Species FAO code: WSH

Carcharodon carcharias

This species is endangered. To ensure its protection and conservation, specific rules apply to its trade and marketing in the European Union (Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora).

Page contents

Commercial designations
Production methods and fishing gears
Species distribution and habitat
Species description

Commercial designations

Country	Commercial designations	Names accepted or permitted locally or regionally
Croatia	hr velika bijela psina	–
Czech Republic	cs Žralok	–
Portugal	pt Tubarão pt Tubarão-de-São-Tomé pt Tubarão-branco	–
Slovakia	sk lamna veľká	–

Main production methods

Caught

Main fishing gears

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758)

Habitat

Saltwater
Brackish water

FAO major fishing areas

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution maps

Source: Aquamaps - Computer Generated Native Distribution Map for Carcharodon carcharias

Source: FAO - FAO aquatic species distribution map of Carcharodon carcharias

Scientific name

Carcharodon carcharias

Author

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Rank

Species

FAO code

WSH

Morphological description

A huge, spindle-shaped shark with conspicuous black eyes, a blunt, conical snout and large, triangular, saw-edged teeth (Ref. 5578). First dorsal-fin origin usually over the pectoral-fin inner margins (Ref. 43278, 6871). Caudal fin crescentic (Ref. 247). Lead-grey to brown or black above, lighter on sides, and abruptly white below (Ref. 6851). Black spot at rear pectoral fin base (Ref. 6851).

Taxonomic classification

ClassElasmobranchii
- OrderLamniformes
  - FamilyLamnidae
    - GenusCarcharodon
      - SpeciesCarcharodon carcharias

Synonyms

Squalus lamia Blainville, 1816
Squalus lamia Blainville, 1825
Carcharodon smithii Agassiz, 1838
Squalus vulgaris Richardson, 1836
Carcharias vorax Owen, 1853
Carcharodon albimors Whitley, 1939
Squalus caninus Osbeck, 1765
Carcharodon rondeletii Müller & Henle, 1839
Carcharias verus Cloquet, 1817
Carcharias vulgaris (Richardson, 1836)
Carharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758)
Carcharodon capensis Smith, 1839
Carcharodon smithi Bonaparte, 1838
Carcharias lamia Rafinesque, 1810
Carcharias maso Morris, 1898
Carcharias atwoodi Storer, 1848
Squalus carcharias Linnaeus, 1758

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758)

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Carcharodon carcharias

Commercial designations

Main production methods

Main fishing gears

Gillnets and similar nets

Hooks and lines

Pots and traps

Seines

Trawls

Habitat

FAO major fishing areas

Area 21 - Atlantic, Northwest

Area 27 - Atlantic, Northeast

Area 31 - Atlantic, Western Central

Area 34 - Atlantic, Eastern Central

Area 37 - Mediterranean and Black Sea

Area 41 - Atlantic, Southwest

Area 47 - Atlantic, Southeast

Area 51 - Indian Ocean, Western

Area 57 - Indian Ocean, Eastern

Area 61 - Pacific, Northwest

Area 67 - Pacific, Northeast

Area 71 - Pacific, Western Central

Area 77 - Pacific, Eastern Central

Area 81 - Pacific, Southwest

Area 87 - Pacific, Southeast

Distribution maps