The following are some of the most fascinating facts about sharks
that you may not have known before reading this article.
1) Shark meat contains almost no fat
1. Shark meat is incredibly lean, as the animals contain
very little body fat. In fact, some species of sharks have been found to have
zero percent body fat.
2. This low-fat content makes shark meat a healthier option
than other types of seafood.
3. Shark meat is also high in protein and omega-3 fatty
acids, both of which are beneficial for human health.
2) Sharks have up to 300 teeth
Did you know that sharks have up to 300 teeth? That’s a lot
of teeth! And those teeth are constantly being replaced. Every two weeks, a
shark will lose and grow a new tooth. The old one falls out as the new one
emerges from the gum line below it. With such a large number of teeth, it is easy
to see why many people are afraid of them – but they need their teeth for
hunting prey and defending themselves against other predators in the ocean!
3) They can sense electricity in their bodies
Sharks have the ability to sense electricity in the water
around them. This helps them to find prey that may be hidden in the sand or
rocks. sharks can also use this ability to navigate their way through dark
waters.
Some of them can live for over 100 years (two sentences):
The oldest recorded shark was a great white that was caught off the coast of
Australia.
4) Great white sharks live between 40–150 years
1. Sharks have been around for a very long time, with some
species living for over 150 years. 2. The great white shark is one of the most
well-known sharks, and it can live for up to 40 years. 3. Sharks are apex
predators, which means that they are at the top of the food chain. 4. Sharks
have a unique set of adaptations that allow them to thrive in their
environment.
5) A shark can be pregnant for more than a year
Most sharks give birth to live young, though a few species
lay eggs. The gestation period for a shark can be as long as 22 months, meaning
a female shark may be pregnant with multiple pups at the same time. They are
capable of recognizing humans who have handled them before: Experiments have
shown that sharks have excellent memories and that they can recognize people
who have handled them before. The fish’s sense of smell is so keen that it
could detect prey from 100 yards away: The olfactory lobe in a shark’s brain is
unusually large, and this allows them to detect prey from far distances using
their keen sense of smell.
6) Their liver is their most vital organ
Most sharks have a liver that is filled with oil, which
helps them stay buoyant in the water. This oil also provides them with energy
and nutrients. Without a liver, sharks would sink to the bottom of the ocean
and die. Their spines are full of electro-receptors: In addition to making it
easier for sharks to detect prey and feel vibrations in the water, their fins
help propel them through the water. Some species’ dorsal fins can reach up to
1.5 meters high!
7) The largest shark ever recorded was 21 feet long
The largest shark ever recorded was 21 feet long and weighed
in at 24,000 pounds. That’s the size of a great white shark! The second largest
shark is the whale shark, which can grow to be 40 feet long. They’re gentle
giants and eat tiny plankton instead of people. The smallest sharks are called
dwarf lantern sharks, which measure just 2 inches when fully grown.
8) Baby sharks are called pups or pups
1. Did you know that baby sharks are called pups or pups?
That’s right – these little ones are the offspring of some of the most feared
predators in the world.
2. Although they may be small, don’t let their size fool
you. Baby sharks are born ready to take on the big wide world.
3. In fact, pups are often born with a full set of teeth –
which they use to chomp their way out of their mother’s womb!
9) They often jump out of the water
1. Contrary to popular belief, sharks don’t just swim around
aimlessly in the water. They are actually quite strategic and often jump out of
the water to catch their prey.
2. Sharks have a very keen sense of smell and can often
smell blood from long distances away.
3. Shark skin is covered in tiny little tooth-like
structures called dermal denticles which help to reduce drag and make them more
hydrodynamic.
10) Scientists tagged 79 tiger sharks to find out where they
go
1. In 2016, a group of scientists from the University of
Miami set out to track the movements of tiger sharks in order to learn more
about their behavior and habitats.
2. 79 tiger sharks were tagged with GPS trackers and
released back into the wild.
3. The data collected showed that these apex predators
travel great distances and often cross into different ocean basins.