According to various experts, sharks are classified into 14–30 families, with over 400 species. Humans are at risk from several larger animals. Sharks are fished extensively in large numbers. Overfishing at the beginning of the twenty century, on the other hand, drastically diminished the populations of certain shark species.
1. Sharks have been around longer than trees
Sharks have been present for about 450 million years, while the first tree was roughly 3.5 billion years ago. Sharks are ancient than trees, but they are now one of the only animals that have withstood four of the five great extinctions.
2. Megalodons were the world’s largest sharks
The Megalodon (meaning enormous tooth) controlled the oceans 20 million years ago and was a family member of today’s great white shark. According to fossil evidence, they grew between 15 and 18 meters long and weighed more than 25 tones, dwarfing the great white.
3. Some sharks can glow in the dark
Scientists discovered in 2014 that the secretive chain catshark or swell shark communicate by emitting shimmering light through their skin in ways that are distinct to each species or even sex. The luminous green specks, invisible to the human eye, become visible whenever a blue filter light shines on them.
4. Sharks are colorblind to a large extent
Despite their excellent vision, sharks are also most likely colorblind, according to scientists.
5. Sharks have distinct personalities of their own
Scientists at Macquarie University found in 2016 that Port Jackson sharks, like humans, have distinct personalities. The study revealed that each shark reacts differently to stress or unfamiliar environments, and some are braver than others.
6. Sharks shed & replace their teeth regularly
Because certain shark species shed up to 35,000 teeth during their lifetime, it’s a positive idea the tooth fairy doesn’t have to go underwater for them.
7. There are over 400 species on the planet
Sharks, like humans, exist in a variety of shapes and sizes. On one extreme, there’s the whale shark, which can grow up to 12 meters long, and on the other, there’s the dwarf lantern shark, which can fit in the palm of your hand. The Australian oceans are home to about 180 species.
8. Sharks play an important role in reef conservation
Sharks have an important role in controlling the sustainability of coral reefs, according to a 2017 study. A group of experts at the University of Western Australia discovered that where there were better reefs, there were also many sharks present during a four-month excursion from Cairns to Broome. Small reef fish thrive and take good care of the actual corals because sharks manage the mid-sized predators.
9. The full moon has an impact on sharks
In a research of 40 grey reef sharks, researchers discovered that the moon, water temperature, and time of day influence their diving behavior. Around the full moon, sharks appear to have gone to greater depths and utilized a wider range of depths.
10. Binocular vision is possessed by hammerhead sharks
Finally, their strange and goofy head makes sense - it improves their vision. The T-shaped hammerhead shark has ‘outstanding advanced stereo vision and depth awareness,’ allowing it to see 360 degrees.
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