Which shark species are reported to occur occasionally in Maine waters?

• A. Porbeagle, basking, great white (rare)
• B. Hammerhead, tiger shark
• C. Nurse shark, sandbar shark
• D. Whale shark, manta ray

Answer: (A)

In Maine waters, the species most likely to show up occasionally are cold- and temperate-water sharks. Porbeagle sharks are a northern lamnid that regularly shows up off New England and into Maine, especially in summer and fall. Basking sharks are large filter feeders that migrate along the coast in northern Atlantic waters and are often seen near the surface during warmer months, including around Maine. Great white sharks do occur there, but far less frequently; they’re rare compared with the other two.

The other options mix species that aren’t typical visitors to Maine. Hammerhead and tiger sharks are warm-water tropical species and aren’t commonly found around Maine. Nurse sharks are tropical as well, and while sandbar sharks can be found along parts of the Atlantic, the combination given doesn’t reflect Maine’s common occasional visitors. Whale sharks and manta rays are tropical/open-ocean species and aren’t expected to be part of Maine’s nearshore fauna.