Sharks are some of the coolest creatures in the oceans. They’ve been around for millions of years and have even outlived the dinosaurs and thus have seen the world change in ways we can only imagine. From their unique skeletons to their crazy hunting skills, these ocean hunters are no short of surprises. Below, we’ll dive into some of the most amazing shark facts and cool stuff about sharks that make them so amazing.
These shark facts are for kids and teens both to help them know more about the fascinating predators. Also included at the end is a fun shark quiz so you can test yourself and see what you’ve learned!
1. Sharks Survived Massive Extinction Events
Sharks have been around for over 400 million years. It makes them one of the oldest species on Earth. They predate dinosaurs by about 200 million years! It also means that while land creatures were still evolving, sharks were already thriving in the oceans. With time, sharks fought off extreme changes. Not only were they able to survive the ice ages and volcanic eruptions; even the massive asteroid impacts that killed the dinosaurs couldn’t defeat them. With the kind of evolutionary changes they have seen, they thus are able to adapt and stay at the top of the food chain.
Not just sharks, even the crocodiles are another ancient species that’s survived since the dinosaur era! Like sharks, they too adapted and thrived while many other species went extinct. Learn more about crocodiles in this crocodiles vs alligators guide.
2. They Sense Electrical Fields
Sharks carry a unique sensory system. It’s called the ampullae of Lorenzini; they are tiny pores located on the shark’s snout and act like natural prey detectors. These help sharks sense electrical signals from other animals. As almost every living creature gives off small electrical pulses when their muscles move or when their heart beats. Thus even if prey is hidden under sand or rocks, a shark can find it.
This ability undoubtedly gives sharks a major advantage even in murky waters where they can’t rely on sight alone. It’s one of the many tools that make sharks such fearsome hunters.
3. Sharks Facts About Their Always Replacing Teeth
With an incredible dental system very different from ours; sharks carry a unique ability. While we get two sets of teeth in a lifetime, sharks keep on growing new teeth to replace the lost ones. During their lives some sharks can grow 20,000 teeth! It works as an assembly line: each tooth is ready to move forward within days if one falls out. It thus keeps the shark’s bite sharp and effective.
A great white shark can shed and regrow teeth so frequently that it’s always equipped for catching prey. It’s this ability that keeps sharks at the top of the ocean food chain becoming another amazing addition to our list of fun great white shark facts!
4. Sharks Swim Forward – Only
While sharks are brilliant swimmers, they also have a limitation. Unlike many other fish, sharks can only swim forwards. It’s due to the structure of their fins and body which is streamlined for power and speed. While it propels them forward with incredible efficiency, a shark’s stiff pectoral fins and body shape don’t allow for any backward motion.
If sharks encounter an obstacle and need to change direction, they make a wide turn or go full circle instead of just backing up. For instance, if a shark swims into a narrow cave or a crevice, it can only exit by going forward or turning at its place.
5. Giant Whale Shark Facts
Whale sharks are undoubtedly the largest fish in the world growing over 40 feet long. It’s the length of a standard school bus! While being so big in size, they’re surprisingly gentle and pose no threat to humans. They are also known to feed mainly on planktons instead of hunting large prey. They filter the plankton while gulping thousands of gallons of water using their massive mouths.
Due to their non-threatening nature, people swim with these gentle giants in places like the Maldives or Mexico. Also another addition to our shark facts; whale sharks have been seen being hunted by orcas for their livers which attack them strategically.
6. Sharks Keep Oceans Healthy
Sharks play an undeniable role in maintaining the ocean ecosystems. They do so by controlling the populations of their prey and as top predators, they prevent certain species from overpopulating. This helps maintain a healthy and diverse marine environment.
If there were no sharks, prey species would multiply unchecked and lead to the depletion of their food sources. It thus would end up destabilizing the food chain. It will certainly create a ripple effect also known as a trophic cascade which could harm not just marine life but also industries like fishing. The balancing act of sharks in ocean’s ecosystem undoubtedly makes them guardians of the oceans.
7. Greenland Shark Facts About Long Life
Some shark species can live for a very long time surpassing hundreds of years. While most sharks get a lifetime of about 30 years or more, depending on the type, there is one that can survive multiple centuries!
It’s the Greenland shark which takes longevity to a whole new level. The shark may live for over 400 years which makes it one of the longest-living vertebrates on the planet. These sharks grow incredibly slow, adding only a few centimeters to their length each year. This slow growth contributes to their extended lifespan of which they spend much in cold, deep waters. This further slows their metabolism and aging process.
