There are 204 species of sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras in South Africa’s oceans.
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Carcharodon carcharias
AKA:
White Shark
Hang out:
Atlantic and Indian Oceans;
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Cold
Diet:
Fish, small sharks, whales or seals.
Slow/ Fast:
Fast
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
XL
Shy/ Bold:
Bold
At the beach/ In the sea:
Mostly coastal waters (at the beach)
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Large, triangular, serrated teeth
Best Feature:
May become airborne in pursuit of prey
Red Listing:
Vulnerable (2019)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Vulnerable (2019)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Alopias pelagicus
AKA:
Thresher shark
Hang out:
Indian & Pacific Oceans
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm Bath
Diet:
Small fish and squid
Slow/ Fast:
Active swimmer in open water; capable of fast bursts
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
L
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
In the sea
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Eccentric
Teeth:
Small pointed teeth
Best Feature:
Greatly elongated tail used to stun fish
Red Listing:
Endangered (2019)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Endangered (2019)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Triakis megalopterus
AKA:
Spotted Gully Shark
Hang out:
Mainly Atlantic and cooler waters of Indian Ocean
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Cold Shower
Diet:
Small fish and sharks, crabs and lobsters
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
M
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
Local
Nomadic/ Homely
Homely
Social/ Anti-social
Social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Very small, pointed teeth
Best Feature:
Its first and second dorsal fins are almost the same size, making it easily identifiable when compared to similarly coloured catsharks
Red Listing:
Vulnerable (2019)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Vulnerable (2019)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Poroderma pantherinium
AKA:
Leopard Catshark
Hang out:
Indian and Atlantic Oceans
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Both
Diet:
Small fish and crustaceans
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
S
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
Local
Nomadic/ Homely
Homely
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Eccentric
Teeth:
Small tricuspid teeth
Best Feature:
Long barbel which projects downwards from each nostril
Red Listing:
Data Deficient (2009)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Data Deficient (2009)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Dasyatis chrysonota
AKA:
Blue Stingray
Hang out:
Indian and Atlantic Oceans
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm and cool
Diet:
Crustaceans, worms and small fish
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
S
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Homely
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Flattened and look like pavers
Best Feature:
They are often brightly coloured to warn enemies that they are venomous (they have a stinger at the end of their tails)
Red Listing:
Least Concern (2009)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Least Concern (2009)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Rhincodon typus
AKA:
Whale Shark
Hang out:
Indian and Atlantic Oceans
Warm Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm Bath
Diet:
Filters very small fish and crustaceans from the water column
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
XXL
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
Both
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Very small non-functional teeth; relies on filter plates
Best Feature:
The largest fish in the ocean
Red Listing:
Endangered (2016)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Endangered (2016)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Galeocerdo cuvier
AKA:
Tiger Shark
Hang out:
Indian Ocean
Warm Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm Bath
Diet:
Anything edible and sometimes inedible
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
XL
Shy/ Bold:
Bold
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Characteristic cockscomb-shaped teeth in both jaws
Best Feature:
Their vertical dark stripes and wide-ranging, diverse diet
Red Listing:
Near Threatened (2019)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Near Threatened (2019)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Sphyrna lewini
AKA:
Scalloped Hammerhead
Hang out:
Indian Ocean; Open water
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Hot Bath
Diet:
Small fish, squid and cuttlefish
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
L
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Eccentric
Teeth:
Small pointed
Best Feature:
Unusual shaped head
Red Listing:
Critically Endangered (2019)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Critically Endangered (2019)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Notorynchus cepedianus
AKA:
Sevengill Cow Shark
Hang out:
Mainly Atlantic and Indian Oceans
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Cold Shower
Diet:
Anything edible – well known scavenger; Also eats other sharks
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
L
Shy/ Bold:
Bold
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Unknown?
