Most people can name not so many species of sharks, among which there will be white and tiger sharks, as well as, perhaps, the largest fish in the world's oceans - the whale shark. The rating of the largest sharks has long been published on our site thebiggest.ru But this is only the tip of the iceberg, because there are many interesting species of sharks that we don’t even know about.
They can be of different shapes and sizes. To date, scientists have about 440 species of these fish. Moreover, the number of species found continues to grow, only this year a new species was discovered, called the "Dzhina Shark." Get ready to dive, we present you the ten most unusual and interesting species of sharks.
1
Zebra shark
Zebra sharks are found in the Indian Ocean and in the Western Pacific, as well as in the Red Sea. Divers often confuse them with leopard sharks due to the similar black spots on the swarthy body. But the resemblance can be seen only in adult individuals, dropping their yellow stripes given to them at birth. Its structure with a flexible body wriggling in tight places and sensors in the shape of a mustache helps the shark to hunt in places that other predatory fish simply cannot reach.
This species of shark prefers to live in tropical waters at shallow depths near reefs. There they catch crabs, small fish, sea urchins, snails and other species of invertebrates that hide in crevices and caves. In the absence of appropriate partners, zebra sharks can breed through parthenogenesis, also known as virgin conception. Scientists still can not figure out how some species of sharks, snakes or other creatures that need a partner for reproduction become pregnant without their participation. For example, last year, Leoni's zebra shark was able to lay eggs, from which three sharks hatched, despite the fact that she had not been in contact with males for three years before the birth.
Valuable meat put zebra sharks on the brink of extinction. They are sold fresh or salted in many countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Shark liver contains many vitamins, and fins go to cook traditional shark soup in China. Nevertheless, this species of sharks is quite widely represented in the territorial waters of Australia, where they are not destroyed.
2
Pelagic Largemouth Shark
A large-mouthed shark was first discovered near the island of Hawaii in 1976, during which time it was possible to see it no more than 60 times. The shark is so unlike its relatives that it was taken out in a separate genus (Megachasma), which still counts only this species. This is the smallest and most primitive of the three sharks feeding on plankton. The other two are a giant shark and a whale shark.
Large-mouthed sharks constantly change the depth of their stay in the water, which depends on the time of day. During the day they live at a depth of 120-160 meters, and closer to night they rise to 12-25 meters. Because of their "refusal" to contact people, scientists were practically unable to obtain information about their number and reproduction. Most sharks were found in the waters of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
The shark's mouth and jaw are much larger than the rest of her body, and she cannot boast of good swimming skills. However, bioluminescent lips help her to compensate for the deficiency by attracting prey with her glow in dark waters. According to research by the Museum of Western Australia, large-mouthed sharks also have weak muscles and a skeleton with a low calcium content, which prevents them from diving to great depths.
3
California bull shark
Bull sharks got their name because of the cartilaginous "horns" above the eyes and the spines on the dorsal fins. They also differ in blunt stigmas, broad heads and dark gray or light brown color with dark spots throughout the body. Bull sharks are found in the tropical waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, especially along the shores of Mexico and California.
The small size, inability to swim quickly and the habit of hunting at night makes bull sharks harmless to humans. But if they are chased, they can bite. There is at least one reported case of a bite of a man by a bull shark. To date, their lives are not in danger. People rarely eat them, and in case of accidental catch, they throw them back into the water. However, things can change with the development of fisheries in Mexico. The simplicity of maintenance makes bull sharks a frequent “guest” of public and private aquariums.
This summer, a case of abduction of a bull shark from one of Texas aquariums was recorded. Surveillance cameras recorded robbers who placed a shark in a stroller, disguising it as a child. Later on the Internet there was an announcement about the sale of fish for $ 300. After a couple of days, the police found a truck used during the abduction of a shark and detained one of the three robbers. He was charged with theft with a security deposit of $ 10,000. The shark was found safe and sound, returning to the aquarium.
