Portal:Sharks
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Sharks (superorder Selachimorpha) are fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton. They are closely related to skates and rays and can range in size from the gigantic whale shark, the world's largest fish, to the tiny pygmy shark. They are some of the world's most misunderstood predators, as they very rarely attack humans unless intimidated.
The oceanic whitetip shark, Carcharhinus longimanus, is a large pelagic shark of tropical and warm temperate seas. It is named after its oceanic habitat (living in deep waters), and the white tips of its fins. It is a stocky shark, most notable for its long, rounded fins.
This aggressive but slow-moving fish dominates feeding frenzies, and has attacked more humans than all other shark species combined — it is a notable danger to survivors of oceanic ship wrecks and downed aircraft.
Recent studies have shown that its numbers are in steep decline — its large fins are highly valued as the chief ingredient of shark-fin soup and, as with other shark species, the oceanic whitetip faces mounting pressure from fishing throughout its range.
A photograph of a great white shark taken at Isla Guadalupe, Mexico, August 2006. Animal estimated at 11-12 feet in length, age unknown.
- Until the late 16th century sharks were usually referred to in the English language as sea-dogs. The name "Shark" first came into use around the late 1560s to refer to the large sharks of the Caribbean Sea.
- Some sharks, if inverted, enter a natural state of temporary paralysis called tonic immobility. Researchers use this condition for handling sharks safely.
- The name shark may have originated from the Mayan word for shark, xoc, pronounced "shock" or "shawk"
- The teeth of carnivorous sharks are not attached to the jaw, but embedded in their flesh, and in many species are constantly replaced throughout the shark's life.
- Even though the basking shark is considered to be slow and very large it can actually breach the water, i.e. jump fully out as some whales do.
- Despite the common myth that sharks are largely instinct driven "eating machines", recent studies have indicated that many species possess powerful problem-solving skills, social complexity and curiosity.
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Main category:Sharks
- Sub-categories:
| • | Carcharhiniformes | • | Heterodontiformes | • | Hexanchiformes |
| • | Lamniformes | • | Orectolobiformes | • | Pristiophoriformes |
| • | Squaliformes | • | Squatiniformes | • | Fictional sharks |
- Related categories:
| • | Viviparous fish | • | Ovoviviparous fish | • | Ichthyologists |