8. Shark With 360 Degree Vision
With one of the most fascinating head shapes in the animal kingdom, the Hammerhead sharks get the rare vision advantage. Their cephalofoil (wide and flat hammer shaped head) gives them a big vision advantage. They can see 360 degrees which allows them to spot prey above, below, and around them without much head movement.
This positioning of their eyes on hammer-shaped heads creates a larger field of view compared to what other sharks experience. It thus helps them track prey in different directions at once; thus making them highly efficient hunters. Furthermore, this uniquely shaped head helps them with better maneuverability and balance as they swim.
It’s undoubtedly a clear advantage in the wild as they can keep an eye on everything, from potential prey to predators making another cool addition to our hammerhead shark facts.
9. The Walking Shark Facts
Did you know about the walking shark? Yep! There indeed is one. Epaulette sharks can “walk” on the ocean floor using their fins. They move by pushing against the ground. This ability helps them search for food in shallow waters such as rocky reefs. Furthermore, for short periods, they’re even able to survive out of water as they hunt in places like tidal pools.
The epaulette sharks can be seen moving across tidal flats in northern Australia. They hunt for crabs and small fish in low-oxygen areas using their ‘walking’ ability.
10. Glowing Shark Facts
Not all sharks are scary. Some sharks are bright – and scary. It’s the lantern sharks we are talking about which play a cool trick by glowing in the dark. They use bioluminescence to camouflage themselves which helps them survive in the dark deep sea. Moreover, their glow also attracts prey such as small fish.
This fascinating glowing shark behavior adds another to our list of shocking shark facts.
11. Sharks Skeleton Facts
Instead of bones, sharks have cartilage that forms their skeleton. It’s the same flexible material that’s found in your ear and tip of your nose. This kind of skeleton give sharks an advantage by making them lighter and faster swimmers.
They are able to do it because cartilage is much lighter than bone. This helps sharks move quickly through the water while using much less energy. Also, the added agility due to flexible skeleton helps make it easier for them to chase down prey or avoid predators.
The flexible cartilage skeleton is the reason that great white sharks reach such impressive speeds while hunting.
12. Shark Facts About Smell – Distance Sharks Can Smell Blood
Sharks have a truly amazing sense of smell. Their smelling sense is so good that they can detect a single drop of blood in the ocean miles away. Their nose is also called ampullae of Lorenzini (special sensory organs) and it lets them detect minute electrical signals like those produced by the heartbeat of a potential prey.
Great white sharks can detect the scent of a seal’s blood from over 3 miles away in open waters. It thus allows them to directly reach their meal. This sensing ability makes sharks top predators in the oceanic food chain and gives them a major advantage when hunting.
13. Some Sharks Go Into “Hibernation”
Another addition to the list of our cool shark facts is their ability to hibernate. Some sharks, like the spiny dogfish, enter a ‘hibernation’ like state during colder months. The process is called ‘brumation’ in which they conserve energy in times when food is harder to find in cold waters.
During this period, metabolism of spiny dogfish slows down, and they become less active for several months. It’s similar to how certain land animals hibernate. Through brumation they survive tough conditions when prey is scarce while saving energy till conditions improve.
14. Shark Babies Are Born Independent
When a shark pup is born they are born ready for life in the ocean. They don’t need their mothers to take care of them like it happens in the world of mammals. Moreover, baby sharks swim away to avoid becoming a meal for larger predators and sometimes even their own mothers. More about it in the end.
Not all sharks lay eggs. Many are born through live birth and once the pups emerge, they are able to swim and hunt on their own. They go into deep oceans looking for a prey and avoiding predators. In their harsh marine environment, independence is crucial for survival.
15. Shark Sleeping Habits
While humans have a set sleeping pattern where our whole body and brain rests, sharks differ in their sleeping habits. To breathe, sharks have to keep swimming because they need water moving over their gills. Sharks are able to do this by resting one side of their brain at a time. It allows the other side to remain active and keep the body moving.
While travelling long distances, the great white shark uses this method. It lets one side of its brain to get some rest, while the other ensures it continues swimming forward and breathe even when its resting. This sleep strategy adds one more to our list of amazing shark facts.
16. Great Whites Can Travel Thousands Of Miles
Sharks like the great whites travel thousands of miles each year in search of food or to get to warmer waters during winters. Their migration is one of the most incredible feats in the animal kingdom, with some sharks traveling up to 12,000 miles annually!
Some great whites are known to migrate vast distances such as from the coasts of California to the waters off Hawaii. One can’t ignore the story of a tagged great white named “Nicole,”. The shark made an amazing journey of over 20,000 miles from South Africa to Australia and back. Read more about Nicole’s story here.