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Large teeth with inclined cusps (lower: 1-2; upper: 4-5 cusps)
Best Feature:
It has 7 gill slits as opposed to 5 gill slits in most sharks
Red Listing:
Data Deficient (2009)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Data Deficient (2009)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Haploblepharus edwardsii
AKA:
Puffadder shyshark
Hang out:
Indian and Atlantic Oceans
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm bath and cold shower
Diet:
Small fish, crustaceans, squid and worms
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
S
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
Local
Nomadic/ Homely
Homely
Social/ Anti-social
Social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Eccentric
Teeth:
Very small with 3-5 pointed cusps
Best Feature:
When threatened it curls into a circle with its tail covering its eyes
Red Listing:
Near Threatened (2009)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Near Threatened (2009)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Manta birostris
AKA:
Giant Manta Ray
Hang out:
Indian Ocean
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm Bath
Diet:
Filters very small fish and crustaceans from the water column
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
XL
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Have rows of tiny plates in their mouth (no teeth)
Best Feature:
Can grow up to 7m and 3 000kg
Red Listing:
Vulnerable (2010)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Vulnerable (2010)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Raja straeleni
AKA:
Biscuit Skate
Hang out:
Mainly Atlantic Ocean
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Cold Shower
Diet:
Crustaceans, squid and fish
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
S
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
In the sea
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Homely
Social/ Anti-social
Unknown
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Numerous rows of very small, pavement teeth (look like pavers)
Best Feature:
Unlike rays, skates lay eggs individually packaged in a keratin capsule
Red Listing:
Data Deficient (2009)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Data Deficient (2009)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Acroteriobatus leucospilus
AKA:
Greyspot Guitarfish
Hang out:
Indian Ocean
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm Bath
Diet:
Small fish and shellfish
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
S
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Homely
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Eccentric
Teeth:
Small and flattened to form a crushing pavement
Best Feature:
Large blue-grey spots on back
Red Listing:
Endangered (2019)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Endangered (2019)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Carcharhinus leucas
AKA:
Zambezi Shark/ Bull Shark
Hang out:
Indian Ocean
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm Bath
Diet:
A variety of fish, rays and sharks
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
L
Shy/ Bold:
Bold
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Triangular, serrated teeth
Best Feature:
Male Zambezi sharks bite their partner to hang on during mating.
Red Listing:
Near Threatened (2009)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Near Threatened (2009)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Carcharias taurus
AKA:
Spotted Ragged-tooth
Hang out:
Indian and Atlantic Oceans & coastal reefs
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Cold
Diet:
Fish and small sharks
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
L
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Triangular, serrated
Best Feature:
Swallows air to become positively buoyant
Red Listing:
Vulnerable (2009)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Vulnerable (2009)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Rhynchobatus djiddensis
AKA:
Whitespotted Wedgefish
Hang out:
Indian Ocean; Resting on or swimming over the seabed
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm Bath
Diet:
Small fish and shellfish (crustaceans and molluscs)
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
L
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Eccentric
Teeth:
Small and flattened to form a crushing pavement
Best Feature:
A ray that looks like a shark
Red Listing:
Critically Endangered (2019)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Critically Endangered (2019)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Callorhinchus capensis
AKA:
St Joseph Shark
Hang out:
Atlantic & Indian Oceans
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Cold Shower
Diet:
Variety of shellfish and small fish
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
S
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
Local
Nomadic/ Homely
Homely
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Eccentric
Teeth:
In plates, 2 in the upper and 1 in the lower jaw
Best Feature:
Hoe-like snout
Red Listing:
Least Concern (2006)
Image Credit: Devon Bowen
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Least Concern (2006)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Pristis spp
AKA:
Sawfish
Hang out:
Indian Ocean
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm Bath
Diet:
Small fish and various shellfish
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
XL
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Homely
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Eccentric
Teeth:
Small, flattened in numerous transverse rows
Best Feature:
Flattened snout with numerous saw-like teeth along each edge
Red Listing:
Critically Endangered (2013) – Locally Extinct (South Africa)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Critically Endangered (2013)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Torpedo sinuspersici
AKA:
Marbled Electric Ray/Persian Gulf Torpedo
Hang out:
Indian Ocean
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm Bath
Diet:
Small fish
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
S
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Homely
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Many rows of small, pointed teeth
Best Feature:
Hunts using electric shocks to stun its prey and does not have a stinger on its tail like other rays
Red Listing:
Data Deficient (2019)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Data Deficient (2019)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Aetobatus narinari
AKA:
Spotted Eagle Ray
Hang out:
Indian & Pacific Oceans
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Warm Bath
Diet:
Consists of a wide variety of benthic species including worms, bivalve and gastropod molluscs, squid, octopus, cuttlefish, crustaceans and fish
Slow/ Fast:
Slow
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
M
Shy/ Bold:
Shy
At the beach/ In the sea:
At the beach
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Eccentric
Teeth:
Platelike teeth in transverse bands
Best Feature:
Black body with unique white spots and a flat snout resembling a duck bill
Red Listing:
Near Threatened (2006)
SCIENCE SCOOP
RED LISTING STATUS: Near Threatened (2006)
SHARK PROFILE
Scientific Name:
Carcharodon carcharias
AKA:
White Shark
Hang out:
Atlantic and Indian Oceans; Favours open water
Hot Bath/ Cold Shower:
Cold
Diet:
Fish and small sharks, sometimes whales or seals.
Slow/ Fast:
Fast
S/ M/ L/ XL/ XXL:
XL
Shy/ Bold:
Bold
At the beach/ In the sea:
Mostly coastal waters (at the beach) but sometimes oceanic
Local/ International
International
Nomadic/ Homely
Nomadic
Social/ Anti-social
Anti-social
Black Tie/ Eccentric:
Black Tie
Teeth:
Large, triangular, serrated teeth
Best Feature:
May become airborne in pursuit of prey
Red Listing:
Vulnerable (2019)