Shark Anatomy
Sharks are ocean fishes with skeletons made of cartilage. They are found worldwide. There are 440 species of shark, varying drastically in size and shape. Sharks have evolved to possess anatomical features that suit their hunting lifestyle.
Fins
Fins provide stability, steering, lift, and propulsion. Different types of fins serve different purposes. Dorsal fins are found on the sides of the shark. They provide stability, keeping the animal from rolling from side to side. Pectoral fins project upward behind the head, aiding in steering and lift. The caudal fin is composed of an upper and lower lobe. The caudal fin makes up what would commonly be considered the tail region. It propels the shark through the water.
Skeleton
Shark skeletons are composed entirely of cartilage. Cartilage is lighter and more buoyant than bone, yet retains the strength a shark requires. It allows the shark to move with great speed and flexibility in its underwater environment. Shark backbones and jaws contain calcified cartilage, which is bone-like, and provides additional strength in these important areas.
Eyes
The eyes of a shark contain a special layer called the tapetum lucidum. This layer allows sharks to see well in low-light situations. Sharks also possess a nictitating membrane. The nictitating membrane covers the shark’s eye when it passes closely to another object. It also engages when a shark is attacking prey.
Gills
Sharks posses five to seven sets of gills on the sides of their heads. Oxygenated water passes through the shark’s mouth, into the pharynx and then into the gills. Gas exchange occurs in the gills, providing the shark with oxygen. Carbon dioxide is expelled into water, which passes out through the gill slits.
Teeth
The appearance, shape and quantity of shark teeth vary widely by species. They are not anchored in the jawbone, but attached to the tooth bed, a structure that continually grows outward. Shark teeth grow in rows. As the tooth bed moves outward, newer, sharper teeth replace older teeth.
Apullae of Lorenzini
The appulae of Lorenzini are small pores found on the shark’s head. They are visible to the naked eye, and part of a large sensory network that resides beneath the shark’s skin. Apullae of Lorenzini allow sharks to detect magnetic fields of other fish, helping them detect well-hidden prey. Research appears to indicate that they also improve detection of slight shifts in water temperature.
Our Education Vacation About Sharks
One day my nine year old son came home from school and was ecstatic when I asked how his day went. He proceeded to tell me how they were studying sharks in school. This really surprised me as my son is not too fond of school and rarely shares his day with me when asked. I was very shocked to see him so excited about something. When I told my husband that night he suggested we take him to see some sharks.
The next morning before the kids were awake I decided to do some research on sharks and where you can interact with them. There was nothing near us but fortunately since we live in North Carolina we are relatively close to the Atlantic Ocean. My husband and I decided we would take the kids to Myrtle Beach where there were shark sightseeing tours and an aquarium that had many types of sharks. We packed the kids up for the weekend and my nine year old was so excited he was going to see an actual live shark.
It was also a good learning experience for my younger kids as well. When we arrived in South Carolina and headed to the marina where I had made reservations to go on a shark sightseeing tour. The guides were great and knew so much about the types of sharks and their daily patterns. We were able to see a few sharks and they even cooked us a lunch which included shark on the menu. The next day we got to visit the aquarium and get really close to some of the sharks. My son was thrilled to a see a hammerhead shark as that was his favorite he has studied in school. We had a fun and educational vacation and felt we had given the kids something to take away from the beach besides just sand.
Places With The Most Sharks
Ever since the 1975 film “Jaws” people have become obsessed with sharks. While shark attacks are infrequent, they do occur. So before you loaded up the family and beach gear for a fun vacation, it pays to know the places with the most sharks.
Sharks are a plentiful species, with habitats all over the earth , both near the shore and out in the depths of the open oceans. Unlike most animals, sharks are not territorial. They go where the food is, changing their habitat as needed.
Many species, among them the white sharks, can be found swimming the length of the United States west coast. The Marko sharks are found from the United States-Mexico border to Washington State. The blue sharks lives along the west coast of Mexico to Canada.
