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Facts about sharks help students enhance their understanding of one of the oldest creatures in the ocean. Believed to have existed for over 400 million years, sharks are the apex predators in the water. They come in various shapes and sizes and play a crucial role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. Despite their fearsome prejudices, not all sharks pose a threat to humans. Therefore, it is important to read information about sharks to play your part in shark conservation. Keep on reading till the end to find more than 25 interesting facts about sharks for kids.
Table of Contents
| Particulars | Facts about Sharks |
| Diet | Fish, birds, sea snakes, dolphins, seals |
| Predators | Orcas, Nile crocodiles, other sharks, whales |
| Reproduction | Internal fertilisation |
Top 10 Facts About Sharks
Sharks are powerful creatures that have been swimming in our oceans for many years. They are an essential part of marine ecosystems that play an important role. How? Here are 10 interesting facts about these incredible predators:
1. There are over 500 species of sharks in the ocean out of which 143 are listed as vulnerable or critically endangered.
2. Sharks are apex predators and help create balance in the food chain.
3. You can find them even under the Arctic sea ice.
4. Sharks use their gills to filter oxygen from the water.
5. They do not have bones in their body.
6. As they get old, they despot calcium salts in their skeletal cartilage to make it stronger.
7. Most sharks have excellent eyesight and night vision, allowing them to see easily in poorly lit areas.
8. Sharks have small black spots near their mouth, eyes, and nose. These spots help them sense electromagnetic fields and temperature changes in the ocean.
9. Shark skin is made up of tiny teeth-like structures called placoid scales, making it similar to the texture of sandpaper.
10. When sharks are flipped upside down, they enter a trance-like state.
Also Read: 15 Amazing Fun Facts About Fish
Cool Shark Facts
Sharks are fascinating creatures with extraordinary hunting abilities. Their unique features make them stand out among other sea creatures. Here are some cool facts about sharks that you might not know:
1. The spot pattern of each whale shark is as unique as human fingerprints.
2. Shark species have different types of teeth, each suited for different reasons. For instance, mako sharks have pointed teeth whereas white sharks have triangular teeth.
3. Shark species can be oviparous or egg-laying and viviparous or live-bearing.
4. While most sharks are cold-blooded, great white sharks are partially warm-blooded. This allows them to move faster in the water.
5. It is believed that sharks have been around for a long time for over 400 million years.
6. Because they are boneless, sharks do not leave fossils like other animals. However, fossiled shark teeth have been found.
6. The unique shape of their body helps reduce drag and consume minimum energy to swim.
7. Shark species come in different colours varying from cream, grey, and brown, to yellow, slate, and blue.
8. Open-ocean fish such as mako and mackerel feed near the surface.
9. Certain shark species such as the great tiger and whale sharks can suffocate if they do not move frequently. Therefore, they are always on the move.
10. They have a sixth sense, allowing them to sense electrical fields emitted by other living creatures in the ocean.
Also Read: 100 Facts About Whales for Kids
Fun Facts About Sharks for Kids
Sharks are apex hunters in the ocean world. Additionally, they also have some surprising characteristics that make them even more interesting. Here are some fun facts about sharks:
1. A great white shark can lose up to 35,000 teeth in its entire lifetime.
2. When a shark loses its tooth, it is replaced by a new one within 24 hours.
3. Some shark species like the epaulette sharks or the walking sharks can walk on the land using their fins. They often do this in search of food like crabs.
4. It is estimated that sharks worldwide have survived at least four global extinction events- including the one that killed dinosaurs.
5. Hammerhead sharks can see in 360 degrees. They can also determine the depth and distance of their prey.
6. Angel sharks are ambush predators. They use the technique of burying themselves in the sand and waiting for the prey to go over their heads. They then pounce with their extendable mouths to kill it.
7. Some sharks have been known to eat their siblings in the womb. Being the faster-growing embryo, they eat the yolk sacs and embryos of less-developed babies.
8. Whale sharks are the largest living shark species whereas the dwarf lantern shark is the smallest species.
9. Shark teeth are covered with a layer of fluoride, keeping them away from cavities.
Interesting Reads
FAQs
5 interesting facts about sharks include that there are over 500 species, they are the apex predators, they eat smaller fish and create balance in the food chain, they use gills to filter oxygen, and lastly, they do not have bones.
Yes, sharks do not have bones. Instead, their skeletons are made of cartilage, a soft tissue which is also present in your ears and the tip of your nose.
Some shark facts for kids include that they are boneless, their skeletons are made of cartilage, they can be egg-laying or live-bearing species, most shark species are cold-blooded, and lastly, their spot patterns are as unique as human fingerprints.
One sad fact about sharks is that thousands of sharks are killed every year. Their fins are high in demand, often used as ornaments, and status symbols, and also eaten in some cultures. This high demand has led to overfishing and illegal fishing, reducing shark populations worldwide.
Sharks have a very interesting way of sleeping. Their eyes remain open while their pupils monitor the movement of creatures swimming around them. This helps them take deep rest for a long period without falling asleep like humans.
Different shark species reproduce in different ways. While some sharks are viviparous or live-bearing, others can be oviparous or egg-laying. They lay eggs that develop and hatch outside the mother’s body.
Hope you enjoy reading these facts about sharks. If you want to know more about topics like this, then visit our Interesting Facts and General Knowledge page!