There are 204 species of sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras in South Africa’s oceans.

 

We couldn’t throw them all at you, so decided to choose 21 Ambassador Species to give you valuable insight into their fascinating world…

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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

SCIENCE SCOOP

RED LISTING STATUS: Vulnerable (2019)