DEATHLY SHARKS!!



Dwarf Laternshark





        Sharks belong to the 'Chandrichhye' class of fish and they are believed to have existed more than 300 milllion years ago, even before dinosaurs! Massively misunderstood and  for many, the Sharks are quite often feared.



Whale Shark



What Are The Physical Features?

       They range in size from the small dwarf lanternshark, Etmopterus perryi, a deep sea species of only 17 centimetres in length, to the whale shark, Rhincodon typus, the largest fish, which grows to a length of approximately 12 metres. Sharks have very distinctive tails which provide thrust and speed to the sharks. A shark does not have a single bone in it body, instead it has a single bone it body, instead it has a skeleton made up of cartilage. In many shark species, a female grows than a male s25% more hark.Whale Sharks are estimated to be approximately 70 cm at birth. A shark's skin is covered by small, razor-sharp teeth called denticles. A shark's teeth are usually replaced every eight days and some species of sharks shed about 30,000 teeth in their lifetime.

What Are The Characteristics Of Sharks?

              The maximum lifespan of a shark varies from species to species. Most sharks live for 20 to 30 years, while the spiny dogfish lives a record lifespan of more than 100 years. Sharks have keen olfactory senses to detect changes in Earth's geomagnetic field. They generally rely on their superior sense of smell to find prey, but at closer range they also use the lateral lines running along their sides to sense movement in the water. Sharks have a sensory organ which is called the "ampullae of Lorenzini" which they use to feel the electrical field coming from its prey. Recent studies have indicated that many sharks possess powerful problem-solving skills, social complexity and curiosity.

 

Do Sharks Kill And Eat Humans?

         Sharks are found all around the globe from the North to the South in all seas. They evolved millions of years ago before humans existed and therefore humans are not part of their normal diets. Sharks eat small fishes, large seals, plankton, smaller fish, and other sharks etc. Under normal conditions, they are harmless and shy. They have been known to attack humans when they are confused or curious. Out of 360 species, only a dozen of them have been involved in attacks on humans. If a shark sees a human in deep water, it may investigate it leading to an accidental attack. Sharks may also attack humans because of poor visibility. But, sharks are more afraid of us than we are of sharks. We hunt sharks for their meat, internal organs, and skin in order to make products such as shark fin soup, lubricants, and leather etc. And if we just keep doing it, we won't see even a single shark in blue seas.

What Should You Do When You See A Shark?

• Do not go in water if you have a wound or if you you have recently been in contact with blood.
• Avoid going to areas like murky water and wherever there are animals like seals, fishes etc, which are the prey of sharks.
• Do not splash or make a lot of noise. Sharks, as well as all predators, will always choose the easiest prey to attack first. Splashing and standing out from the group can make you look like a struggling fish.
• If you see a shark, swim slowly but using powerful strokes. Try to get out of the water as soon as possibly.
• If the sharks tries to attact you, never try to pretend dead. Try to attack him in the sensitive part of the shark i.e. gills, nose, especially the eyes of shark. Prove them that you aren't afraid of them. Till the shark feels some pain, quickly get out of water.
• If you have anything around you or in your hand like a camera or a rock, use it as a defence weapon.

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