Irish Sharks

Thresher shark, Alopias vulpinus

Due to Ireland’s position on the edge of the continental shelf and a wide range of marine habitats along our coastline means that we are lucky to have a large number of highly diverse shark species in our waters.

Thirty-nine species of shark that have been verified and recorded in the Irish territory. Some may only be visitors or recorded very rarely however the majority are regularly dependent on our waters. These range from the small and well known dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) to the second largest fish in the sea, the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus).

There are also many deepwater species that are only found in the deep ocean beyond the continental shelf, such as the ususually named Birdbeaked dogfish (Deania calceus) and the Leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus).

Full list below (39 verified species recorded within the territory – up to date as of Feb 2023):

Common Name	Family/Species
CHLAMYDOSELACHIDAE (Frill Sharks)
Frilled Shark	Chamydoselachus anguineus
HEXANCHIDAE (Cow Sharks)
Sharpnose Sevengill Shark	Heptranchias perlo
Bluntnose Sixgill Shark	Hexanchus griseus
ECHINORHINIDAE (Bramble Sharks)
Bramble Shark	Echinorhinus brucus
SQUALIDAE (Spiny Dogfishes)
Spurdog	Squalus acanthias
CENTROPHORIDAE (Gulper Sharks)
Gulper Shark	Centrophorus granulosus
Leafscale Gulper Shark	Centrophorus squamosus
Little Gulper Shark	Centrophorus uyato
Birdbeak Dogfish	Deania calcea
Rough Longnose Dogfish	Deania mauli
ETMOPTERIDAE (Lantern Sharks)
Black Dogfish	Centroscyllium fabricii
Greater Lantern Shark	Etmopterus princeps
Velvet Belly	Etmopterus spinax
SOMNIOSIDAE (Sleeper Sharks)
Portuguese Dogfish	Centroscymnus coelolepis
Longnose Velvet Dogfish	Centroselachus crepidater
Knifetooth Dogfish	Scymnodon ringens
Greenland Shark	Somniosus microcephalus
Little Sleep Shark	Somniosus rostrata
Velvet Dogfish	Zameus squamulosus
OXYNOTIDAE (Rough Sharks)
Sharp-back Shark	Oxynotus paradoxus
DALATIIDAE (Kitefin Sharks)
Darkie Charlie	Dalatias licha
SQUATINIDAE (Angel Sharks)
Monkfish or Angelshark	Squatina squatina
ALOPIIDAE (Thresher Sharks)
Bigeye Thresher Shark	Alopias superciliosus
Thresher Shark	Alopias vulpinus
CETORHINIDAE (Basking Sharks)
Basking Shark	Cetorhinus maximus
LAMNIDAE (Mackerel Sharks)
Shortfin Mako	Isurus oxyrhinchus
Porbeagle	Lamna nasus
SCYLIORHINIDAE (Cat Sharks)
White Ghost Shark	Apristurus aphyodes
Iceland Catshark	Apristurus laurussonii
Ghost Shark	Apristurus manis
Smalleye Catshark	Apristurus microps
Blackmouth Dogfish	Galeus melastomus
Mouse Catshark	Galeus murinus
Lesser-spotted Dogfish	Scyliorhinus canicula
Nursehound	Scyliorhinus stellaris
PSEUDOTRIAKIDAE (False Cat Sharks)
False Catshark	Pseudotriakis microdon
TRIAKIDAE (Hound Sharks)
Tope	Galeorhinus galeus
Starry Smooth Hound	Mustelus asterias
CARCHARHINIDAE (Requiem Sharks)
Blue Shark	Prionace glauca

The above list is only possible with a huge thanks to Declan Quigley for his boundless passion and dedicated investigations and record keeping