smalltooth Sandtiger

Odontaspis noronhai

(Maul)

1955

Bigeye Sandtiger

 

Family Alopiidae - Thresher Sharks

Genus Alopias

Alopias pelagicus

Nakamura

1935

Pelagic Thresher

Alopias superciliosus

Lowe

1839

Bigeye Thresher

Alopias vulpinus

(Bonnaterre)

1788

Thresher Shark

 

Family Megachasmidae - Megamouth Shark

Genus Megachasma

Megachasma pelagios

Taylor, Compagno & Struhsaker

1983

Megamouth Shark

 

Family Pseudocarchariidae - Crocodile Shark

Genus Pseudocarcharias

Pseudocarcharias kamoharai

(Matsubara)

1936

Crocodile Shark

 

Family Cetorhinidae - Basking Shark

Genus Cetorhinus

Cetorhinus maximus

Gunnerus

1765

Basking Shark

 

Family Lamnidae - Mackerel Sharks

Genus Carcharodon

Carcharodon carcharias

(Linneus)

1758

White Shark

 

Genus Isurus

Isurus oxyrinchus

Rafinesque

1810

Shortfin Mako

Isurus paucus

Guitart Manday

1966

Longfin Mako

 

Genus Lamna

Lamna ditropis

Hubbs & Follett

1947

Salmon Shark

Lamna nasus

(Bonnaterre)

1788

Porbeagle

 

Order Carcharhiniformes - Ground Sharks

Family Scyliorhinidae - Cat Sharks

Genus Apristurus

Apristurus acanutus

Chu, Meng & Li

1985