4
Spotted Wobbegong
The spotted wobbegong, also called the carpet shark, is one of 12 species of sharks of the Wobbegong family. The fish got its name due to its wide and flat body with a color adapted for camouflage on the seabed. These sharks differ from other representatives of the detachment in a special color, with an overflow from golden-sand to light green with white rings. They also have 6-10 skin blades on both sides of the head and nasal protrusions used to be in space.
Carpet sharks are endemic to the southern coast of Australia, living in rocky reef algae, as well as on sand and coral reefs to a depth of 110 meters. Sometimes they can be seen in shallow water, where water barely covers the bodies of the Wobbegongs. Sharks spend most of the day resting on the bottom. They are activated only at night, slowly swimming up to the victim. Carpet sharks feed on bottom fish and invertebrates, including lobsters and octopuses. Often after hunting, wobbegons return to their former place for a day's rest.
Despite the slowness and relatively small size, carpet sharks can be quite aggressive. 4 cases of an unprovoked bite of a person with a spotted wobbigong were recorded, as well as 28 bites by vague sharks from this detachment. As a rule, having bitten the offender, sharks immediately release him.
Spotted wobbegons are considered desirable prey for anglers, which led to a significant reduction in their numbers. Between 1990 and 2000, their catches were reduced by 60%. Tough leather with an attractive pattern is used to create jewelry, and carpet shark meat is considered a delicacy.
5
Striped mustachioed cat shark
This species of sharks is easily identified by its striped color, thin short antennae and dorsal fins, which are located closer to the rear. The striped, whiskered cat shark is unusually small: during childbirth, their length is no more than 15 cm, and the adult grows on average to 55-75 centimeters. This genus of marine predators is activated at night, and during the day peacefully “rests” in caves and crevices at a depth of up to 100 meters. Striped mustached cat sharks feed mainly on small fish, for example, anchovies, as well as crustaceans.
The minimal size and taste preferences make these sharks safe for humans. However, people are not dangerous for them either, since they throw sharks back into the sea if they come in by-catch. You can meet this species off the coast of South Africa, there are also early records telling about their presence nearby Madagascar, DR Congo and Mauritius, but they are in doubt.
6
Common centrina
The common centrina, also called the pig shark or Atlantic centrina, is distinguished by sharp scales (denticles) and two large dorsal fins. This rare species of shark glides over the seabed, often “hovering” in muddy sandy water. She prefers to be closer to the bottom, and lives at a depth of 60 to 660 meters. It is believed that the pig shark uses a suction mechanism to catch polychaetes, mollusks and crustaceans. Cases of eating eggs laid by other sharks have also been recorded. Mostly distributed in the eastern waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, located along the entire coast of Africa and southern Europe.
Due to the development of fishing technologies, the number of common centrines has significantly decreased over the past 50 years. Sharks are on the verge of extinction in many habitats. Often caught as by-catch and used for oil production, food consumption, as well as complementary foods in fisheries.
7
Brownie Shark
House-sharks, this is a very rare species of sharks living at a depth of up to 1300 meters. Some individuals rise to 40-60 meters, where they "intersect" with people. Almost all of the captured shark-brownies were near the coast of Japan, but it is believed that they live around the world. You can also find the name goblin shark, due to their strange appearance. Elongated muzzle with a sharp end and rather long jaws with teeth similar to fangs will not allow you to confuse goblin sharks with other species of underwater predators. The muzzles are equipped with supersensitive receptors that store electrical energy. The translucent skin of the sharks makes their color a little pinkish, as blood vessels shine through it.
Despite the unusual appearance, the most bizarre feature of the shark-brownie is its mouth. An average person can open his mouth by 50 degrees, and this shark calmly opens its jaws to 110 degrees. At the time of catching the victim, the shark's jaws extend at a speed of 3.1 m / s. After a bite, the shark extends its jaw again to draw water along with its prey. Scientists still do not understand this feature of the goblin shark, manifested during the hunt. They can only assume that in this way the predator can get rid of slippery prey, such as squid.
