An Overview Of Fascinating Sharks

When most people think about sharks, they envision a the popular movie with a Great White cruising the ocean looking for a human lunch. However, these marvelous fish are just one of the more than four hundred species that can be found throughout the world, and human is not their first choice at meal time.

For over four hundred million years the year has been inhabited by these fish. They have survived through all the changes that have taken place on the planet. As they have evolved, there has been significant changes made in their physiology that makes them a stunning study in evolution and motion.

The dorsal fin of a shark prevents it from swimming backwards so they are moving forward continuously. Many sharks must keep moving without sleep to breath. The tails of the fish are shaped for function. A Tiger has a tail that allows it power when it is moving slowly, but provides momentum for bursts of speed when needed. The Thrasher has a tail that provides it the ability to corral the fish and other sea creatures that they eat.

The size of these fish varies greatly, they can be found as small as seven inches long and as large as thirty-nine feet. The skin of the shark is composed on dermal denticles. This is not related to the scales that other fish have, but is more like a corset that is flexible and acts like an outer skeleton. The skin is very tough and has been used for sandpaper and leather in commercial industries.

Connective tissue hold the cartilage of this boneless fish. The lack of bones and a rib cage allow it to twist, bend, and move much more quickly than a regular fish. They also are able to control their movements when they are moving through the water.

The Great White and Make are the only sharks that regularly jump out of the water. This is because they eat birds that are flying close to the surface of the ocean and other animals that skim on the surface of the water. Many sharks are on the endangered species list because of the many benefits that have been discovered in their skin, oil, and meat. There are many studies being done on sharks to increase our knowledge of the survival skills that sharks have developed and that may be of benefit to the human race.

While studying sharks one feature that has always intrigued Andries Joubert is shark migration.