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Attacking Species

The following is a list of the shark species implicated in unprovoked shark attacks worldwide. A certain amount of caution must be taken as species may be mis-identified by the victim, especially when considering Carcharhinus species. 

Species

Common Name

Attacks

Fatalities

 

 

 

 

Carcharodon carcharias

White shark

232

63

Galeocerdo cuvier

Tiger shark

86

28

Carcharhinus leucas

Bull shark

75

23

 

 

 

 

Carcharhinus spp.*

Requiem* shark

130

12

Carcharias taurus

Sand tiger

30

2

Sphyrna spp.

Hammerhead species

16

0

Prionace glauca

Blue shark

12

4

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Nurse shark

10

0

Isurus spp.

Mako shark species**

11

2

Notorhynchus cepedianus

Sevengill shark

5

0

Orectolobus spp

Wobbegong***

2

0

* from #4 above
These other Carcharinus species or "Requiem sharks" are all in the same genus as the Bull Shark and have been recorded in shark attack statistics.They Include:

Carribbean Shark Carcharhinus perezi
Black Tip Shark Carcharhinus limbatus
Galapagos Shark Carcharhinus galapagensis
Copper Shark or Bronze whaler Carcharhinus brachyurus
Grey Reef Shark Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Silver Tip Shark Carcharhinus albimarginatus
Dusky Shark Carcharinus obscurus

** most attacks attributed to the short-fin mako Isurus oxyrinchus 

*** most attacks attributed to the spotted wobbegong Orectolobus macalatus and the ornate wobbegong, Orectolobus ornatus