There are several useful field guides to shark identification.  Some of these guides include The Sharks of North American Waters by José Castro and Sharks and Rays by Tricas, Deacon, Last, McCosker, Walker, and Taylor.  Here we present an identification key to sharks found in waters around Atlantic Canada as outlined by Scott and Scott in their book Atlantic Fishes of Canada.  Follow the question guide, click on the correct answer and use the diagram to help you with terms.  With this key you can readily identify any of the 19 species of sharks that occur in the waters of Atlantic Canada.

The following pages are not intended to be read in sequence.  There are prompts to each question, you must choose one of the two options presented to you.

Click here to be prompted through the shark identification key.