---
title: "Crocodile Shark"
description: "Pseudocarcharias kamoharai — Fish. The crocodile shark (Pseudocarcharias kamoharai) is a species of mackerel shark and the only extant member of the family Pseudocarchariidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/crocodile-shark
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Crocodile Shark

> Pseudocarcharias kamoharai — Fish. The crocodile shark (Pseudocarcharias kamoharai) is a species of mackerel shark and the only extant member of the family Pseudocarchariidae.

- Scientific name: *Pseudocarcharias kamoharai*
- Category: `fish` (Fish)
- Habitats: `sea` (Sea & coast)
- iNaturalist observations: 15
- Wikidata: [Q1368880](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1368880)
- iNaturalist taxon: [110962](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/110962)

## Names

- en: Crocodile Shark
- de: Krokodilshai
- es: Tiburón cocodrilo
- fr: Requin-crocodile
- nl: Krokodilhaai
- pt: Tubarão-crocodilo

## Countries with the most observations

EC (3), IN (3), LK (3)

## Summary

The crocodile shark (Pseudocarcharias kamoharai) is a species of mackerel shark and the only extant member of the family Pseudocarchariidae. A  specialized inhabitant of the mesopelagic zone, the crocodile shark can be found worldwide in tropical waters from the surface to a depth of 590 m (1,940 ft). It performs a diel vertical migration, staying below a depth of 200 m (660 ft) during the day and ascending into shallower water at night to feed. Typically measuring only 1 m (3.3 ft) in length, the crocodile shark is the smallest living mackerel shark. It can be distinguished by its elongated cigar-shaped body, extremely…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile_shark

## Photo

![Crocodile Shark](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/crocodile-shark/medium.jpg)

Photo: NOAA Observer Program · Public domain · commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pseudocarcharias_kamoharai.jpg

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/crocodile-shark?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).