After reports of a shark found on the shores of an Inverness beach yesterday, there were conflicting reports of the species. While some social media commenters identified it as a shortfin mako shark, others insisted it more closely matched the characteristics of a porbeagle shark.

DFO Communications Advisor Krista Petersen confirmed via email that the species was identified as a porbeagle, and is common to our Nova Scotian waters. It measured 7 feet, 5 inches or approximately 2.3 metres in length.

The photo comparison above is available at the NOAA Fisheries website and describes the differences between the two species which are sometimes mistaken for one another.