Sharks Sharks, which comprise less than 1 percent of all living fish, they are widely considered to be the apex predators of the ocean; their spot is at the top of the food chain. When people think of sharks, they imagine a fearsome, aggressive great white, swiftly cutting through the water. However, not all sharks are like that; many aren’t aggressive at all. 400 species Sharks have inhabited the ocean for over 400,000,000 (400 million) years. Comparatively, modern-appearing humans have only existed for 200,000 years, which means that humans have existed only 0.05% (or 1/2000) of the time sharks have. Despite their age, the sharks of today still look very similar to their ancient ancestors. Long before the dinosaurs, sharks evolved their basic powerful and streamlined body shape, which has since needed little modification. The modern typical shark has a streamlined and slender body with a longish snout and pectoral fins. Sharks belong to the group of cartilaginous fish (fish with cartilage). The skeletons of cartilaginous fish are composed of cartilage (similar to the material found in the human ear and nose) instead of bone. Like all fish, sharks are aquatic, water-breathing vertebrates. However, unlike the large, bright scales commonly found on other types of fish, sharks are covered with small, tough scales, called denticles. Sharks also have powerful jaws, filled with rows and rows of teeth. It is not uncommon for a shark to lose many of its teeth in a lifetime - fortunately, they are continuously replaced by new ones: one shark may have as many as 30,000 teeth in a life time. Some experiments suggest that a shark’s tooth can last from under a month, to a year. Half of the world’s shark species reach a maximum length of between 6 inches and 39 inches. More than 80% are smaller than an adult human, and only 4% are larger than 13 feet. However, the largest shark specie, the whale shark, can reach lengths of 40 feet. This incredible length also crowns the whale shark as the world’s largest fish. The two largest shark species, the whale shark and the basking shark, feed on plankton. Both species have close to neutral buoyancy, allowing them to travel at slow speeds. The ocean environment is fairly stable: it changes very little in temperature. However, it also requires animals to be both efficient and powerful to effectively swim. Water is roughly 800 times as dense as air. Moreover, there is low visibility, which has lead to the evolution of other sensory organs. Sharks inhabit almost every marine ecosystem, and are distributed throughout all of the world’s oceans. Tropical-water shark species live in areas where the water temperature is greater than 70 degrees Fahrenheit (or 21 degrees Celsius). These sharks include the hammerhead sharks, many of the smoothhound sharks, the wobbegon shark, the nurse shark, the whale shark, the banded catshark, some of the angelsharks, the winghead shark, the whitetip reef shark, the blacktip reef shark, the gray reef shark, the bonnethead shark, the lemon shark and the smalltail shark. Temperate-water shark species live in areas where the water temperature is between 50 degrees Fahrenheit (or 10 degrees Celsius) and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (or 21 degrees Celsius). Some of the cold-water shark species include the basking shark, the shortfin mako shark, the great white shark, the blue shark, the thresher sharks, the sand tiger sharks, the porbeagle shark, the salmon shark, the piked dogfish shark, the Cuban dogfish shark, the Japanese spurdog shark, the shortspine spurdog shark, the tope shark, the angelsharks, the sawsharks, the bullhead sharks, and the catsharks. Cold-water shark species live in areas where the water temperature is less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit (or 10 degrees Celsius). Some of the cold-water shark species include the sixgill sharks, the sevengill sharks, the frilled shark, the false catshark shark, the goblin shark, the sleeper sharks, the dogfish sharks, and the roughsharks. The traditional five senses (hearing, smell, sight, touch, and taste) are well-developed in sharks. Nineteenth century biologists plugged the nasal openings of sharks and observed that they were then unable to find food. They concluded that sharks were “swimming noses”. However, sharks also have electroreception. Sharks can detect sounds