Shark Pictures and Facts

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Scientific Name

Carcharhinus leucas

Length

Up to 11ft (3.4m)

Weight

510lb (230kg) or more

Distribution

Coastal tropical, subtropical waters worldwide including rivers

Status

Lower risk

Bull sharks live in shallow waters so because of their aggressive and unpredictable nature, they can be very dangerous for people. They can also tolerate fresh water and travel up rivers. It has been found 1870 miles (3000km) up the Amazon River. It eats a wide variety of other creatures including bony fish, invertebrates, mammals, other fish and even young bull sharks.

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Scientific Name

Carcharodon carcharias

Length

Up to 24 ft (7.2m)

Weight

Over 3.5 tons (3.4 tonnes)

Depth

0-4,300 ft (1,300m)

Distribution

Most oceans except the polar regions

Also known as the white pointer, the great white shark is a formidable predator, eating creatures ranging from small fish to penguins to seals. The great white shark is responsible for more unprovoked attacks on people than any other shark, although this is likely to be just a case of mistaken identity. The great white shark has a very efficient metabolism allowing it to swim faster and further than other sharks. It can also leap out of the water.

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Scientific Name

Sphyrna zygaena (one of nine species)

Length

Up to 13ft (4m)

Weight

UUp to 880lb (400kg)

Depth

Often seen on the surface

Distribution

Coastal tropical, subtropical and temperate worldwide

You can easily recognise a hammerhead shark by the unusual shape of its head with its eyes at the ends of the wide head. This positioning of the eyes probably helps the shark have better vision. The hammerhead shark has an unpredictable temperament and will sometimes attack people. Its diet includes a wide variety of fish including other sharks. Hammerheads will often swim in schools.

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Scientific Name

Isurus oxyrinchus (Shortfin mako shark)

Length

Up to 13ft (4m)

Weight

1260lb (570kg) or more

Distribution

Temperate and tropical waters woldwide

Status

Lower risk

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Scientific Name

Galeocerdo cuvier

Length

18-25ft (5.5-7.5m

Weight

1990lb (900kg) or more

Distribution

Tropical, and warm temperate waters worldwide

Status

Lower risk

The tiger shark is a very dangerous shark, known to attack people. It usually hunts at night, often coming closer to shore, eating fish, marine reptiles and mammals but also carrion and even rubbish. The tiger shark is ovoviviparous, meaning the baby shark embryos develop inside eggs which remain in the mother until they hatch. Then the baby tiger sharks are born live.

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Scientific Name

Rhincodon typus

Length

up to 40-65ft (12-20m)

Weight

Over 11 tons (12 tonnes) up to 44 tons (40 tonnes)

Depth

Surface. Deep in winter.

Distribution

Temperate and tropical regions

The whale shark is the largest fish in the world but it is a filter feeder, eating only plankton and small fish. They are gentle giants, allowing divers to swim with them, holding onto their fins. The white spots on the whale shark's skin are unique, like finger prints, allowing scientists to identify different individuals. Whale sharks give birth to live young after the eggs hatch inside the mother's body.

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Scientific Name

Orectolobus maculatus (spotted wobbegong) (one of 11 species)

Length

6-10ft (1.8-3.2m) other species 4ft (1m)

Distribution

Shallow waters around Australia, China, Indonesia and Japan

Status

Common

The wobbegong is a slow-moving shark, dwelling in shallow water. It rests on the sea floor, well camouflaged with the markings on its skin, and ambushes animals that come close. The wobbegong also has weed-like tassels around its mouth which it can use to lure crabs, octopuses and fish right to its mouth. These sharks are not considered dangerous, but they can inflict serious injuries if stepped upon or provoked.