Sharks stand as the ultimate rulers of the deep ocean. While many people fear these marine giants, these fish possess incredible biological traits and complex social behaviors. Indeed, you can find species that glow in the dark or navigate using magnetic fields. Furthermore, the presence of sharks remains vital for the health of our entire planet.
Sharks
Sharks do not have a single bone in their entire bodies. Instead, their skeletons consist of lightweight cartilage. Consequently, this material helps them swim incredibly fast.
The massive whale shark represents the largest fish in the ocean. Specifically, it can grow up to 18 meters or 60 feet long. However, this gentle giant only eats microscopic plankton.
Some deep-sea sharks possess special organs that emit a glowing green light. Thus, bioluminescence helps them camouflage against the lighter water above. Furthermore, it attracts curious prey straight into their waiting mouths.
Great white sharks detect a single drop of blood in a massive pool. Indeed, their olfactory bulb makes up a huge portion of their brain. Therefore, they track injured seals from miles away.
These predators have existed on Earth for over 400 million years. Remarkably, they survived four major mass extinction events. As a result, they actually predate trees and the rings of Saturn.
A female Greenland shark can live for over 400 years in freezing Arctic waters. Surprisingly, scientists determine their age by examining special proteins inside their eyes. Consequently, they hold the record for the longest-lived vertebrates.
Most species must keep moving forward to push water over their gills. Otherwise, they risk sinking and suffocating in the deep sea. However, some bottom-dwelling species can actively pump water while resting.
Sharks constantly lose their teeth and grow new rows like a conveyor belt. Specifically, a single individual might use over 30,000 teeth during its lifetime. Thus, beachcombers easily find their fossilized teeth along the shore.
The tiny dwarf lanternshark barely reaches 20 centimeters or 8 inches in length. Therefore, this miniature predator fits perfectly inside a human hand. Despite its size, it still hunts effectively in the deep ocean.
These animals possess a special electrical sense to find hidden prey. Specifically, tiny pores on their snouts detect the muscle movements of other fish. Consequently, they can hunt effectively even in total darkness.
Tiger sharks eat almost anything they find floating in the sea. Indeed, researchers often discover tires and even armor inside their stomachs. Thus, people call them the garbage cans of the ocean.
The epaulette shark can walk across dry coral reefs during low tide. Remarkably, it uses its sturdy fins like legs to crawl between tide pools. Furthermore, it can survive without oxygen for an entire hour.
Female sharks can sometimes reproduce without any contact with a male. Surprisingly, this rare biological process creates a perfect genetic clone of the mother. As a result, isolated aquarium females sometimes give birth unexpectedly.
Shortfin mako sharks reach swimming speeds of 70 kilometers or 43 miles per hour. Therefore, they catch fast prey like tuna and swordfish. Indeed, they represent the fastest sharks in the entire ocean.
Finally, humans pose a much greater threat to the ocean environment. Sadly, commercial fishing removes millions of apex predators every single year. Thus, conservation efforts remain critical for marine ecosystem survival.
