I love sharks! And recently I have been wondering: of the hundreds of shark species swimming in our world’s oceans, how many are found in Florida? Well, let’s have a look!
1. Blacktip Sharks
Blacktip sharks, Carcharhinus limbatus, are known for the spinning leaps they make out of the water while feeding on big schools of fish. Sadly, these energetic sharks are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
2. Nurse Sharks
Nurse sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum, are slow-moving sharks and spend most of their time dwelling around the bottom of the ocean. Although they can grow to 14 feet long, they have small teeth and mostly feed opportunistically. Due to the fishing industry Nurse Sharks have a Vulnerable status on the IUCN Red List.
3. Bull Sharks
Bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, can survive in saltwater and freshwater environments. These sharks headbutt their prey to stun them before feeding on them. Due to habitat loss and overfishing these sharks are currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
4. Lemon Sharks
Lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, with their brown and yellow coloring leading to their name, are the most common shark found in Florida. They are no threat to humans and live in groups. Unfortunately, due to overfishing, these sharks too are listed as Vulnerable.
5. Blacknose Sharks
Blacknose Sharks, Carcharhinus acronotus, received their name due to their characteristic black blotch on the tip of their noses. These sharks pose little threat to humans as they feed on smaller fish and octopuses. Due to overfishing, these sharks are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
6. Great Hammerhead Sharks
Great Hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna mokarran, are the largest hammerhead species in the ocean and can reach lengths of 20 feet! Despite their impressive size, these curious sharks rarely harm humans. Unfortunately due to the demand for shark fin, these sharks are listed as Critically Endangered.
7. Tiger Sharks
Tiger sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier, named due to their tiger-like stripes that fade as they age, are solitary animals that feed on a wide variety of marine life and even human garbage. These sharks are listed as Near Threatened due to the cruel act of shark finning and overfishing.
8. Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks
Atlantic Sharkponse sharks, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, are quite small sharks – growing to about 3.9 feet and born at only 15 inches! These pointy-nosed sharks are the first sharks on our list that are marked as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
9. Sandbar Sharks
Sandbar sharks, Carcharhinus plumbeus, are known for their extremely high dorsal fin and heavy bodies reaching weights of 530 pounds. As their name suggests, these sharks swim around close to the ocean’s sandy floors and are currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
10. Great White Sharks
Great White sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, have earned a notorious reputation in the media due to their size, power, and renowned predatory behavior. These torpedo-shaped sharks grow to an average size of 16 feet but still swim at 16 mph and depths of up to 3900 feet! As fearsome as these impressive sharks are, humans are not their first choice of prey. They are listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and overfishing.
11. Caribbean Reef Sharks
Caribbean Reef sharks, Carcharhinus perezi, are loved by divers for their tolerance and patience while sharing the water. These sharks play a significant role in maintaining the ecosystems of coral reef areas by preying on sick fish. They are listed as Endangered due to habitat loss and overfishing.
12. Bonnethead Sharks
Bonnethead sharks, Sphyrna tiburo, are members of the hammerhead family and grow to about three feet in length. These sharks are the only known omnivorous shark species and include significant amounts of seagrass in their diet. Recently their status has been changed to Endangered due to habitat loss and fishing.
13. Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks
Scalloped Hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna lewini, received their name due to the distinctive scallop formation their heads take. Averaging at about 8.2 feet and 80 pounds, these sharks need a lot of food due to their high metabolism, making them constantly on the hunt! These sharks are listed as Critically Endangered mainly due to overfishing.
14. Dusky Sharks
Dusky sharks, Carcharhinus obscurus, are named after their dusky skin complexion. These migratory sharks grow to 13 feet and 770 pounds but still keep their streamlined physique. As one of the slowest growing and maturing sharks, they only reach sexual maturity around 20 years, making their Endangered status all the more worrisome.
15. Spinner Sharks
Spinner sharks, Carcharhinus brevipinna, are named after their acrobatic-like feeding strategy. These sharks speed through large schools of fish while spinning, and leaping out of the water at the end of their burst. Unfortunately, due to many threats, the spinner shark is also listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
16. Silky Sharks
Silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis, are another shark species named after the appearance of their skin, in this case silky smooth! These sharks have incredible hearing, allowing them to find food sources from far distances. These sharks are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, again the aftermath of overfishing.
Final Say on Sharks in Florida
I hope you enjoyed exploring some of the shark species swimming in Florida with me! And just keep in mind, although shark attacks have been recorded these are sporadic events and mostly due to cases of mistaken identity, not malice. That being said, seeing that most of these species are at some level of endangered due to human activities just amplifies the need to act in aiding their conservation.
If you are interested in learning more about sharks and enjoyed this article on sharks swimming in Florida, have a look at these articles:
- The Small Sharks of South Africa’s Underwater Kelp Forests
- Watch The Biggest Great White Shark Ever Recorded off Hawaii Coast
- 35 Shark Species Swimming in California
- 20 Shark Species Found in North Carolina
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