Sharks are among the most terrifying creatures found in the oceans. Their sharp teeth and scary demeanor have inspired many horror movies, making people more scared of them. As the top predators in the fish world, there are many secrets about their biology that many people don’t know. Some of these secrets would shock you, as they can completely alter your perception of the terrifying beasts of the deep oceans.
Today, we will dive into 40 fun facts about sharks; these facts and secrets will explain questions concerning these apex predators. So, relax, and learn some incredible shark fun facts.
History
Many animals on Earth stem from ancestors that are millions of years old; these ancestors underwent many evolutionary changes to create the final products we see today. However, things are slightly different for sharks.
1. Modern sharks are stated to have originated from the Elasmobranchii subclass, which is under the class Chondrichthyes (fishes with cartilaginous skeletal structures); this subclass started existing around 419 million years ago.
2. With the help of carbon dating techniques, scientists discovered that modern shark orders began appearing around 201 million years ago, during the Early Jurassic period.
3. That’s right, they started existing way before the dinosaurs appeared.
4. Another thing about the appearance of sharks is their weird evolutionary pattern. Though other animals gradually changed till they had widely different looks from their ancestors, sharks didn’t undergo any radical alteration to their appearance.
5. They maintained the look they had for over 300 million years; this odd lack of distinct evolution has boggled scientists for many years.
Biology
6. Sharks belong to the elasmobranch fish group and have no bones, as their skeletons are cartilage.
7. They have five to seven fins on each side and a pectoral fin not fused to their head.
8. Though most bony fishes have swim bladders that fill with air to maintain buoyancy, sharks are among the few fish groups with no swim bladder.
9. Instead, they maintain buoyancy with their livers, comprising about 30% of their body mass.
10. Their livers contain an oil with the chemical compound squalene; this oil is less dense than water and gives them buoyancy when it fills the liver.
11. Some, like sand tiger sharks, don’t have swim bladders and use air accumulated in their stomachs to maintain buoyancy.
12. You may think all are warm-blooded because of their size. That’s wrong, as the majority are cold-blooded and need to find regions of warmth to regulate their temperature.
13. As for respiration, they use fins to extract oxygen from water.
14. Some, like great whites, whale sharks, and hammerheads, can’t perform this process while resting and must keep moving to survive. The action is called obligated ram ventilation.
Reproduction
15. Sharks can be oviparous and viviparous, meaning some lay eggs while others give birth to their young whole. After birth, they navigate the dangers of the ocean alone as their mothers venture back into the sea.
16. As most are predators from birth, they can protect themselves most of the time.
17. However, other larger animals like orcas and sea lions can attack and eat them.
Now that you have learned some fun facts about the biology and history of sharks, it’s time for us to dive into the types that currently roam the ocean.
Fun Facts About Great White Sharks
18. Great white sharks need no introduction, as their name is synonymous with fear.
19. As the subject of many movies and TV shows, they are one of the most popular types of shark known to humans.
However, there are many things about great white sharks that pop culture has relegated to the bin of irrelevance; these fun facts are cool to know and so, here are some of them:
20. Great white sharks are among the oldest animals known to humans.
21. They first appeared in the ocean some 70 million years ago, but some scientists believe their ancestors appeared between 200 and 500 million years ago.
22. Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish on Earth. They can reach 6 meters (21 feet) and weigh more than 2000 kilograms (4500 pounds); this size is why they gained legendary fame in pop culture.
23. Though they sit at the top of the food chain, they can become prey to even deadlier animals like orcas.
24. It has even been observed that great whites sometimes flee their hunting grounds when killer whales appear.
Orcas have an incredible aura, don’t they?
25. Another weird thing about great white sharks is that they are warm-blooded. Unlike other animals in their group, great whites don’t need to use their environment to regulate their internal temperature, as they can do it automatically.
26. Also, great whites are exceptional smell detectors. Their sense of smell is so great that it can detect a drop of blood in 100 liters of water. That’s right, 100 liters!
27. Besides their astounding smell, they can also detect electromagnetic fields using an organ called the ampullae of Lorenzini; this organ detects the tiny electric currents created by salt water.
28. An average human produces about 52 teeth throughout their lifetime. The first 20 fall out at age 13, leaving room for 32 permanent teeth. However, great whites have an insane amount of teeth.
At any given time, a great white shark has about 300 teeth arranged in multiple rows and dispensed whenever a tooth breaks; this continuous teeth replacement goes on for as long as the great white lives. In total, a great white would produce somewhere around 20,000 teeth throughout its lifetime. Mind-blowing, right?
Fun Facts About Whale Sharks
The word whale shark can be deceptive and make you think the animal is a whale. However, it’s not. Here are some cool fun facts about whale sharks you should know:
29. They got their name because of their size and how they eat. They are filter feeders like whales and can reach over 18 meters (60 feet) in length while weighing about 30,000 kilograms.
30. Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the ocean, and their mouths are so massive they can process about 144,000 liters of water daily.
31. Earlier, you learned how great white sharks have 300 teeth. Whale sharks take things to a new level as they have over 3000 teeth arranged in 300 rows.
32. Throughout their lifetime, they produce tens upon tens of thousands of teeth.
33. Besides having so many teeth in their mouth, scientists discovered they also have around their eyes. That’s right, they have teeth-like dermal denticles that protect their eyes from debris.
34. Though most sharks live between 20 and 30 years, whale sharks are one of the exceptions, as they have a lifespan between 70 and 100 years.
Weird Fun Facts About Hammerhead Sharks
Hammerhead sharks are known for their weird head shape, which makes them look like a hammer. Besides their shape, many people know little about them. It’s great you found us today, as here are some weird and fun facts about hammerhead sharks:
35. First, some of them swim sideways. Great hammerheads swim at a slight angle, which makes them roll from side to side; this swimming pattern gives them efficiency.
36. While you may think the hammerhead shark is just one animal, you’d be wrong as it’s ten different species. The current known members of the hammerhead family include the great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, bonnethead, scoophead, winghead, Carolina hammerhead, smalleye hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, scalloped bonnethead, and whitefin hammerhead.
37. Another unusual fact about hammerheads is that their skulls are hammer-shaped. What are the odds that their skulls look like their heads?
Crazy Fun Facts About Tiger Sharks
Tiger sharks are another common shark known for their attacks on humans. However, behind their horror status are some fascinating secrets. So, here are some crazy fun facts about tiger sharks:
38. When you try touching the skin of many sharks, you’ll mostly feel a smooth surface. However, tiger sharks have skins that feel like sandpaper. Recent studies show that some marine animals rub themselves against the tiger shark to remove parasites from their bodies.
39. Tiger sharks also have a wider meal net than their counterparts. They eat seabirds, crabs, dolphins, squids, and even mammals like cats, horses, dogs, goats, and sheep.
40. Also, they are sacred in some Hawaiian cultures. People of these cultures believe the tiger shark is the reincarnation of deceased family members.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning 40 fun facts about sharks. Don’t forget to leave us a comment and share. You can also check out our Jellyfish Facts or search our Facts Database.
