Are you curious to learn some weird and wonderful facts about sharks?
If so, excellent! You are in exactly the right place my friend…
It’s time to chat about shark facts.
Let’s dive right in…
Facts About Sharks
1 – Sharks are the oldest known living species on earth.
2 – Sharks have been around for about 420 million years, predating the dinosaurs by 100 million years.
3 – There are more than 500 different species of sharks, but only about 20 types live in fresh water.
4 – The first shark was found in the Silurian period, about 425 million years ago.
5 – Some sharks can live up to 100 years old.
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6 – Shark teeth are like a saw blade with thousands of tiny, razor-sharp teeth that never stop growing.
7 – Sharks have no bones – their skeletons are made out of cartilage which is softer than bone and lighter in weight.
8 – A shark’s skin has a special protective layer called “shagreen” which is made up of tiny spines called dermal denticles that help protect them from injuries such as bites or scratches.
9 – The chances of being attacked by a shark are 1 in 3,700,000.
10 – Sharks can’t chew their food – they use their teeth to rip pieces off and swallow them whole.
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11 – One way sharks reproduce is through a process called ovoviviparity, in which eggs hatch within a female’s body before she gives birth to live young.
12 – The largest shark is the whale shark, which can grow up to 40 feet long.
13 – Many people think that sharks only live in salt water but this isn’t true – they also live in freshwater and brackish water as well as deep sea habitats such as coral reefs and kelp forests.
14 – All sharks produce a form of natural antiseptic called squalene, which can be used to treat wounds or infections.
15 – The smallest shark is called the pygmy ribbontail catshark and it only grows to be about 24 cm long.
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16 – Shark skin has tiny teeth-like scales that help reduce drag in water and act as camouflage from prey. It feels exactly like sandpaper!
17 – A group of sharks is called a “shiver” or “school.”
18 – Female sharks give birth to litters of anywhere from 12-20 pups at one time.
19 – Sharks come in an array of colors including blue, brown, gray, greenish black, and yellowish white.
20 – Sharks DO have eyelids but guess what? They don’t blink. They only close their eyelids if they are trying to protect their eyes while fighting.
More Facts About Sharks
21 – Some people believe that sharks can smell a drop of blood in 25 liters of water, which is about 100 feet away.
22 – Sharks are the most ancient species of fish on Earth.
23 – Sharks don’t sleep, they just rest half their brain at a time so one side stays alert for danger and food.
24 – Your chance of getting killed by a shark is less than 1 in 264.1 million
25 – Sharks do not have bones and they have extremely great eyesight. Not all sharks are cold-blooded either – some sharks are warm-blooded like the great white shark.
