There are numerous species of sharks found in the Pacific Ocean; of these sharks, 36 have habitat ranges throughout the coastlines and surrounding waters of California, as identified below. Identifications include common names; scientific names; the taxonomic rank, family; conservation statuses according to IUCN; and an image.
| Common Name[1] | Scientific Name | Family | Conservation Status (IUCN) | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common thresher | Alopias vulpinus | Alopiidae | Vulnerable | ||
| Bigeye thresher | Alopias superciliosus | Alopiidae | Vulnerable | ||
| Leopard shark | Triakis semifasciata | Carcharhinidae | Least concern | ||
| Gray smoothhound | Mustelus californicus | Carcharhinidae | Least concern | ||
| Brown smoothhound | Mustelus henlei | Carcharhinidae | Least concern | ||
| Sicklefin smoothhound | Mustelus lunulatus | Carcharhinidae | Least concern | ||
| Tiger shark | Galeocerdo cuvier | Carcharhinidae | Near threatened | ||
| Oceanic whitetip shark | Carcharhinus longimanus | Carcharhinidae | Critically endangered | ||
| Blue shark | Prionace glauca | Carcharhinidae | Near threatened | ||
| Pacific sharpnose shark | Rhizoprionodon longurio | Carcharhinidae | Vulnerable | ||
| Dusky shark | Carcharhinus obscurus | Carcharhinidae | Endangered | ||
| Bull shark | Carcharhinus leucas | Carcharhinidae | Vulnerable | ||
| Copper shark | Carcharhinus brachyurus | Carcharhinidae | Vulnerable | ||
| Basking shark | Cetorhinus maximus | Cetorhinidae | Endangered | ||
| Frilled shark | Chlamydoselachus anguineus | Chlamydoselachidae | Least concern | ||
| Horn shark | Heterodontus francisci | Heterodontidae | Data Deficient | ||
| Sevengill shark | Notorynchus cepedianus | Hexanchidae | Vulnerable | ||
| Bluntnose sixgill shark | Hexanchus griseus | Hexanchidae | Near threatened | ||
| White shark | Carcharodon carcharias | Lamnidae | Vulnerable | ||
| Shortfin mako shark | Isurus oxyrinchus | Lamnidae | Endangered | ||
| Salmon shark | Lamna ditropis | Lamnidae | Least concern | ||
| Smalltooth sand tiger | Odontaspis ferox | Odontaspididae | Vulnerable | ||
| Whale shark | Rhincodon typus | Rhincodontidae | Endangered | ||
| Brown catshark | Apristurus brunneus | Scyliorhinidae | Data Deficient | ||
| Longnose catshark | Apristurus kampae | Scyliorhinidae | Data Deficient | ||
| Swell shark | Cephaloscyllium ventriosum | Scyliorhinidae | Least concern | ||
| Filetail catshark | Parmaturus xaniurus | Scyliorhinidae | Least concern | ||
| Smooth hammerhead | Sphyrna zygaena | Sphyrnidae | Vulnerable | ||
| Bonnethead | Sphyrna tiburo | Sphyrnidae | Endangered | ||
| Scalloped hammerhead | Sphyrna lewini | Sphyrnidae | Critically endangered[2] | ||
| Spiny dogfish | Squalus acanthias | Squalidae | Vulnerable | ||
| Pacific sleeper shark | Somniosus pacificus | Squalidae | Near threatened | ||
| Pygmy shark | Euprotomicrus bispinatus | Squalidae | Least concern | ||
| Prickly shark | Echinorhinus cookei | Squalidae | Data Deficient | ||
| Pacific angelshark | Squatina californica | Squatinidae | Near threatened | ||
| Soupfin shark | Galeorhinus galeus | Triakidae | Critically endangered |