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Sharks are aquatic
fish.
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Sharks
Classification:
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Super Order:
Selachimorpha
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Sub-species
of Sharks: There
are an estimated
360-440 species
of sharks in the
world. Fifty species
of sharks are listed
as vulnerable, endangered
or critically endangered.
Size: The
smallest shark is
the dwarf lanternshark,
which measures only
6.5 inches long.The
largest shark is
the whale shark
measuring 39 feet
in length.
Habitat: Sharks
are adapted for
a wide range of
aquatic habitats.
Various species
inhabit shallow
coastal habitats,
deep-water ocean
floor habitats,
and the open ocean.
A few species are
even found in fresh
water.
Sharks
in Other
Languages:
Afrikaans:
Haai
Albanian:
Peshkaqen
Croatian:
Morski
Pas
Czech:
Zralok
Danish:
Haj
Dutch:
Haai
Estonian:
Hai
Fijian:
Qio
Finnish:
Hai
French:
Requin
Gaelic:
Siorc/
Cearban
German:
Hai
Greenlandic:
Eqalussuaq
Haitian
Creole:
Reken
Hungarian:
Capa
Icelandic:
Hakarl
Indonesian:
Hiu
Italian:
Squalo
/ Pescecane
Latin:
Squalus
Latvian:
Haizivs
Lithuanian:
Ryklys
Luxembourg:
Hai, Haifesch
Malay:
Ikan Yu
/ Jerung
Navajo:
Loo' Hashkehe
Polish:
Rekin
Portuguese:
Tubarao
Romanian:
Rechin
Roman:
Ajkula
Slovakian:
Zralokovidnee
Slovenian:
Morski pes
Spanish:
Tiburon
Swahili:
Papa
Swedish:
Haj
Tagalog:
Pating
Turkish:
Kopek Baligi
Welsh:
Morgi
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Diet: Some
sharks are opportunistic
feeders, preying
on weaker species.
The diet of sharks
vary from species
to species, they
will eat almost
anything including:
fish, crustaceans,
molluscs, marine
mammals, and other
sharks. Sharks eat
1-10% of its total
body weight per
week.
Senses: Sharks
have keenly attuned
senses, with an
exceptional sense
of smell. Sharks
also have an acute
sense of hearing.
The strength of
eyesight in a shark
varies from species
to species. It is
also apparent that
sharks have taste
buds, and will reject
food that is not
a normal part of
their diet if it
doesn't "taste
right".
Description:
Sharks are a
type of fish with
a full cartilaginous
skeleton and a highly
streamlined body.
Sharks breathe using
five to seven gill
slits.
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Communication:
It is thought
that sharks
do not communicate
through vocalization,
like many marine
mammals, but
instead relies
on body language
to communicate. |
Did
You
Know?
The
earliest
known
sharks
date
from
more
than
420
million
years
ago.
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Behavior: Only
some species of
shark migrate. Among
the shark species
that do migrate,
the distance may
be short or long.
Gestation /
Birth: Sharks
give birth three
ways different ways
depending on the
species oviparity,
viviparity and ovoviviparity.
Most sharks are
ovoviviparous, meaning
that eggs hatch
in the oviduct within
the mother's body
and that the egg's
yolk and fluids
secreted by glands
in the walls of
the oviduct nourishes
the embryos. The
shark pups born
via ovoviviparous
are alive and fully
functional. Some
species are oviparous
like most other
fish, laying their
eggs in the water.
Shark can also be
born viviparity,
in a method more
analogous to mammals
than fish, by maintaining
a placental link
to the developing
young. Sharks born
via viviparity are
born fully functional.
| Life
Span: The
life span of
sharks varies
from species
to species.
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Did
You
Know?
Shark
pups
begin
their
hunting
and
killing
before
they
are
even
born
by
consuming
their
weaker
siblings
inside
their
mother's
oviduct.
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Social Structure:
Some shark species
hunt in packs, which
can exceed 100 animals
other shark species
prefer to hunt alone.
Athleticism:
Sharks swim an average
of 5 mph, but are
able to exert bursts
of much greater
speed of more than
30 mph.
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