About
Sharks have existed for over 450 million years — surviving 5 mass extinctions, outlasting the dinosaurs, and remaining virtually unchanged for 100 million years. There are approximately 500 species, ranging from the 18m whale shark (filter feeder) to the 20cm dwarf lanternshark. Most sharks are not dangerous to humans — only 5 species account for virtually all attacks.
Sharks play crucial ecological roles as apex predators, regulating prey populations and maintaining marine ecosystem health. Their removal (through finning and bycatch) has caused dramatic changes in marine food webs. Approximately 100 million sharks are killed annually — primarily for shark fin soup. The shark fin trade has reduced some species by 70%+ in 50 years.
# Top 10 shark species
- 1great white (most dangerous)
- 2tiger shark
- 3bull shark (freshwater tolerance)
- 4hammerhead
- 5whale shark (largest fish)
- 6mako (fastest)
- 7thresher (tail-hunting)
- 8nurse shark
- 9wobbegong
- 10Greenland shark (slowest, longest-lived)
Fascinating Facts
- ◆The Greenland shark lives up to 500 years — the world's longest-lived vertebrate
- ◆Sharks' electrical sensory system (ampullae of Lorenzini) detects electric fields of 0.005 microvolts — equivalent to a 1.5V battery at 1,600 km distance
- ◆Approximately 100 million sharks are killed annually by humans — sharks kill fewer than 10 humans per year
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