List of sharks in California

There are numerous species of sharks found in the Pacific Ocean; of these sharks, 36 have habitat ranges throughout the coastlines and surrounding waters of California, as identified below. Identifications include common names; scientific names; the taxonomic rank, family; conservation statuses according to IUCN; and an image. Common nameMiller, D. J, & Lea, R. N. (1972). Fish Bulletin 157. Guide To The Coastal Marine Fishes of California. UC San Diego: Library – Scripps Digital Collection. Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6s04v367Scientific nameFamilyConservation Status (IUCN)ImageCommon thresherAlopias vulpinusAlopiidaeVulnerableBigeye thresherAlopias superciliosusAlopiidaeVulnerableLeopard sharkTriakis semifasciataCarcharhinidaeLeast concernGray smoothhoundMustelus californicusCarcharhinidaeLeast concernBrown smoothhoundMustelus henleiCarcharhinidaeLeast concernSicklefin smoothhoundMustelus lunulatusCarcharhinidaeLeast concernTiger sharkGaleocerdo cuvierCarcharhinidaeNear threatened Oceanic whitetip sharkCarcharhinus longimanusCarcharhinidaeCritically endangeredBlue sharkPrionace glaucaCarcharhinidaeNear threatenedPacific sharpnose sharkRhizoprionodon longurioCarcharhinidaeVulnerableDusky sharkCarcharhinus obscurusCarcharhinidaeEndangeredBull sharkCarcharhinus leucasCarcharhinidaeVulnerableCopper sharkCarcharhinus brachyurusCarcharhinidaeVulnerableBasking sharkCetorhinus maximusCetorhinidaeEndangeredFrilled sharkChlamydoselachus anguineusChlamydoselachidaeLeast concernHorn sharkHeterodontus francisciHeterodontidaeData DeficientSevengill sharkNotorynchus cepedianusHexanchidaeVulnerableBluntnose sixgill sharkHexanchus griseusHexanchidaeNear threatenedWhite sharkCarcharodon carchariasLamnidaeVulnerableShortfin mako sharkIsurus oxyrinchusLamnidaeEndangeredSalmon sharkLamna ditropisLamnidaeLeast concernSmalltooth sand tigerOdontaspis feroxOdontaspididaeVulnerableWhale sharkRhincodon typusRhincodontidaeEndangeredBrown catsharkApristurus brunneusScyliorhinidaeData DeficientLongnose catsharkApristurus kampaeScyliorhinidaeData DeficientSwell sharkCephaloscyllium ventriosumScyliorhinidaeLeast concernFiletail catsharkParmaturus xaniurusScyliorhinidaeLeast concernSmooth hammerheadSphyrna zygaenaSphyrnidaeVulnerableBonnetheadSphyrna tiburoSphyrnidaeEndangeredScalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewiniSphyrnidaeCritically endangeredRigby, C.L., Dulvy, N.K., Barreto, R., Carlson, J., Fernando, D., Fordham, S., Francis, M.P., Herman, K., Jabado, R.W., Liu, K.M., Marshall, A., Pacoureau, N., Romanov, E., Sherley, R.B. & Winker, H. 2019. Sphyrna lewini. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T39385A2918526. Accessed on 25 October 2023.Spiny dogfishSqualus acanthiasSqualidaeVulnerablePacific sleeper sharkSomniosus pacificusSqualidaeNear threatenedPygmy sharkEuprotomicrus bispinatusSqualidaeLeast concernPrickly sharkEchinorhinus cookeiSqualidaeData DeficientPacific angelsharkSquatina californicaSquatinidaeNear threatenedSoupfin shark (also called tope shark or school shark)Galeorhinus galeus TriakidaeCritically endangered

References