READING LEVEL – MIDDLE

FACT SHEET FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Sharks
Sharks are some of the most mysterious NO BONES ABOUT IT KEY TERMS
and misunderstood animals on Earth today.
Sharks and their relatives (including
They are feared by most, loved by some Ampullae of Lorenzini
skates, rays, sawfishes and guitarfishes)
and hunted by many people. Many movies
belong to a group of animals called Small pores in a shark’s snout that
and books have furthered myths about
elasmobranchs, which includes fish with detect electrical signals.
sharks. However, the more we study
skeletons made of cartilage, not bone.
sharks, the more we learn the truth
Cartilage is a tough, flexible material
about these magnificent fish. Bycatch
(connective tissue) that can be found in
the human nose and ears. Sharks have five Marine animals caught accidentally
to seven gill slits visible on the outside of by fisherman who intended to catch
their bodies. In order to breathe, water another species.
SHAPE, SIZE AND COLOR
passes in through their mouth, across their
There are approximately 400 species of gills where oxygen is absorbed, and exits
sharks, each with a unique shape and size. Cartilage
through their gill slits. Sharks do not
Many sharks have a sleek, streamlined Hard, flexible connective tissue that
sleep like humans do, but instead they
body shape designed to help them swim have active and restful periods. Some forms a shark’s skeleton.
quickly through the water to capture their species of sharks need to swim constantly
prey. The fastest shark is the torpedo- to allow oxygen-rich water to flow through Countershading
shaped shortfin mako, which can swim at their gills. However, some sharks, like
20 mph (32km/h). Sharks range in size A type of coloration where an ani-
the nurse shark, can rest at the bottom
from the 8 inch dwarf lanternfish (also because they have small holes called mal’s top side is dark while the bottom
known as the deepwater dogfish shark) spiracles that force water across their is light. This coloring helps the animal
to the 45 foot whale shark. The color of gills in addition to taking in water to blend in with its surroundings.
a shark’s body is designed to allow the through their mouth. Sharks also have
shark to blend in, or camouflage, with an oily liver to help them stay afloat.
the ocean and surrounding environment. The skin of a shark is covered in tiny Dermal Denticles
The top of a shark is typically a darker scales or skin teeth called dermal denticles. Small tooth-like scales covering a
color that blends in with the dark water These skin teeth point toward a shark’s shark’s skin.
below when seen from above. Sharks tail, so a shark feels smooth if touched
have a light color underneath that blends from head to tail but feels like sandpaper
in with the sunlight above when seen if felt from tail to head. As a shark grows, Elasmobranchs
from below. This type of camouflage is more skin teeth are added to its body, Subclass of fishes with skeletons made
called countershading. Some sharks may which helps it to become a faster, more of cartilage and possessing five or more
have stripes or spots, become lighter efficient predator.
over time or remain the same color gill slits: includes sharks, skates and rays.
their entire lives.
SHARK SENSES are detected. Sharks can typically see Thin, long, pointy teeth allow the shortfin
Sharks have a number of specialized objects from about 50 feet (15 m) away. mako shark to grasp and hold onto prey.
senses and adaptations, making them They see best at dawn and dusk by using Great white sharks have narrow teeth in
one of the most efficient predators on a structure called a tapetum lucidum, which their bottom jaw used for piercing and
Earth. Depending on how far away their is a special layer of cells behind the retina holding prey, plus sharp, serrated, triangu-
prey is located, a shark will utilize dif- in the shark’s eye. The tapetum lucidum lar teeth in their top jaws for cutting. Port
ferent senses to detect it. A shark’s most acts like a mirror within a shark’s eye, Jackson sharks have hard, flat teeth for
acute sense is smell. When swimming, the allowing it to see 10 times better in dim crushing crabs, clams, oysters and other
shark moves its head from side to side light than humans. Sharks also have sen- shellfish. Whale sharks have numerous
in order to detect and follow the area of sory organs called Ampullae of Lorenzini, tiny teeth—they filter-feed plankton and
the most concentrated scent. A shark can which are most effective at about 6 feet (2 fish through screens on their internal gill
smell blood or fish oil up to 1320 ft (400 m) or less. They are fluid-filled pores sur- slits. Some sharks, like the nurse shark,
