Since you asked … but, I’d like to preface this list of the 5 most dangerous sharks with this

Image (c) adsoftheworld.com

excerpt taken from an article in Time by Terry McCarthy.

“In California there is only one shark attack for every 1 million surfing days, according to the Surfrider Foundation. You are 30 times as likely to be killed by lightning. Poorly wired Christmas trees claim more victims than sharks, according to Australian researchers. And dogs — man’s best friends — bite many thousands more people than sharks do.”

Here is a list pulled from the International Shark Attack File. This file (dating from 1580 to 2008) has been compiled by the Ichthyology department of the Florida Museum of Natural History.

1. White Shark (Commonly known as the “Great White Shark”, but, this is not the correct name since there is no “Lesser Great White Shark”) – 451 attacks
2. Tiger Shark – 158 attacks
3. Bull Shark – 179 attacks
4. Sand Shark – 75 attacks
5. Black tip Shark – 41 attacks

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People often wear shark’s teeth around their neck. But, what is the significance and how do they get them? As the internet research states a sharks tooth symbolizes virility. I am not going to get any further into that aspect of the question. To each his or her own.

Here is some information on the rest of the question.

Shark teeth are plentiful. They may have up to 20,000 teeth in their lifetime! Once we lose our baby teeth we have only 32 adult teeth for the rest of our lives. However, sharks are constantly replacing their teeth whenever they get torn out. They may get torn out when ripping apart prey. This may seem like it will hurt, but, a shark’s entire skeleton is made out of cartilage. Cartilage is the very flexible material we have in our ears and nose. The shark’s stock supply of teeth act like a conveyor belt constantly ready to replace one that has fallen out (pictured).

Here are really great places to go exploring for shark teeth: Shark River, N.J.; Flag Pond Beach, MD; Amelia Island, FL; and Cooper River, S.C.

Also, again, Happy Shark Week!

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image (c) sharkfact.org

The hammerhead shark has evolved the interesting looking skull cap to accommodate its extra collection electrosensory organs. All sharks do have these electrosensory organs, but, the hammerhead has a bit more than the average shark species. The electrosensory organ are useful for traveling far distances in the open ocean. It is like a internal GPS system.  (I am not sure if it comes with a funny British accent like the one in my uncle’s car though.)

Also, another reason that the hammerhead may have evolved that shaped head is because it loves to eat squid. That head will surely be able to tangle up those tentacles lurking around the corners.

Again, Happy Shark Week!

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Image (c) animalport.com

In honor of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel I decided to post a different shark fact each week.

Today…What is the fastest shark species?

The mako shark is the fastest shark. It can get up to 20 miles per hour (or faster when being chased by an enemy). The mako shark can naturally move as fast as I do while driving a go-kart. Unbelievable!

You’d have to be pretty skilled to catch a mako shark, especially on a rod. Here is an article from Underwater Times telling how Brendan Mason caught a 600 pound mako shark with just a rod and reel!

The mako shark can even jump up to 20 feet in the air.

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Image (c) UnderWater Times.

“Sand shark” can be a bit of a catch-all term, but it seems to most commonly refer to the sand tiger shark, Charcharius taurus. Sand tigers are an interesting case study in form following function in shark teeth. Sand tigers have long, narrow, prong-shaped teeth—like the tines of a fork. Their teeth are perfectly shaped for spearing slippery prey like fish and squid. But while slippery swimmers make up the bulk of their diet, it is worth pointing out that sharks are always opportunistic. Sand tigers are not above snapping up a wayward crab or lobster.

Jim Wharton
Vice President, Education Division, Director, Center for School and Public Programs, Mote Marine Laboratory