• Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
  • Identification Information: Brown to olive-gray above. Adults may have white spots on the back and sides. Pointed snout. Length: 2-3 feet.
  • Diet: Crustaceans, squid, and small fish.
  • Facts: Bottom dwelling fish that is abundant in coastal waters from April to September.

• Carcharhinus acronotus
  • Identification Information: Yellow brown to brown on top. Black splotches often on the top of the nose. Length: 3-4 feet.
  • Diet: Crustaceans and small fish.
  • Facts: Found in shallow waters in the spring and summer. They are often prey for larger fish and sharks.

• Carcharhinus limbatus
  • Identification Information: Distinctive black tips on dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins. Gray on back fading into a white belly. Noticeable dark gray strip on the side. Length: 3-5 feet.
  • Diet: Squid, shrimp, and small fish.
  • Facts: Fast swimming shark found in coastal waters and shallow inshore areas.

• Sphyrna tiburo
  • Identification Information: Easily identified from the shape of the head, which looks like a cross between a regular shark and a hammerhead. Length: 2-3 feet.
  • Diet: Crabs, shrimp, and small fish.
  • Facts: Bottom dwelling fish found along oyster reefs. One of the most common fish in coastal waters during the summer months.

• Carcharhinus leucas
  • Identification Information: Gray on top. Appears to be hump-backed. Length: 6-8 feet.
  • Diet: Rays, crustaceans, and bottom fish.
  • Facts: A slow moving, bottom dwelling fish. Found in inshore waters and may even travel upstream into brackish or fresh water.

• Identification Information: Adults are cloudy gray birds with a black head, large white cheek patch, and a creamy yellow crown/head plume. Immatures are brown with fine white spots on the back ad wings. Length: 21-27 inches; Wingspan: 22-28 inches
• Lifespan: Oldest was 6 years and 3 months
• Diet: Primarily feed on crabs but also prey on leeches, worms, snails, mussels, insects, frogs, fish, snakes, turtles, young birds, and small mammals.
• Fun Fact: To build their nests, Yellow-Crowned Night Herons usually break dead, brittle twigs and branches directly from standing vegetation. They also sometimes steal twigs from other nests.

• Sphyrna mokarran
  • Identification Information: Gray, brown, or olive above. Indentation on the center of the “hammer”. Largest of the hammerheads. Length: 8-12 feet.
  • Diet: Rays, sharks, and fish.
  • Facts: Inshore and offshore waters. Occasionally seen at the surface waters of beaches and reefs.

Shark Sphyrna lewini

• • Identification Information: Gray, brown, or olive above. “Hammer” has multiple indentations or scallops along the edge. Length: 4-8 feet.
  • Diet: Rays, sharks, fish, squid, and shrimp.
  • Facts: Found in inshore and offshore waters.

• Negaprion brevirostris
  • Identification Information: Yellow brown above fading to light yellow below. Length: 6-9 feet.
  • Diet: Fish, skates, and rays.
  • Facts: Usually found close to or on the bottom in inshore waters and tidal rivers.

Ginglymostoma cirratum

• • Identification Information: Long and tapering barbel on each nostril distinguished the nurse shark from all other sharks. Length: 4-8 feet.
  • Diet: Squid, crabs, shrimp, and a variety of small fish.
  • Facts: Sluggish shark that live primarily on or near the bottom, usually in shallow coastal waters.

• Carcharhinus plumbeus
  • Identification Information: Brown to gray on back. Length: 3-6 feet.
  • Diet: Crabs, rays, and fish.
  • Facts: Found in the Port Royal Sound Area during the summer.

• Odontaspis taurus
  • Identification Information: Light grayish brown with a pointed snout. Length: 4-7 feet. Both jaws have long, narrow, sharp-pointed teeth.
  • Diet: Crustaceans, squid, and a wide variety of fish.
  • Facts: Utilizes coastal and inshore waters year-round. Very closely associated with the bottom. Sometimes observed “hovering” motionlessly above the bottom.

Squalus acanthias

• • Identification Information: Slate gray to grayish brown above. Irregular small white spots found on the sides. Single spine present before each dorsal (top) fin. Length: 2-3 feet.
  • Diet: Squid, shrimp, crabs, and small fish.
  • Facts: Common in shallow waters during the colder months. Live on or near the bottom in large concentrations.

Carcharhinus brevipinna

• • Identification Information: Gray or bronze in color. Length: 3-5 feet.
  • Diet: Squid, rays, and small fish.

Facts: are fast swimmers found in open water. They are named for the spinning in the air when pursuing fish.

Galeocerdo cuvieri

• • Identification Information: Bluish gray on back facing to white on the belly. Distinctive horizontal strips of dark gray. Length: 5-10 feet.
  • Diet: Horseshoe crabs, sea turtles, squid, and a variety of fish.
  • Facts: Found in both coastal and open waters. They enter the Port Royal Sound during the summer months.

Carcharodon carcharias

• • Identification Information: Gray to black on top, white on the bottom. Length: 12-16 feet.
  • Diet: Seals, sea turtles, billfish, tuna, sharks, and other large marine animals.
  • Facts: Open water shark. Solitary. Most likely utilize the Port Royal Sound in the summer as a birthing area.