Did you know that sharks come in over 500 different species? They can survive in freshwater habitats and are present in all of the world's oceans. Sharks are very versatile creatures that have existed on Earth for more than 400 million years. They can live in nearly any type of habitat and come in a variety of sizes and forms. Keep your mind (or teeth) sharp this #SharkWeek by learning about five species that will astound you (insert Jaws theme tune here).
The Great White Shark
A great white shark swims away from its mother as soon as it is born. Many sharks develop quite early, therefore this is not unusual. A great white shark's length at birth is around five feet (1.5 meters); as it matures, it can grow to four times that (20 feet). Although they are on the top of the food chain at birth, the pup has to stay away from other predators, including other great white sharks, in order to survive to adulthood.
They use their keen sense of smell to locate their prey in the water, their electromagnetic sense to detect heart activity, and the element of surprise when hunting. These sharks can go nearly two months without eating a large meal because they tear off chunks of meat and swallow them whole rather than chewing their food (a new shark diet is on the horizon).
Shark Whale
The elegant whale shark is the biggest fish in the planet. Even though they may grow to the size of a school bus (no, really), whale sharks filter-feed by swimming slowly with their enormous jaws agape, consuming small plankton and fish eggs. Only three species of filter-feeding sharks exist worldwide, including them.
Each individual whale shark has a distinct pattern of hundreds of white dots, which are similar to human freckles. This makes whale sharks distinctive. To identify individual whale sharks from photographs using their spot patterns, whale shark researchers really use sophisticated computer software that was first created for star mapping.
Shark Hammerhead
The hammerhead can scan a larger area even faster than other sharks because of the location of its eyes on either end of its incredibly long and broad head. Additionally, the hammerhead shark has more electromagnetic sensors on its head than other shark species, which aids in its exceptional ability to locate and triangulate prey in the ocean.
The name of this shark is derived from the peculiar shape of its head, a remarkable anatomical feature that has been modified to optimize the fish's ability to locate its preferred food—stingrays (maybe its moniker might be changed to nails..). The ability of hammerhead sharks to swiftly identify and pin food to the sea floor is essential to their ability to successfully eat. They hunt with their broad heads.
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Shark Nurse
Slow-moving bottom-dwellers, nurse sharks pose little threat to people. They are generally found in the eastern Pacific and western Atlantic seas, which are warmer and shallower. They may grow up to 14 feet in length and have incredibly strong jaws with hundreds of small, sharp teeth, yet they only go in shallower waters.
They like to frequently consume fish, shrimp, and squid, although they can also break down shellfish and even coral using their powerful teeth. Their characteristic tail fins, which can reach up to one-fourth of their whole body length, give them a gray-brown appearance. Nurses seem quite smooth to the touch, in contrast to most sharks (disclaimer: don't do this at home). Despite their abundance, the species is under stress from human activities because of their tendency to live closer to shore.
Bull Shark
Although they are carnivorous, bull sharks eat a variety of foods, such as dolphins, sea turtles, and even other sharks. They inhabit shallow, warm ocean waters all throughout the planet, and they have even been observed swimming into freshwater rivers, particularly those that have brackish or semi-salted characteristics.
The majority of sharks can only exist in saltwater environments, and all sharks need salt in their bodies to survive. Even when swimming in freshwater, bull sharks are able to maintain salt in their bodies because to unique adaptations made possible by their kidneys and unique glands near their tails (think of it as an internal hydration tank when working out).
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