Biologists suggest that due to the increase in water temperature off the coast of the UK by 2050, house sharks may appear there. In addition to them, the appearance of another 10 species of sharks, as well as the development of new orders and families in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
8
Black-headed shark
The black-headed sharks are considered one of the most primitive sharks that exist today. They are largely similar to sea snakes, and got their name due to the wide skin folds covering the gill slits. Shark jaws contain about 300 small teeth arranged in 25 rows. Despite the fact that this species of sharks lives at great depths, they can be found 50-200 meters from the surface, where they are looking for prey. Their diet consists of squids, small fish, as well as other species of sharks. The special shape of the body, as well as the structure of the mouth, allows scientists to suggest that sharks can swallow a victim whose length is about 50% of the length of their own body.
Placid sharks are "scattered" around the world, they were found in the territorial waters of Scotland, Chile, Norway, Australia and other countries. A long pregnancy period (up to 3.5 years), as well as low reproductive ability, jeopardizes the existence of lacustered sharks. They are often caught as by-catch. In some regions, sharks are thrown into the water, while in others they are eaten. The size of their population is still unknown.
9
Brazilian luminous shark
Despite the fact that they rarely grow more than 50 cm in length, the cigar-shaped Brazilian luminous sharks are one of the most daring predators on Earth. Their brown color in the upper part is slightly lighter down and may glow to attract other fish. Unlike most predators, luminous sharks do not kill their prey. They take into account the speed and movements of fish swimming on them in order to quickly turn around and bite off a small piece (not exceeding the size of a table tennis ball) from the body of the enemy attacking it.
This hunting style allows Brazilian luminous sharks to feed on much larger creatures than themselves, including whales, seals and other sharks. Scars in the form of hemispherical "potholes" left in the bodies of the victims allow scientists to determine the diet of luminous sharks. Many submariners were surprised to find shark bite marks left on the locators of their submarines.
These sharks descend to considerable depths during the day to rise in the dark for hunting. Human activity practically does not affect the life of this shark. They live in all parts of the southern hemisphere, and are also found off the coast of Japan and Hawaii. For many years, Brazilian luminous sharks were considered harmless to humans because of their habitat and small size. However, in 2009, the first human bite was recorded with a luminous shark. The incident occurred in Hawaii when a predator bit a swimmer's leg. Two cases are also known when traces from the bites of this shark were found on corpses caught in the water.
10
Greenland polar shark
The Greenland shark is one of the largest species of sharks, reaching 6.5 meters in length with a weight of about 900 kg. Compared to the body, its fins are quite small, the upper jaw has sharp thin teeth, the lower one is represented by large teeth with a smooth surface. They can be of various colors, including shades of brown, purple, black and gray. Despite being eaten by Eskimos, their skins are quite toxic to most animals, including dogs. When feeding dogs raw meat of a Greenland shark, tetrapods behave like drunk.
Due to the influence of worm parasites, sharks are practically blind, however, it does not matter to them, since they live in the complete darkness of Arctic waters, where vision is not vital. They find victims due to their sense of smell, eating narwhals and belugas, and also do not disdain salmon, sea lions, seals, halibut and herring. They can also eat carrion or their relatives.
The eyes of sharks contain transparent tissue, which is layered with every year of life, which allows scientists to determine its duration. An analysis of the tissue of 28 Greenland sharks caught as by-catch allowed scientists to claim that they are the most long-lived among vertebrate creatures on Earth. The approximate age of the “oldest” shark was 392 years. True, the error can be “only” 120 years (the real age of an individual can range from 272 to 512 years).
This genus of sharks is mainly distributed along the shores of Canada, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, the UK and Greenland. At the moment, scientists are trying to find out the secret of their longevity, which will increase the average life expectancy of other animals, including humans. These sharks are capable of transmitting diseases that kill other related species.