P3715

Sharks of Mississippi and Alabama

Sharks are a critical part of healthy marine ecosystems. Mississippi and Alabama are home to an incredible diversity of sharks.

Below are 15 of the most common species in this region.

Gray shark with pointed snout and white spots on the dorsal side of its body.

Atlantic sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

Yellow-brown shark with a black tip on its snout and dusky tip on its second dorsal fin.

Blacknose shark, Carcharhinus acronotus

Gray-brown shark with black tips on every fin except its anal fin.

Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus

Gray-brown shark with disproportionately large dorsal and pectoral fins.

Sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus

Shark with pointed snout and dorsally dark streamlined body with dusky tips on its second dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins.

Silky shark, Carcharhinus falciformis

Gray shark with a streamlined body and dusky tips on its pectoral and pelvic fins.

Dusky shark, Carcharhinus obscurus

Stocky gray shark with a short head and dusky tips on its second dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, anal, and caudal fins.

Bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas

Streamlined dark blue shark with a pointed snout and homocercal tail.

Shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus

Stout shark with a short head and dark stripes along its midsection.

Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier

Brown shark with a blunt head and inferior mouth. Its first dorsal fin is close to its second, and it has a heterocercal tail.

Nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum

Dark brown shark with large green eyes and spines in front of its short dorsal fins.

Gulper shark, Centrophorus granulosus

Shark with a stubby head and slender figure, with both of its dorsal fins being similar size.

Gulf smoothound, Mustelus sinusmexicanus

Shark with shovel-shaped cephalofoil with dusky tips on its pectoral and pelvic fins and black freckling on its body.

Bonnethead, Sphyrna tiburo

Shark with grooves on its cephalofoil with dusky tips on its pectoral, pelvic, second dorsal, and anal fins.

Scalloped hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini

Shark with a rectangular cephalofoil with a tall and sharp dorsal fin and dusky tips on its pelvic, second dorsal, and anal fins.

Great hammerhead, Sphyrna mokarran

Illustrations by Bryan Huerta.

Publication 3715 | MASGP-21-062

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Preview of Final Shark Poster

P3715

Sharks of Mississippi and Alabama

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Departments

Authors

Alena Anderson

Extension Associate I
- CREC-Coastal Marine Ext Program
a.anderson@msstate.edu
Dr. James Drymon

Associate Extension Professor
- CREC-Coastal Marine Ext Program
marcus.drymon@msstate.edu

Filed Under

Marine Resources

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