of 10 to 800 hertz (compared to humans which can detect 25 to 16,000 hertz). Shark’s eyes are positioned at the side of their head, which affords them a wider range of vision than humans). Sharks have a keen sense of smell - the maximum distance over which a shark can track a smell is over a mile. Touch and taste are not well understood in sharks. Sharks are sensitive to weak electric fields, and they detect them sing ampullae of Lorenzini. They are located below the skin in the snout, lips, and behind the eyes. This allows them to detect prey, even if it is hidden in sand. What Do Sharks Eat Shark attacks are very rare, and very few species of shark have ever attacked humans. People are more likely to be killed by lightning, or a bee sting, than to be attacked by a shark. However, when a shark does attack, it is devastating. The teeth of a shark vary in shape and size from specie to specie, but some teeth can reach lengths of 2.5 inches. The teeth of the extinct megaladon shark reached lengths of over 7 inches. The bite of a shark can rip into its prey with the force of several tons. Sharks have exceptionally powerful jaws, filled with rows and rows of teeth. They use their powerful jaws for tearing off large chunks of flesh. For example, with a single bite, a great white shark can tear off 31 pounds of flesh. However, not all sharks are carnivorous. Some shark species survive off plankton, like the two largest shark species: the whale shark and the basking shark. Other species, like the tiger shark, will eat almost anything. Biggest Shark Ever Found Half of the world’s shark species reach a maximum length of between 6 inches and 39 inches. More than 80% are smaller than an adult human, and only 4% are larger than 13 feet. However, the largest shark specie, the whale shark, can reach lengths of 40 feet. This incredible length crowns the whale shark as the world’s largest fish.The largest confirmed whale shark was 41.5 feet and weighed 79,000 pounds. Large carnivorous sharks include the extinct megaladon shark, the great white shark, the tiger shark, and the hammerhead shark. The extinct megaladon shark, an ancient ancestor of the great white, is thought to have reached a maximum length of 67 feet, and a maximum weight of 228,000 pounds. The largest great white shark is thought to have been 23 feet with a weight of 5,500 pounds. The largest confirmed tiger shark was 24 feet and weighed 6,900 pounds. The largest hammerhead shark is thought to have been 20 feet. The largest confirmed weight of a hammerhead shark was 1,280 pounds, although it was due to the fact it was pregnant. How high can sharks jump? It is uncommon for a shark to jump out of the water. However, some sharks, like blacktip sharks, are known to make spinning leaps out of the water while attacking fish. There have also been cases of sharks jumping regularly, like a certain great white that leapt to heights of 10 feet. However, the shortfin mako shark appears to hold the record; they can leap over 30 feet in the air. There are even cases when an angry shortfin mako shark jumped into a boat after having been hooked. All Types of Sharks There are 440 different species of sharks. However, they comprise less than 1 percent of all living fish. Sharks are widely considered to be the apex predators of the ocean; their place is near, or at the top of the food chain. However, not all sharks are like that; many aren’t aggressive at all. Some of the most well-known sharks include: the extinct megaladon shark, the great white shark, the tiger shark, the bull shark, the oceanic whitetip shark, and the hammerhead shark. The extinct megaladon shark, an ancient ancestor of the great white, is thought to have reached a maximum length of 67 feet, and a maximum weight of 228,000 pounds. The teeth of a megaladon shark reached lengths of over 7 inches. The great white shark is by far, the shark with the most recorded attacks on humans. The great white shark typically reaches a maximum length of 20 feet and maximum weight of 5,000 pounds, although the largest great white shark is thought to have been 23 feet with a weight of 5,500 pounds. The tiger shark is the shark with the second most recorded attacks on humans. The tiger shark typically reaches a maximum length of 14 feet and maximum weight of 1,400 pounds, although the largest confirmed tiger shark was 24 feet with a