Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary material that makes up a shark's skeleton?
What is the primary material that makes up a shark's skeleton?
Cartilage
Which species of shark is known to be the largest in the world?
Which species of shark is known to be the largest in the world?
Whale shark
How many gill slits do sharks typically have?
How many gill slits do sharks typically have?
Five to seven
What term is used to refer to a group of sharks?
What term is used to refer to a group of sharks?
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What do most species of sharks primarily eat?
What do most species of sharks primarily eat?
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Where can sharks be found globally?
Where can sharks be found globally?
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What is a baby shark called?
What is a baby shark called?
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How far can a shark smell blood in the water?
How far can a shark smell blood in the water?
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What significant threat do humans pose to sharks?
What significant threat do humans pose to sharks?
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What ability allows great white sharks to be formidable predators when hunting?
What ability allows great white sharks to be formidable predators when hunting?
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Study Notes
Sharks
- Over 500 different species exist, including great white, grey reef, hammerhead, tiger, blue, bull, and mako sharks.
- Sharks have 5-7 gill slits on their heads.
- Sharks live in all oceans, but some, like river and bull sharks, live in both fresh and salt water.
- Common locations for shark attacks include Australia, South Africa, America, and Brazil.
Shark Groups
- A group of sharks is called a shoal, school, or shiver.
Shark Anatomy
- Sharks lack bones, they have a cartilaginous skeleton.
- One of the smallest: the dwarf lantern shark (about 17cm long).
- The largest fish: whale shark (up to 14 meters long).
Shark Diet
- Most sharks are carnivores. Their diet varies based on species and location. Some eat fish, other sharks, dolphins, whales, mollusks, and other small sea creatures.
- A shark's sense of smell is exceptional, detecting a single drop of blood from 400 meters away.
- Sharks can hear fish moving from up to 500 meters away.
- Baby sharks, called pups, are born able to fend for themselves.
- Some mothers eat their own pups. Siblings may also attack each other.
- Great white sharks can swim up to 18 mph.
Shark Conservation
- About 12 shark species have been involved in human attacks.
- Humans are a threat to sharks through illegal hunting for their meat.
- This has led to some shark species becoming endangered.
- Sharks need to constantly swim to keep water flowing over their gills, which is essential for survival.
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