Sharks have been evolving for millions of years and, in that time, have perfected the art of predation. However, there are hundreds of different species of shark, each of which has its own hunting techniques and strategies. Some sharks, like the whale shark, eat tiny organisms known as plankton, which requires a very different hunting … Read more
Sharks have a different approach to reproduction than most fish species. Instead of releasing eggs and sperm into the water in an act of external fertilization, sharks go to great lengths to perform internal fertilization. This isn’t a particularly easy feat when you’re swimming in the sea, but sharks have developed effective ways of overcoming … Read more
The basking shark is the second biggest shark in the world, with the largest specimen ever recorded measuring an impressively large 12.27 meters (40.3 feet) long. They also possess a jaw that can open up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in width. That sounds pretty dangerous, right? Wrong! In terms of ever attacking, … Read more
Whale sharks can grow to 60 feet long and have mouths easily big enough to swallow a human. Far from being vicious predators, however, whale sharks are gentle giants that drift around the ocean feeding on microscopic prey and the occasional fish. What do Whale Sharks Eat? Whale sharks live on a diet of tiny … Read more
When we think of sharks, our minds almost always drift towards visions of gaping mouths full of sharp teeth that erupt from the water at high speed. In our minds, there is nothing larger nor more terrifying than a great white shark, but much of that is a myth. The great white’s notoriety is largely … Read more
There are two types of blacktip sharks, both relatively timid species that seldom pose a serious threat to humans. The blacktip reef shark, or Carcharhinus melanopterus, prefers shallow water and is commonly seen around tropical coral reefs in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. The blacktip shark, also known as the Carcharhinus limbatus, frequents coastal tropical and … Read more
Nobody likes a freeloader, and if you’ve ever seen a shark cruising majestically in the ocean, you may have noticed one or more strange-looking fish getting what looks like a freeride. However, before you rush to judgment on the fish hanging off the shark’s belly, let’s look at the remoras and shark’s relationship and see … Read more
The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is one of the most voracious predators in the sea. If you wanted one of nature’s ultimate hunters in your home, would it be possible to have a tiger shark aquarium? We will see that tiger sharks are far too large for even the biggest home aquariums and would not survive … Read more
The bull shark is one of the most dangerous shark species in the world. Also known as the Zambezi and the Lake Nicaragua shark, it’s also one of the most versatile. It is often found in the murky waters of estuaries and river mouths and frequently comes into contact with humans. Because of this proximity, … Read more
Sharks seem almost indestructible. They’re highly disease-resistant, and some species, like the Greenland shark, live for hundreds of years. So how do sharks die? Sharks are not invincible, however, and die just like any other living thing. Sure, the great white heals quickly and effectively and has a mechanism that protects it against “autoimmune disease … Read more