A Guide to Sharks Found Off Long Island, From Duskies to Spinners

A recent series of suspected shark bites and sightings off of New York's Long Island rekindled long-held — but largely misplaced — fears about the creatures.

Some five shark bites were reported in just 48 hours off the coast of Long Island this week, prompting officials to post new warning signs and search for the creatures with drones.

Despite the terror they induce, shark bites are actually extremely rare.

However, the waters off of Long Island are indeed the seasonal home to several species of shark.

“They’re going to follow the food,” Joe Yaiullo, curator and co-founder of the Long Island Aquarium, told The Messenger. “So wherever the fish migrate, the sharks are going to be behind them.”

Here’s a look at some of the species that can pass through the area.

Great White Sharks

Possibly the most well-known species of shark, the great white served as the inspiration for "Jaws," which popularized the erroneous image of the man-eating menace.

Despite reaching sizes of up to 20 feet and 7,000 pounds, great whites can be surprisingly swift and agile as they hunt prey including fish, seals and dolphins, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Their mouths hold hundreds of teeth but great whites do not chew their food, instead using their chompers to rip off pieces of flesh that are then swallowed whole.

Sandbar Sharks

Also known as brown sharks, sandbar sharks are most common species found along the United States' Atlantic coast, according to California's Aquarium of the Pacific.

They are graceful swimmers known for their preference for oceans' sandy bottoms, hence their name.

Sandbar sharks can grow up to eight feet and weigh up to 200 pounds, and have a diet that includes fish, squid and shellfish.

Dusky Sharks

Named for the "dusky margins" on their fins, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History, these sharks grow slowly, but can reach sizes of up to 11.8 feet.

They are at significant risk from hunters, who sell them for human consumption as well as the production of leather and liver oil.

These commercial uses plus slow growth rates and small litters make dusky sharks particularly vulnerable to overexploitation.

Sand Tiger Sharks

Sand tiger sharks are unique in that they're the only species to swim to the surface and gulp down air, according to the Georgia Aquarium.

This aids their buoyancy, allowing them to float virtually without motion as they stalk prey.

Growing up to 10.5 feet and 350 pounds, sand tiger sharks are also known for teeth that protrude even when their mouths are closed, as well as rust-colored spots that fade with age.

Smooth Dogfish

Whereas most sharks are characterized by sharp, piercing teeth, the smooth dogfish has flat teeth suited for crushing the crustaceans and mollusks that make up its diet, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Despite their name, they also stand out due to their cat-like eyes.

Because of their flat teeth and relatively small size — averaging just four feet — smooth dogfish pose no threat to humans.

Blue Sharks

Among the most common species worldwide, blue sharks are known and named for the stunning blue hue that gradually fades to a stark white belly, according to the nonprofit American Oceans Campaign.

That contrast helps camouflage a blue shark's 7-foot, 250-pound frame as it hunts prey that includes fish, squid and, less commonly, seals.

They've also been known to swipe fish from fishing lines, making them among the sharks that most commonly fall victim to unintentional entrapment, or bycatching.

Mako Sharks

Makos are regarded as the world's fastest sharks, capable of reaching speeds of up to 43 miles per hour, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Despite a frame that can reach 13-feet, the agile and aerodynamic mako can be seen breaching the sea's surface when on the hunt.

The mako featured prominently in Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea."

Spinner Sharks

The spinner shark's name derives from its unique feeding strategy, in which it spirals upwards through schools of fish, mouth open, according to the nonprofit American Oceans Campaign.

The shark's momentum through this maneuver can carry it through the ocean's surface and into the air.

It's aided by a sleek frame that maxes out around 9 feet and 200 pounds.