m) away. Sharks hear underwater using rounding the mouth and nose of sharks use barbels or whiskers to probe the
internal ears on either side of their head. and rays.These pores detect weak electri- bottom in search of food hidden in
Sharks specialize in hearing low frequency cal fields given off by animals as well as the sediment.
sounds, like those made by injured or sick the Earth’s magnetic field. The Ampullae
animals splashing in the water. Scientists of Lorenzini are particularly useful in Sharks lose teeth constantly throughout
have found that most sharks have ears dark or murky waters when prey animals their lives. When they eat animals with
that are capable of hearing low frequency are hiding under the sediment. hard bones or shells, they lose teeth from
sounds from 295 feet (90 m) away. How- their soft, cartilaginous jaw. Some sharks
ever, some sharks can hear these sounds can lose up to 30,000 teeth in their life-
from up to 800 feet (250 m) away. At 100 THE TOOTH OF THE MATTER time. The inside of a shark’s jaw has five
feet (30 m) away, the shark’s lateral line Different species of sharks have different to fifteen rows of teeth that usually lie
becomes effective. The lateral line is used shapes and sizes of teeth that are spe- flat until the tooth in front of it falls out.
to detect sound waves, vibrations and cialized for the kinds of food they eat. When a tooth is lost, another rotates for-
disturbances in the water. It is a complex Notched teeth with serrated edges like ward to replace it within 24 to 48 hours.
network of holes that runs horizontally those of the tiger shark are specialized The process of tooth replacement in sharks
along the body. The holes are attached for cutting and tearing into hard objects. is very similar to the movement of a con-
directly to nerves that stimulate a muscle These teeth make it possible for adult ti- veyor belt or the steps on an escalator.
response from the brain when vibrations ger sharks to eat through sea turtle shells.
SHARK PUPS Despite their reputation, most sharks
Sharks reproduce by laying eggs, giving are shy and harmless, avoiding people
birth to live young or a combination of and other large animals whenever pos-
both. Some species of sharks lay eggs that sible. Only a dozen species of sharks are
have hooks to attach to underwater plants. considered dangerous to humans. On the
Other shark species bear live young, which other hand, people kill millions of sharks
are fully formed. The pups are not cared every year by accident and intentionally.
for by their parents and are ready to hunt Many sharks die as accidental bycatch,
for their own food as soon as they are caught by fisherman who intended to
born. The number of young varies by catch another species. Sharks are also
species. Sand tiger sharks have 1-2 pups killed intentionally for their rough skin
while whale sharks can have up to 300 and sharp teeth to be used as sandpaper,
pups at one time. leather and jewelry. Many sharks are also
hunted for their liver oil, meat and fins to
make shark fin soup.
SHARKS AND HUMANS
Shark populations are declining and,
For years, a great deal of attention has
without protection, may not be able to
been focused on the interaction between
bounce back from the pressures put on
sharks and humans. Of the approximately
them by humans. Sharks are apex, or top,
400 species of sharks, only 32 species have
predators in the world’s oceans and play
ever been documented in attacks on
an essential role by feeding on sick and
humans. According to the International
dying animals as well as larger animals
Shark Attack File (ISAF), there are an
that have few predators. Scientists who
average of 50-75 unprovoked shark attacks
study sharks are working to find out more
each year worldwide, and only about 5
about these amazing animals and how to
result in a fatality. Scientists theorize that
better ensure their survival.
human attacks may happen as a result of
territorial responses, inquisitive testing or
mistaken identity.

FAST FACTS
KEY TERMS
Lateral Line • The shortfin mako is the fastest shark
and can swim at 20 mph (32km/h).
Sense organ in sharks, running hori-
zontally along the body, that can detect • Sharks range in size from 8 inches to
movement and vibrations. 45 feet in length.

Tapetum lucidum • Sharks have a skeleton made of

cartilage, not bone.
A special tissue layer in the eye that 501 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
acts like a mirror bouncing light through • Sharks can replace lost teeth in aqua.org
the eye and improving a shark’s vision as little as 24 hours and may lose
We inspire conservation of the world’s
at night and in low light. thousands of teeth in their lifetime. aquatic treasures