weight of 6,900 pounds. The bull shark closely follows the tiger shark in recorded attacks on humans, with the third most recorded attacks. The bull shark typically reaches a maximum length of nearly 12 feet and maximum weight of 505 pounds. Unlike most sharks, bull sharks tolerate fresh water and can travel far up rivers. The oceanic whitetip shark is responsible for more fatal attacks on humans than all other species combined. They are known for preying on survivors of shipwrecks or downed aircraft. However, such incidents are not included in the common shark attack data, so the oceanic whitetip shark does not hold the highest number of recorded shark attacks (fatal and non-fatal). The oceanic whitetip shark typically reaches a maximum length of 11 feet, although the largest oceanic whitetip shark is thought to have been 13 feet with a weight of 370 pounds. The hammerhead shark has the seventh most recorded attacks on humans. The hammerhead shark typically reaches a maximum length of nearly 12 feet and weight of 500 pounds, although the largest hammerhead shark is thought to have been 20 feet. The largest confirmed weight of a hammerhead shark was 1,280 pounds, although it was due to the fact it was pregnant. Different Kinds of Sharks There are over 400 different species of sharks. However, they comprise less than 1 percent of all living fish. Sharks are widely considered to be the apex predators of the ocean; their place is near, or at the top of the food chain. However, not all sharks are like that; many aren’t aggressive at all. Some of the most well-known sharks include: the great white shark, the tiger shark, the bull shark, the oceanic whitetip shark, the hammerhead shark, and the extinct megaladon shark.. The great white shark is by far, the shark with the most recorded attacks on humans. The great white shark typically reaches a maximum length of 20 feet and maximum weight of 5,000 pounds, although the largest great white shark is thought to have been 23 feet with a weight of 5,500 pounds. The tiger shark is the shark with the second most recorded attacks on humans. The tiger shark typically reaches a maximum length of 14 feet and maximum weight of 1,400 pounds, although the largest confirmed tiger shark was 24 feet with a weight of 6,900 pounds. The bull shark closely follows the tiger shark in recorded attacks on humans, with the third most recorded attacks. The bull shark typically reaches a maximum length of nearly 12 feet and maximum weight of 505 pounds. Unlike most sharks, bull sharks tolerate fresh water and can travel far up rivers. The oceanic whitetip shark is responsible for more fatal attacks on humans than all other species combined. They are known for preying on survivors of shipwrecks or downed aircraft. However, such incidents are not included in the common shark attack data, so the oceanic whitetip shark does not hold the highest number of recorded shark attacks (fatal and non-fatal). The oceanic whitetip shark typically reaches a maximum length of 11 feet, although the largest oceanic whitetip shark is thought to have been 13 feet with a weight of 370 pounds. The hammerhead shark has the seventh most recorded attacks on humans. The hammerhead shark typically reaches a maximum length of nearly 12 feet and weight of 500 pounds, although the largest hammerhead shark is thought to have been 20 feet. The largest confirmed weight of a hammerhead shark was 1,280 pounds, although it was due to the fact it was pregnant. The extinct megaladon shark, an ancient ancestor of the great white, is thought to have reached a maximum length of 67 feet, and a maximum weight of 228,000 pounds. The teeth of a megaladon shark reached lengths of over 7 inches. Facts About Sharks - People are more likely to be killed by lightning, or a bee sting, than to be attacked by a shark. - The teeth of a shark vary in shape and size from specie to specie, but some teeth can reach lengths of 2.5 inches. The teeth of the extinct megaladon shark reached lengths of over 7 inches. - With a single bite, a great white shark can tear off 31 pounds of flesh. - Some shark species survive off plankton, like the two largest shark species: the whale shark and the basking shark. - The largest shark specie, the whale shark, can reach a length of 41.5 feet and weight of 79,000 pounds. - The extinct megaladon shark, an ancient ancestor of the