Florida has the reputation of being the most likely place in the world to encounter sharks. New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach in Volusia County are known as for attracting sharks. Palm Beach finds itself home to great hammerheads, usually in the fall and winter months.
The Outer Banks of North Carolina with its large number of shipwrecks attract fish, which then attract sand tiger sharks. The Channel Islands of California is known as the place to find blue sharks, horn sharks and Pacific angel sharks that lurk in sea caves and around shipwrecks. The waters north of San Francisco are the home to many great white sharks who feed on the seals and sea lions that congregate in the area.
The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia is home to black tip reef sharks among others. The barriers reefs take up over 1,400 miles.
The KwaZula-Natal coast of South Africa is the place for diving with great white sharks along with tiger sharks and bull sharks. There are also great tours of seeing these sharks up close and personal. If you decide that you want to, don’t be scared to incorporate shark viewing with your south african safari.
Fear of shark attacks is more common than attacks themselves. There have been many fascinating non-fatal encounters with sharks by scuba divers and scientists. There are a lot of divers who enjoy swimming with the sharks and have never been attacked.
Largest Sharks In The World
Sharks swimming in the ocean are beautiful but can have a ferocious reputation. The truth about some of the largest sharks in the world is that they are not all to be feared. Some of the largest sharks are quite friendly.
Aside from whales, sharks are some of the largest creatures lurking in the ocean. The largest shark in the ocean lends its name from the whale. The Whale Shark is the largest shark species in the water and can reach 40 feet in length on average with the largest recorded being 41 feet long. Besides being extremely large in length these sharks are actually quite friendly towards humans and do not have to be feared.
Another shark that is just about as large as the Whale Shark is the Basking Shark. These creatures get their name from basking in the warm sunlight near the surface of the water. The Basking Shark also reaches lengths of about 40 feet like the Whale Shark. Besides being about the same size these sharks share another similarity. Despite their intimidating size these large sharks are not aggressive toward humans, they are actually quite friendly. These sharks do not have the desire to eat humans and feed mostly on plankton.
A smaller but also benevolent shark toward humans is known as the Sleeper Shark. The species that should be in fear of the Sleeper Shark are giant squid. The sleeper shark feeds almost exclusively on these giant squid and would not prey on a human. Though the sleeper shark is smaller than the Whale and Basking Sharks it is not tiny. The Sleeper Shark can grow to over 20 feet in length and weigh 800 pounds.
The shark that does spark fear in most humans in the Great White Shark. Though this shark is not as large as the Whale or Basking Shark it is a ferocious shark that will feed on almost anything including sea birds and humans. This shark can reach lengths of over 20 feet and can weigh over 2,500 pounds. The female Great Whites are generally larger than the males.
Tiger Sharks are similar to Great Whites in that they also reach over 20 ft in length at maturity and are also known for their dangers to humans in the water. Tiger Sharks also eat almost anything and will attack a human for food in the water.
Best Types of Shark to Eat
Shark has become one of the most popular meats in the last several years. Many supermarkets provide a variety of different species on their shelves. Shark fin soup is an Asian favorite that has been popular for thousands of years. It is estimated that more than 100 million sharks are caught and used in this Asian plate each year. Consumers can choose shark fin soup or take advantage of the taste that is offered from a fresh shark steak.
Shortfin mako is a great choice for those who are interested in trying a shark steak. This species is known for its mild flavor. The steaks are white and can be marinated before grilling. It has a delicate taste. The meat is mild and flavorful and will take on the tastes that are used during the marination process. This is also one of the healthiest types of shark to eat. Many species are known to accumulate high levels of mercury, but the shortfin mako is not as susceptible to this problem.
Fish and chips shops are known for serving their clients spiny dogfish. This type of fish is ideal when it is fried, as this will bring out the best flavor. The meat is delicate and has a fresh white texture. The spiny dogfish can also be grilled or baked and the meat lends itself to a variety of different flavorings.
