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Sharks are cartilaginous fish. There are more
than 350 different kinds of sharks.
Shark Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Super Order: Selachimorpha
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Other Names:
Shark in Foreign Languages:
Afrikaans: Haai
Albanian: Peshkaqen
Croatian: Morski Pas
Czech: ralok
Danish: Haj
Dutch: Haai
Estonian: Hai
Fijian: Qio
Finnish: Hai
French: Requin
Gaelic: Siorc/ Cearban
German: Hai
Greenlandic: Eqalussuaq
Haitian Creole: Reken
Hungarian: Cápa
Icelandic: Hákarl
Indonesian: Hiu
Italian: Squalo / Pescecane
Latin: Squalus
Latvian: Haizivs
Lithuanian: Ryklys
Luxembourg: Hai, Haifësch
Malay: Ikan Yu / Jerung
Navajo: Lóó' Hashkéhé
Polish: Rekin
Portuguese: Tubarăo
Romanian: Rechin
Roman: Ajkula
Slovakian: ralokovidné
Slovenian: Morski pes
Spanish: Tiburón
Swahili: Papa
Swedish: Haj
Tagalog: Pating
Turkish: Köpek Baligi
Welsh: Morgi
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Size: The largest shark is the whale shark and
it can measure up to 60 feet in length. The smallest
species is the deepwater dogfish shark.
Habitat: The habitat of sharks is greatly varied,
some species inhabit shallow, coastal regions, others
live in deep waters, ocean floors and the open ocean.
Some species of sharks will inhabit both both salt and
fresh waters.
Description: Shark species are incredibly diverse
with very different sizes, shapes, habitats, diets and
behaviors. A sharks skin is made up of a series of scales.
Diet: Most sharks are carnivores. Sharks will
prey on fish and sea mammals like dolphins, other shark
species and seals. Sharks will also prey on turtles
and seagulls. However whale sharks, the largest sharks
eat plankton.
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Communication: Sharks can hear sounds
at very low frequencies.
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Did You Know?
Sharks have upper and lower eyelids
but they do not blink.
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Gestation: Sharks will carry their young from
five to six months to two years depending on the species.
Birth: More than half of sharks give birth to
pups, yet all are still classified as fish. The marjority
of sharks give birth to live young, but some sharks
release eggs that will hatch later.
Sexually Mature: Many shark species do not reach
sexual maturity until they are in their teens.
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Life Span: The life span of sharks varies
by species, but most sharks live 20-30 years.
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Did You Know?
A single shark can produce 20,000 teeth
in its lifetime. They lose a tooth every
other day.
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