We tend to think of sharks as vicious carnivores that will take a bite out of anything that comes their way, but that’s not an accurate representation of these diverse species. Some sharks are scavengers that satisfy their nutritional requirements by munching on decomposing carcasses. Others restrict themselves to tiny organisms no bigger than your … Read more
Living in South Africa, I never knew what a sand tiger shark was, let alone what it looked like until I discovered that the ragged tooth and the sand tiger are one and the same. The South African name for the sand tiger is the spotted ragged-tooth, which sums up its appearance far better than … Read more
There are over 500 species of shark in our planet’s oceans, and nature has produced an astonishingly wide variety of these incredible creatures. Some are familiar to the general public, while others are rare, relatively unknown, and often especially strange and weird looking. Like many of the oddest-looking sea creatures, the incredible frilled shark spends … Read more
Blacktip reef sharks are elegant, eye-catching sharks that are abundant predators throughout the shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific. They aren’t the biggest or fastest sharks in the water, but that doesn’t stop them from performing incredible aerial performances. The blacktip is one of the few shark species known to jump out of the water, performing … Read more
The megamouth is the newest and most intriguing species of large shark to have been discovered in recent years. The first one was caught by accident in 1976; since then, there have only been a handful of sightings. The megamouth shark appears to be a rather solitary and elusive creature that occupies the ocean’s dark … Read more
Just like the lion is the king of the jungle, we often think that sharks, particularly the infamous great white, are the out-and-out rulers of the ocean. By comparison, for most people, the orca whale has a relatively peaceful reputation. After all, while the great white is famous for the frightening movie Jaws, the orca … Read more
Nestled in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a tropical paradise that attracts over a million visitors a year. The Republic of Maldives has 1,192 coral islands and is well-known for its white sand beaches and warm, shallow waters. It’s a popular destination for snorkelers and scuba divers, who can explore … Read more
Oceanic whitetip sharks are built for cruising great distances in the world’s tropical and subtropical oceans with streamlined bodies and long pectoral fins with distinctive white-colored ends. These pelagic sharks are generally solitary and spend almost all their time near the surface of deep water, looking, sensing, and smelling for food. The oceanic whitetip is … 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
What is a whale shark? Is it a whale AND a shark? That sounds like a terrifying combination! Well, what if we told you that this animal is also the biggest fish swimming in the ocean today? It sounds like a scary proposition, doesn’t it? Luckily you needn’t worry, as we’re here to sort out … Read more