great white, is thought to have reached a maximum length of 67 feet, and a maximum weight of 228,000 pounds. The largest great white shark is thought to have been 23 feet with a weight of 5,500 pounds. The largest confirmed tiger shark was 24 feet and weighed 6,900 pounds. The largest hammerhead shark is thought to have been 20 feet. The largest confirmed weight of a hammerhead shark was 1,280 pounds, although it was due to the fact it was pregnant. What is The Biggest Shark Half of the world’s shark species reach a maximum length of between 6 inches and 39 inches. More than 80% are smaller than an adult human, and only 4% are larger than 13 feet. However, the largest shark specie, the whale shark, can reach lengths of 40 feet. This incredible length crowns the whale shark as the world’s largest fish.The largest confirmed whale shark was 41.5 feet and weighed 79,000 pounds. Large carnivorous sharks include the extinct megaladon shark, the great white shark, the tiger shark, and the hammerhead shark. The extinct megaladon shark, an ancient ancestor of the great white, is thought to have reached a maximum length of 67 feet, and a maximum weight of 228,000 pounds. The largest great white shark is thought to have been 23 feet with a weight of 5,500 pounds. The largest confirmed tiger shark was 24 feet and weighed 6,900 pounds. The largest hammerhead shark is thought to have been 20 feet. The largest confirmed weight of a hammerhead shark was 1,280 pounds, although it was due to the fact it was pregnant. 10 Most Dangerous Sharks 1. The oceanic whitetip shark is responsible for more fatal attacks on humans than all other species combined. They are known for preying on survivors of shipwrecks or downed aircraft. However, such incidents are not included in the common shark attack data, so the oceanic whitetip shark does not hold the highest number of recorded shark attacks (fatal and non-fatal). The oceanic whitetip shark typically reaches a maximum length of 11 feet, although the largest oceanic whitetip shark is thought to have been 13 feet with a weight of 370 pounds. 2. The great white shark is by far, the shark with the most recorded attacks on humans. The great white shark typically reaches a maximum length of 20 feet and maximum weight of 5,000 pounds, although the largest great white shark is thought to have been 23 feet with a weight of 5,500 pounds. 3. The tiger shark is the shark with the second most recorded attacks on humans. The tiger shark typically reaches a maximum length of 14 feet and maximum weight of 1,400 pounds, although the largest confirmed tiger shark was 24 feet with a weight of 6,900 pounds. 4. The bull shark closely follows the tiger shark in recorded attacks on humans, with the third most recorded attacks. The bull shark typically reaches a maximum length of nearly 12 feet and maximum weight of 505 pounds. Unlike most sharks, bull sharks tolerate fresh water and can travel far up rivers. 5. The sand tiger shark has the fourth most recorded attacks on humans. The sand tiger shark typically reaches a maximum length of 11 feet and maximum weight of 350 pounds, although the largest confirmed weight of a sand tiger shark was 660 pounds. 6. The blacktip shark has the fifth most recorded attacks on humans. The blacktip shark typically reaches a maximum length of nearly 5 feet, although the largest blacktip shark is thought to have been 9 feet with a weight of 271 pounds. 7. The narrowtooth shark has the sixth most recorded attacks on humans. The largest narrowtooth shark is thought to have been 11 feet with a weight of 670 pounds. 8. The hammerhead shark has the seventh most recorded attacks on humans. The hammerhead shark typically reaches a maximum length of nearly 12 feet and weight of 500 pounds, although the largest hammerhead shark is thought to have been 20 feet. The largest confirmed weight of a hammerhead shark was 1,280 pounds, although it was due to the fact it was pregnant. 9. The spinner shark has the eighth most recorded attacks on humans. The spinner shark typically reaches a maximum length of over 6 feet and weight of 123 pounds, although the largest spinner shark is thought to have been 10 feet with a weight of 198 pounds. 10. The blue shark has the ninth most recorded attacks on humans. The blue shark typically reaches a maximum length of over 12 feet and weight of 450 pounds, although the largest confirmed weight of a blue shark was 862 pounds. 