SHARKS OF HAWAI`I - The Most Common Inshore Species

Species Aggressive To Humans:

• Tiger Shark
  • Galapagos Shark
• Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
• Gray Reef Shark

Other Common Species:

• Blacktip Shark
• Reef Blacktip Shark
• Reef White Tip Shark
• Sandbar Shark

Identification: Short vertical bars on side, fading with age to tan or dark gray; broad, blunt snout

Length: Up to 18 feet or more; averages 12-13 feet

Eats: Wide variety of marine animals, carrion

Habitat: Deep coastal waters during daylight, nearshore waters at night

Identification: Large first dorsal fin with nearly vertical rear edge

Length: Up to 10-12 feet

Eats: Bottom fishes

Habitat: Outer reef to deep water, occasionally inshore areas near drop offs

Identification: Front margin of head has four shallow lobes

Length: Up to 12-13 feet with some reaching 15 feet; averages 5-7 feet

Eats: Reef fishes, sharks and rays, cephalopods, crustaceans

Habitat: Found inshore and far at sea; more common in shallow waters during Spring and Summer

Identification: Pelvic and caudal fins have dark margins; second dorsal and anal fins dark; pectoral fin tips dark

Length: Up to 7 feet; averages 3-5 feet

Eats: Bony fishes, occasionally cepalopods and crustaceans

Habitat: Deeper waters on outer edge of the reef

Identification: Fins dark at tips, conspicuous white band extends forward from anal fin into gray area on side

Length: Up to 8 feet

Eats: Bony fishes, occasionally cephalopods and crustaceans

Habitat: Open ocean and coastal waters

Identification: First dorsal fin with large black blotch at tip and cream colored band below; other fins with black tips; caudal fin with black margin; conspicuous white band extends forward from anal fin into tan area on side

Length: Usually less than 4 feet; maximum of 6 feet

Eats: Reef fishes

Habitat: Shallow waters

Identification: Conspicuous white tip on first dorsal fin and upper lobe of caudal fin; second dorsal fin and lower caudal lobe sometimes white-tipped

Length: Up to 6 feet; averages 2-3 feet

Eats: Reef fishes, octopuses

Habitat: Shoreline; shallow reefs

Identification: Large erect dorsal fin set forward on body; sloping forehead

Length: Up to 5-6 feet

Eats: Reef fish and crustaceans

Habitat: Shoreline, harbors and bays