Exploring the World of Sharks

Sharks have been in our oceans for over 400 million years, predating even the dinosaurs by around 200 million years, making them incredible survivors throughout Earth's history.

There are more than 500 known species of sharks, ranging from the tiny dwarf lanternshark, barely larger than your hand, to the colossal whale shark, the largest fish in the sea.

Unlike bony fish and humans, sharks don't have bones. Their skeletons are made entirely of cartilage, the same material that your nose and ears are made of, which makes them incredibly flexible.

Sharks have special sensory organs called ampullae of Lorenzini, allowing them to detect the electric fields created by other animals. This helps them hunt prey, even those buried in sand.

Many sharks must keep swimming to breathe, leading to the myth that they can't sleep. Some species can rest on the ocean floor, but others do experience a form of sleep while swimming.

A shark may grow and use over 20,000 teeth in its lifetime! They have multiple rows of teeth that continuously grow and replace the ones they lose.

Sharks have an amazing ability to heal from injuries quickly. Some species can even recover from severe wounds in a matter of weeks, which has intrigued scientists studying their immune systems.