Latest Updates

: : ISAF 2012 Worldwide Shark Attack Summary
: : UF Report on Yearly ISAF Shark Attack Summary
: : UF Video on Yearly ISAF Shark Attack Summary
: : Database Internship Annoucements!
: : Basking sharks tracked from Canada to Cuba
: : The importance of deep mesophotic reefs to fish top predators
: : Virgin shark gives birth to young
: : Shark's journey a first for science
: : Guy Harvey Scholars for 2012 announced. Congratulations to our own Felipe Carvalho
: : Shark warning website planned for Australia
: : Shark fin soup ban gains traction in Asia
: : Colombia and Costa Rica join forces against illegal shark fishing
: : Decrease in shark numbers poses risk to Great Barrier
: : World's first hybrid shark found in Australia
: : Protected baby great white shark blugeoned to death
: : UF Study Shows Some Sharks Follow ‘Mental Map’ To Navigate Seas
: : UF News: UF researchers Track Ocean-Crossing Migration Of Blue Shark
: : UF News: UF Alumni Give Florida Museum Research Boat For Shark Program
: : Oil Spill Threatens Toothy Marine Predator That Is Cultural And Historic Icon
: : Megamouth #41 Captured Off The Philippine Coast
: : UF Study: Preserved Shark Fossil Adds Evidence To Great White’s Origins
: : Graduate Student Felipe Carvalho receives the Alec Courtelis Award!
: : National Sawfish Encounter Database Announcement
: : Anuncio sobre la Base Nacional de Encuentros con el Pez Sierra
: : Graduate Student Andrew Piercy Wins "Carrier Award" For Best Student Poster At AES
: : Ataques Del Tiburón En Perspectiva
: : Consejos Para Reducir El Riesgo De Tener Un Encuentro Con Un Tiburón (Para Nadadores)
: : National Shark Research Consortium Five Year Technical Report: 2002-2007
: : Graduate Student Felipe Carvalho Wins "Best Student Poster Award"
: : Research Program Seeks Boat Donation
: : Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline Fisheries: Industry Practices and Attitudes and Shark Avoidance Strategies

Florida Program for Shark Research

The Florida Program for Shark Research (FPSR) is involved in many areas of shark research, including shark biology, ecology, and behavior. In addition, the FPSR monitors shark attacks through the International Shark Attack File and promotes shark conservation and educational outreach through such programs as Project Shark Awareness.

: : FPSR : :

International Shark Attack File

The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) is a compilation of all known shark attacks that is administered by the American Elasmobranch Society and the Florida Museum of Natural History. More than 4,000 individual investigations are currently housed in the File, covering the period from the mid-1500's to present.

: : REPORT A SHARK ATTACK : : ISAF : :

Sawfish Implementation Team

The Sawfish Implementation Team (SIT) seeks to promote the conservation of threatened sawfish populations around the world. Very little is known about this unique type of ray which used to be very abundant in the tropics. Smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) have recently been listed for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

: : SIT : :

Trans-Atlantic Pelagic Sharks Research Initiative (TAPS)

The Trans-Atlantic Pelagic Sharks Research Initiative includes indepth studies on the biology, population dynamics, population genetics, movement patterns and habitat use of pelagic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean. This research initiative is a collaboration of scientists from Brazil, Portugal, and the US.

: : TAPS : :

Fossil Sharks

What are fossil sharks? How do fossils form? Click on this section to find out more about fossil sharks from fossil shark teeth to the extinct Megalodon, as well as ongoing fossil shark research at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

: : Fossil Sharks : :

Image Gallery

In our Image Gallery you'll find a wide variety of shark species photographed by world renowned underwater photographers. The Gallery also contains the work of several skilled scientific illustrators. Left: Pelagic thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus) by Doug Perrine ©

: : Image Gallery : :

White Shark

The white shark is the largest predatory shark. It is also the most recognized, feared and admired of the sharks.

: : White Shark : :

Whale Shark

Although the whale shark is the largest living fish, it feeds on some of the smallest animals in the oceans. It has recently been listed as a protected species by CITES.

: : Whale Shark : :

Megamouth

Megamouth Sharks are elusive and fascinating. There have been more than 35 confirmed sightings of the Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios), and very little is known about this creature.

: : Megamouth : :

Basking Shark

The basking shark's common name comes from its habit of 'sunning' itself at the surface. It has recently been listed as a protected species by CITES.

: : Basking Shark : :

Mako Shark

The mako shark is a true pelagic species, and is found in tropical and temperate waters throughout the world's oceans.

: : Mako Shark : :

Spiny Dogfish

Spiny dogfish are an important commercial foodfish. Because they are slow to mature and produce few young, this species is extremely vulnerable to overfishing and are currently on the brink of collapse. Learn more about this shark and the conservation efforts to save it.

: : Spiny Dogfish : :

Biological Profiles

The biological profile section of our page contains species profiles on fishes in our image gallery. New species are being added, so check back often.

: : Biological Profiles : :

Education

The education section of our page is geared toward middle school ages and up. There is something here for the everyone from the novice to the advanced.

: : Education : :

Project Shark Awareness

Project Shark Awareness is an innovative outreach program created to educate the public about the myths and realities of shark biology, behavior, and conservation.

: : Project Shark Awareness : :

Meetings

Here you will find news, dates and registration information for upcoming meetings and conferences on fishes and sharks.

: : Meetings : :

Shark Games

Here you will find fun-filled educational games and puzzles designed to teach you all about sharks and their ecology.

: : Shark Games : :

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements for the funding that makes the Shark research in the Ichthyology Department possible.

: : Acknowledgements : :

References

For more information on sharks we've posted several composite reference lists. You can also search for our Chondrichthyes Bibliography for thousands of article citations on sharks and their relatives.

: : References : :

Links

Other informative and interesting sites dealing with ichthyology and sharks.

: : Links : :

Site

Click here for a detailed look at all the pages we have on sharks!