The thresher shark is another popular variety that is used in a host of different cuisines. It is popular throughout North America, Europe and Asia. It often serves as the base for a number of soups. Shark fin soup is one of the dishes that Asians prefer to be made with thresher. This shark has a stronger taste than other species. Chefs ordinarily include it in soup to help reduce the strong ocean flavor that is found in the white meat.
The blacktip shark produces firm white steaks that are ideal for grilling. The meat will flake when it is done and has a delightful texture that complements the taste. Chefs should wrap their steaks in foil and season for the best results. The blacktip can also be baked or broiled and will turn out delicious steaks with either of these methods.
Many cooks also enjoy the flavor and texture that is offered from the bull shark. The bull shark will produce steaks that have flaky white meat and can be grilled, broiled, fried or baked.
Deadliest Sharks of All Time
The most lethal sharks in the world that are inhabiting the waters of continents far and wide, spreading across the Atlantic and many other vast bodies of water must begin with the Great White Shark.
The meat on their bodies alone is dangerous and it cannot be consumed by humans because of its radical amounts of mercury. They range in size growing up to 20 ft while consuming approximately 11 tons of food per year. A Great White’s preferred meal is a seal lion in which they can eat as a whole without much effort.
The Great White Shark, whom needless to say, dominates the sea being the most unrivaled predatory fish. In terms of severity, only a few can compete with this voracious species of fish.
The Bull Shark and the Tiger Shark are the next closest that come head to head with the Great White. A Bull Shark’s advantage over many other predators in the sea is its ability to swim in not only salt water, but fresh water—the convenience of swimming in both types of water allows for a higher attack rate.
As for Tiger sharks, they are well-known for the stripes on their skin, and like a tiger in the wild human flesh is desired. Unlike the Great White they do not swim away after a couple of bites. Their sensory proficiency makes for great eyesight and smell to scope out their prey.
People are well aware of the seriousness in numbers of shark attacks per year. Worldwide there has been 50-70 attacks and counting each year. Many who live in Australia can report the mixed numbers of injuries to casualties from shark attacks infested along their shores.
Over a hundred different species of this fish roam the Australian marine life. There have been cases where attacks have ranged in only a 24 hour time span; a Great White and Bull being part of the attacks leading to intense and fatal injuries. Many along the coast of Australia during the summer-time have encountered induced life or death experiences due to the fact more people are swimming in deadly territory.
These deadly creatures will fight back—trying multiple times to attack their prey until they are successful. Whether or not they decide they want the taste of high fat contents or just demonstrating their territorial habitat, people and fish alike learn to evade such encounters.
Where to Find Sharks Clothing
Sharks clothing is clothing made to support the Canadian Girls Hockey League. Friends, family, and fans of the girls who represent the association can take shack clothing online at many retailers. Sharks Marchants is just one plays where one can purchase Sharks gear. Marchants School Apparel is known throughout Canada for producing sports equipment and clothing for schools and sports teams.
Marchants School Apparel makes school uniforms for students in Canada. Marchants School Apparel has teamed up with Sharks and created a web site at WWW.Sharks.Merchants.Com to send friends, family and fans of the girls who play in the Canadian Girls Hockey League an opportunity to show support for its first team. The website carries everything Sharks gear, and merchandise. Apparel is available for kids and adults. Apparel can be purchased for under $100. Several items are priced under $10.00.
The National Hockey League, NHL has the San Jose Sharks. The best place to find clothes and other products for the San Jose Sharks is on the NHL website. The San Jose Sharks clothing and products found on the NHL’s website can be anything from, a player’s jersey to a typical San Jose Sharks jersey. The NHL website has clothing available for kids and adults.
Some of the items include hats, pucks, and office items. The NHL that site can be found at WWW.NHL.Com. There is a men’s department, in a women’s, and a child’s department. Prices on San Jose Sharks gear at the NHL website can vary from under $25.00 to over $500. If you are, or know of a San Jose Sharks fan you are sure to find what you’re looking for as the NHL website. You might find something you would not think would be part of NHL apparel; yet you will find it on the NHL website.