17. Shark Facts About Cannibalism
In the deep world of sharks, the existence of cannibalism cannot be ignored while discussing the interesting shark facts.
There are shark mothers who would eat their babies instead of nurturing them. Furthermore, there are shark species such as the sand tiger shark going next level cannibal. The sharks’ eggs hatch inside the mother’s womb and they continue to develop there. Soon enough, the biggest among its babies starts eating its younger siblings. It’s survival of the fittest even inside the shark’s body.
18. Tiger Sharks Would Eat Everything
Known as the “garbage cans” of the ocean, tiger sharks have their own shark facts to fame. It’s because they eat almost anything; from fish to unexpected items. They would even eat stuff like license plates. What happens next is even more surprising.
Spiral-shaped intestines, found in many sharks work like a slide. They efficiently absorb nutrients through their unique digestive system ensuring they get maximum energy from everything they consume.
19. Shark Egg Cases
While listing shark facts, how can we forget about shark kids? Not all sharks give birth to live babies. There are some sharks which would rather lay eggs. Shark species like the dogfish or the horn shark are known for laying eggs protected in cases. Tough sacs or egg cases with leathery texture protect their eggs. These dark sacs called “mermaid’s purses” ensure that the developing shark is safe until it’s ready to hatch.
You can find horn shark’s eggs washed up on California beaches. In case you do, remember it’s just a shark egg case and a perfect example of how baby sharks are protected.
20. Leaping Shark Facts
Most shark facts will talk about sharks swimming behaviors. However, some sharks like great whites and makos swim and leap out of the water. They launch themselves several feet into the air in an act called ‘breaching’. They often do that to catch prey like seals.
Great white sharks have been observed breaching off the coast of South Africa surprise catching seals from below. Goes without saying that their impressive leap isn’t just about speed rather a way for sharks to surprise and catch their prey off guard.
21. Mother Sharks Don’t Take Care of Their Babies
Most shark species are known to have a “hands-off” approach to parenting. They have little to no involvement in nurturing their young. However some sharks, like the great white, do provide a level of parental care by protecting their territories. This gives some safety to the pups protecting them from other predators. On the other hand species like nurse sharks and hammerheads leave their pups to fend for themselves right after birth.
To summarize, while most sharks aren’t known to nurture their young; certain species like the great white offer some protection to ensure survival of their young in life’s early stages.
22. Some Sharks Are Masters of Camouflage
How can we not discuss the art of camouflage while writing down shark facts? It’s not just the land animals that have mastered the art of camouflage. Certain shark species like the zebra shark have unique patterns and colors helping them blend into their surroundings. Their markings help in camouflage and make it harder for predators or even the prey to spot them.
The zebra shark rests on the ocean floor with its distinctive dark spots and stripes blending in with coral and sand to avoid detection.
23. Shark Facts About Loneliness
Social life of sharks can vary among species. Sharks mostly prefer solitude however there are some species such as the whitetip reef shark that go social. They form groups that stick together thus creating “shark gangs” in certain areas of the ocean. They are often seen sharing hunting grounds and even rest together in coral caves. It’s an unusual social behavior for sharks that prefer solitude.
24. Shortfin Mako Shark Speed Facts
The shortfin mako shark is one of the fastest fish in the ocean and reaches speeds up to 60 mph. Its ultra fast speed helps it hunt on fast-moving prey, such as tuna and squid. Moreover its streamlined body and powerful tail allows it to cover great distances in a short time making it a formidable predator. The shortfin makos leap out of the water at high speeds like a torpedo, chase down its prey while also evading larger predators.
25. Sharks Are Found Everywhere
Shark species are distributed throughout the world. They can be found in all of the world’s oceans, from the cold, icy waters to the warm tropical seas. Sharks are known to thrive in diverse environments; ranging from shallow coastal areas to the dark ocean depths.
Species like the Greenland shark prefer cold waters of the Arctic, while others such as the hammerhead or whale shark are distributed in the warmer oceans. Additionally, the great white shark is commonly found in temperate coastal waters. On the other hand, species like the bull shark is even adaptable to freshwater rivers. Goes without saying that this adaptability of such varied habitats has helped shark species survive for over 400 million years.
Shark Quiz
Ready to put your shark facts knowledge to the test? Take this quick shark quiz and see how much you remember!
Wrapping Up Shark Facts
Sharks aren’t just predators. They play a crucial role in the health of our oceans. They’ve adapted in incredible ways to their surroundings and survived hundreds of millions of years. Learning about these creatures helps us appreciate their role in keeping oceans balanced. These shark facts and the shark quiz also educate us why it’s crucial to protect these amazing ocean animals.
