[ SHARKS OF HAWAI`I: MOST COMMON INSHORE SPECIES | LIFEGUARDS' HOME PAGE | BEACH DIRECTORY | SHARKS OF HAWAI`I | OCEAN SAFETY OFFICERS - LIFEGUARDS | OCEAN SAFETY DIVISION | JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAM | HAWAIIAN LIFEGUARD ASSOCIATION ]
[ Beach & Ocean Hazards | Dangerous Ocean Organisms | Ocean Safety Signs: Page 1 & Page 2 | Sun Safety ]
[ Electronic Country Store | Search Engines And Pages | SITE MAP ]
[ SURF REPORT | MARINE WEATHER]


SHARKS OF HAWAI`I
- The Most Common
Inshore Species -


[LINE]

Species Aggressive To Humans:

Other Common Species:


[LINE]


[TIGER SHARK]

* Tiger Shark - Galeocerdo cuvier
Aggressive To Humans

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


[ Top of the Page ]


[LINE]


[GALAPAGOS SHARK]

* Galapagos Shark - Carcharhinus galapagensis
Aggressive To Humans

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


[ Top of the Page ]


[LINE]


[SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD SHARK]

* Scalloped Hammerhead Shark - Sphyrna lewini
Aggressive To Humans

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


[ Top of the Page ]


[LINE]


[GRAY REEF SHARK]

* Gray Reef Shark - Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Aggressive To Humans

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


[ Top of the Page ]


[LINE]


[BLACKTIP SHARK]

* Blacktip Shark - Carcharhinus limbatus

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


[ Top of the Page ]


[LINE]


[REEF BLACKTIP SHARK]

* Reef Blacktip Shark - Carcharhinus melanopterous

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


[ Top of the Page ]


[LINE]


[REEF WHITETIP SHARK]

* Reef Whitetip Shark - Triaeonodon obesus

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


[ Top of the Page ]


[LINE]


[SANDBAR SHARK]

* Sandbar Shark - Carcharhinous plumbeus

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


[ Top of the Page ]


[LINE]


[Mako Shark Jaws]

Link here for some tips to reduce the risk of shark attack by clicking on these jaws of a mako shark - Isurus oxyrinchus .


[Tooth of Extinct Mako Shark]

Link here to return to the Sharks of Hawai`i home page by clicking on this tooth of an extinct mako shark - Isurus hastalis.


Click here for telephone numbers you can call to report the sighting of large, aggressive sharks in Hawai`i.


[ Top of the Page ]

[LINE]




HERE ARE SOME
BASIC OCEAN SAFETY TIPS:

  • Swim in Lifeguarded Areas
  • Never Swim Alone
  • Don't Dive Into Unknown Water or Into Shallow Breaking Waves
  • Ask a Lifeguard About Beach and Surf Conditions Before Swimming
  • If You Are Unable to Swim Out of a Strong Current, Signal for Help
  • Rely on Your Swimming Ability Rather Than a Flotation Device
  • Look For, Read and Obey All Beach Safety Signs and Symbols
  • If In Doubt, Just Stay Out!
[LINE]

Return to the Beach Hale (Home) Aloha Page. You can also use the following links to continue your beach and ocean tour of Oahu's North Shore, South Shore, East Shore, or West Shore.

Or, you can go to our Beach Directory for a listing of all the beaches covered in these pages.

[LINE]

Suggestions, comments and recommendations are welcomed. These pages are a project of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association , a not for profit, professional association of Hawai'i's lifeguards devoted to the advancement of lifesaving services and public education on beach and ocean safety.

Webmaster : This page is maintained by J. B. Lee . You can reach me by e-mail at: jblee@aloha.com . Last modified: 08-Jul-2001 02:06 PM HST

Hawai'i State Seal The images of the sharks on this page are from materials prepared and available from the Division of Aquatic Resources, State of Hawai`i , Department of Land and Natural Resources. Please have the courtesy to cite their source when using them.

Source URL: http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/sharimgs.html

ALOHA . . . malama i ke kai!