No confirmed photo of Bigeye Thresher Shark
Bigeye Thresher Shark
Alopias superciliosus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Sharks in Virginia: Species, Stingrays & Safety
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
This page lists 15 sharks, rays and other marine animals: all from DWR's Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia) - shark, ray and skate rows.
All 15 sharks, rays and other marine animals
From A to Z.
No confirmed photo of Common Thresher Shark
Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Cownose Ray
Cownose Ray
Rhinoptera bonasus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Dusky Shark
Dusky Shark
Carcharhinus obscurus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Great Hammerhead
Sphyrna mokarran
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Sand Tiger Shark
Carcharias taurus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Sandbar Shark
Sandbar Shark
Carcharhinus plumbeus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
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Scalloped Hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Size
- Up to about 13 ft (NOAA, Atlantic; Florida Museum); Pacific: up to 12 ft, averaging 6 to 7 ft (NOAA). SCDNR: averages 5 to 8 ft.
- How to recognize it
- Very pointed snout and long gill slits
- Crescent-shaped (lunate) tail with a single strong keel on each side of the tail base
- Long, slender, smooth-edged teeth, visible even with the mouth closed
Silky Shark
Carcharhinus falciformis
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Smooth Hammerhead
Smooth Hammerhead
Sphyrna zygaena
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Spiny Dogfish
Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Size
- Florida gives a maximum of about 18 ft and 2,000 lb.
- How to recognize it
- Blunt snout and vertical bars on the sides
- Very broad head; short, broadly rounded snout much shorter than the mouth is wide
- Large triangular teeth, strongly serrated, with a deep notch on the outer edge
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White Shark
Carcharodon carcharias
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Size
- Born about 4 feet long; grows to about 20-21 feet and over 4,000 pounds (NOAA quick facts: up to 4,500 pounds).
- How to recognize it
- Torpedo-shaped body, conical snout, prominent keel at the base of a crescent-shaped tail
- Large first dorsal fin, usually with a pointed tip
- Broad, triangular, serrated teeth
No confirmed photo of Winter Skate
Winter Skate
Leucoraja ocellata
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Sharks and Marine Life people confuse
Shortfin Mako Shark or White shark?
Shortfin Mako Shark Not stated
White shark Not stated
The white shark has broad, triangular, serrated teeth; mako teeth are slender and smooth-edged.
Great white shark or Shortfin mako shark?
Great white shark Not stated
Shortfin mako shark Not stated
Mako lacks black tips on the undersides of the fins and has thin, pointed teeth without serrations.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When sharks, rays and other marine animals are active in Virginia
Records of sharks, rays and other marine animals in Virginia peak in April, June to August and October. They show when people record sharks, rays and other marine animals, not how many there are (about month bars).
How to report
Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline (DWR), toll-free 1-855-571-9003 (wildlife problems; feral hog and nutria reports). Northern snakehead catches: DWR 804-367-2925. Rare wildlife sightings: DWR Virginia Rare Animal Observations Form. Imported fire ants outside the quarantine area: VDACS Invasive Species Reporting Tool. Wildlife crimes: [email protected] or 800-237-5712. Virginia DWR
What official sources say
Are there sharks in Virginia?
Yes. DWR's partial marine fish list includes sand tiger, sandbar, dusky, tiger, white, shortfin mako, silky and thresher sharks, three hammerheads and spiny dogfish. DWR
“Sand Tiger Shark Carcharias taurus”
About this list
The species list comes from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia (Marine/Brackish Water Fishes (partial list)) - shark, ray and skate rows (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), May, 2026).
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
Sources
- List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). May, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Sand Tiger Shark Carcharias taurus”
- Help with Human-Wildlife Conflicts. Virginia DWR. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“If you are experiencing a problem with wildlife, please dial our toll-free wildlife conflict helpline at 1-855-571-9003.”
- GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.