11. The blacktip reef shark has the tenth most record attacks on humans. The blacktip reef shark typically reaches a maximum length of over 5 feet, although the largest blacktip reef shark is thought to have been nearly 7 feet with a weight of 30 pounds. World’s Biggest Sharks Half of the world’s shark species reach a maximum length of between 6 inches and 39 inches. More than 80% are smaller than an adult human, and only 4% are larger than 13 feet. However, the largest shark specie, the whale shark, can reach lengths of 40 feet. This incredible length crowns the whale shark as the world’s largest fish.The largest confirmed whale shark was 41.5 feet and weighed 79,000 pounds. Large carnivorous sharks include the extinct megaladon shark, the great white shark, the tiger shark, and the hammerhead shark. The extinct megaladon shark, an ancient ancestor of the great white, is thought to have reached a maximum length of 67 feet, and a maximum weight of 228,000 pounds. The largest great white shark is thought to have been 23 feet with a weight of 5,500 pounds. The largest confirmed tiger shark was 24 feet and weighed 6,900 pounds. The largest hammerhead shark is thought to have been 20 feet. The largest confirmed weight of a hammerhead shark was 1,280 pounds, although it was due to the fact it was pregnant. Largest Shark in History Half of the world’s shark species reach a maximum length of between 6 inches and 39 inches. More than 80% are smaller than an adult human, and only 4% are larger than 13 feet. However, the largest shark specie, the whale shark, can reach lengths of 40 feet. This incredible length crowns the whale shark as the world’s largest fish.The largest confirmed whale shark was 41.5 feet and weighed 79,000 pounds. Large carnivorous sharks include the extinct megaladon shark, the great white shark, the tiger shark, and the hammerhead shark. The extinct megaladon shark, an ancient ancestor of the great white, is thought to have reached a maximum length of 67 feet, and a maximum weight of 228,000 pounds. The largest great white shark is thought to have been 23 feet with a weight of 5,500 pounds. The largest confirmed tiger shark was 24 feet and weighed 6,900 pounds. The largest hammerhead shark is thought to have been 20 feet. The largest confirmed weight of a hammerhead shark was 1,280 pounds, although it was due to the fact it was pregnant. Sharks Habitat Do sharks eat dolphin? Whale Shark Facts? How long do sharks live? Fun facts about sharks Facts about a Hammerhead Shark Types of Sharks Blue Shark Facts Whale Shark Gray Reef Shark Extinct Sharks Sharks Great White Shark Nurse Shark Tiger Shark History of Sharks Any changes to the shark populations influence the entire food chain. Sharks are strong agile swimmers. Sharks have good eyesight and a keen sense of smell. Shark teeth are replaced constantly; one shark may have as many as 30,000 in its lifetime. A shark’s teeth are arranged n several rows. Great White Sharks Great White Sharks feed on seals, dolphins and even other sharks. Great White Sharks are also known by the monnikor Killer Shark, this is not just due to its fame in teh movie Jaws. Great White Sharks prey on seals and porpoises. Great White Sharks have very poor vision and are often unable to discern the difference between human swimmers and seals. Great White Sharks hunt in shallow coastal waters. Sharks have slender bodies a strong jaw and sharp teeth. Sharks are fast swimmers and Great WHite Sharks weigh up to 4000 lbs. Basking Sharks Not all sharks are predators, Basking Sharks eat plankton or tiny plants and animals. Whale Shark The Scientific Name of a Whale Shark is Rhincodon Typus. The Whale Shark eats plankton or tiny plants and animals. The Whale Shark is found in all oceans. The Whale shark is the biggest fish in the world. Whale Sharks are usually around 40 feet long but they may be as much as 60 feet. Greenland Shark The scientific name for the Greenland Shark is Somniosus Microephalus. The Greenland Shark is located in the Arctic and North American Oceans. The Greenland Shark grows to up to 21 feet long. THe Greenland Shark preys on large fish, seals and other creatures. The Greenland Shark also scavenges for waste around fishing vessels. Nurse Shark THe Nurse Shark is Hammerhead Shark Hammerhead Sharks eat stingrays.