Great white sharks confirmed back off MA beaches. What other sharks are out there?
The first white shark of the season was spotted off of Nantucket on May 11, but they aren't the only sharks that live in Massachusetts water.
Ryan Knotek, an associate research scientist with the New England Aquarium told the Cape Cod Times in 2023 there are at least 23 species that call New England waters home or that pass through.
"It's a lot more than people think," he said. "They think white sharks, maybe a couple of other ones."
Most of the shark species migrate, heading to warmer waters during the winter to avoid freezing and then return for the warmer months. Here's a look at 12 of the sharks that are in Massachusetts waters.
White sharks
White shark pictured here. Contributed by Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
The one you hear about the most often, white sharks – also known as Great white sharks – are named for their white underbellies, even though their topsides come in grays and browns, according to National Geographic,.
They can "rocket through the water at speeds approaching 35 miles an hour and (have) a bite force of up to 1.8 metric tons." They can live more than 70 years and can grow to up to 21 feet long. They can weigh up to 4,500 pounds.
A study by Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, UMass Dartmouth and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries estimated that 800 white sharks visited the waters off of Cape Cod between 2015 and 2018.
Shortfin Mako sharks
A Juvenile shortfin mako shark swimming in the waters off California.
These sharks are "aggressive predators" that eat other fish, such as bluefish, swordfish, tuna, marine mammals, and other sharks, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They can grow to up to 13-feet-long, and can live to be more than 30 years old.
Sand tiger sharks
Sand tiger sharks swim around in their gallery at the Georgia Aquarium.
These sharks, also known as gray nurse sharks, "are a docile, non-aggressive species, known to attack humans only when bothered first," according to National Geographic. They are "brownish-gray with rust-colored spots on top and white underneath." They can grow anywhere from 6.5 to 10.5 feet long and can weigh between 200-350 pounds.
The species was in a sharp decline due to overfishing, but protections put in place – such as prohibiting the harvest of any sand tiger sharks – have helped the species to recover, according to the New England Aquarium.
Sandbar sharks
A group of divers swim with a sandbar shark off Jupiter, Florida on February 24, 2024.
These are also known as brown sharks, according to NOAA, which states that it is "one of the largest shark species found in coastal waters," growing up to 8-feet-long. NOAA states it can weigh between 100-200 pounds and can live more than 20 years, and added that they "have brownish-gray bodies and white bellies. They have a tall dorsal fin on their back and large pectoral fins on either side of their body. Their snouts are rounded and shorter than the average shark."
These sharks tend to spend time in shallow water.
Thresher sharks
Greg Vespe of Tiverton brings a thresher shark to the boat, caught with a bluefish fillet.
The easiest feature of these sharks to identify is their tail.
"Their tail fin is sickle-shaped, and the upper part is extremely long, about half the length of their body," NOAA said.
These sharks take on a brown, gray, blue-gray, or blackish appearance on the back and on the underside of their snout. They can live up to 20 years and can grow up to 20-feet-long.
Dusky sharks
One of the larger sharks found in New England waters, Dusky sharks aren't too common as we are the northern tip of their range.
"Dusky sharks are big ocean predators that can reach up to 400 pounds, " The Ocean Conservancy said. "Although dusky sharks rarely interact with humans, their size and proximity to shore could potentially be dangerous.
Porbeagle sharks
The female porbeagle shark, 8 feet, 8 inches long and weighing several hundred pounds, was discovered on East Beach in Watch Hill on Wednesday.
The Shark Research Institute explains that these are "heavy bodied shark(s) with a short, conical snout, and long gill slits...(they are) dark grey or blackish on top, with the underside being white with dusky blotches." They can grow anywhere between 4.9 to 9.8 feet and can weigh up to 280 pounds. They are considered to be "critically endangered," according to the Shark Research Institute.
Porbeagle sharks can tolerate cooler water and are the only so-called "resident" sharks that are present year-round off of Massachusetts.
Blue sharks
A blue shark was among the species in a study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, San Diego State University, and NOAA Fisheries that found warming oceans could cause the loss of up to 70% of suitable habitat for some predators – including sharks, tuna, and billfish – by 2100.
Blue sharks are found throughout the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Mass.gov states that these "can get up to 13 feet in length but generally are closer to 10 feet long. They have a deep blue color dorsally, which fades to light blue on the sides and white on the belly. They have slender bodies with large eyes and a cone shaped snout."
The website also notes that white sharks and shortfin Mako sharks often prey on adult blue sharks. They can weigh about 250 pounds.
Basking sharks
According to a description from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, "the basking shark is the second largest living fish, after the whale shark. It is a migratory species, found in all the world's temperate oceans. It is a slow moving and generally harmless filter feeder."
National Geographic states that these sharks are the world's second largest fish. They have six rows of teeth in its upper jaw, and nine rows in its lower jaw, "for a total of about 1,500 tiny, hooked teeth."
They are considered to be totally harmless. They can grow up to 33 feet long and can weigh up to 4.5 tons. They can live to be about 50 years old.
Tiger sharks
A tiger shark on the shores on Nantucket.
These sharks are named for their "dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles. As these sharks mature, the lines begin to fade and almost disappear... (they) have a duly earned reputation as man-eaters. They are second only to great whites in attacking people," according to National Geographic.
They can grow between 10-14 feet and can weigh 850 to 1,400 pounds.
Whale sharks
Oliver the whale shark is 40-feet long.
Whale sharks are known as the largest fishes in the sea, according to National Geographic, with basking sharks pulling up a close second. They are considered to be docile and can measure between 18 to 32.8 feet and can weigh up to 20.6 tons. They can live to be 70 years old.
Whale sharks can be found every year in offshore canyons in the Gulf Stream along the edge of the Continental Shelf, but they rarely come closer to shore.
Hammerhead sharks
National Geographic states that "their wide-set eyes give them a better visual range than most other sharks." Their heads literally resemble the appearance of a hammer. These sharks can grow up to 20 feet in length and weigh up to 1,000 pounds. They can live from 20-30 years old.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Great white sharks confirmed back off MA beaches. What other sharks are out there?
