Identify large sharks in the UK
More than 30 species of shark have been recorded off British coasts. Here are 7 of the largest, most impressive predatory species.

Published: March 10, 2015 at 8:00 am
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Illustrations not to scale © Ian Coleman/wildlifeartcompany.com
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1 Common thresher alopias vulpinus

- Max length 7.6m (usually 2–5m)
- UK range All around Britain, but mainly to the west and in the Channel
- Look for Huge tail; may breach
- Reporting rate **
2 Blue shark Prionace glauca

- Max length 3.8m (usually up to 2.5m)
- UK range All around Britain, but mainly in the south-west and South Wales
- Look for Slim body, long snout, bluish above
- Reporting rate **
3 Tope Galeorhinus galeus

- Max length 2m (usually up to 1.5m)
- UK range Common around UK, particularly off West Wales
- Look for Slim body, triangular dorsal fin
- Reporting rate ***
4 Great white shark Carcharodon carcharias

- Max length 7.2m
- UK range Potentially credible sightings (though very few) along our western shores
- Look for Large size, conical snout, clear line separating white and grey along flanks.
- ‘Sightings’ often of misidentified basking sharks
- Reporting rate *
5 Porbeagle Lamna nasus

- Max length 3.5m
- UK range All around Britain, but hotspots are Devon, Cornwall and northern Scotland
- Look for Stout, stocky body
- Reporting rate **
6 Shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus

- Max length 4m (usually up to 3.4m)
- UK range All around Britain, but mostly in the west
- Look for Stocky body, bluish above
- Reporting rate *
7 Smooth hammerhead Sphyrna zygaena

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- Max length 5m (usually up to 3m)
- UK range Very rare: dead specimens found in Devon, Cornwall and South Wales
- Look for Hammer-shaped head
- Reporting rate *
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