17 Coolest Facts About Sharks That May Surprise You

Sharks are spectacular creatures. They are one of the most majestic creatures in the ocean and have starred in several blockbuster movies. Did you know that there over 500 species of sharks

Here are 17 more amazing facts about this creatures.

1. Sharks have been living in earth’s oceans for 450 million years.

2. Sharks live in every ocean on the planet.

3. Their eyes are on the sides of their head. This makes it possible for them to see in front as well as behind them. However, they have to blind spots: one in front of their snout and one directly behind their head.

4. Most species of sharks do not sleep because they need to constantly ensure water is flowing through their mouth over their gills to breathe or they will die.

5. Sharks have super-sensitive ears. They can hear prey up to 3000 feet away. Interestingly, their ears are located inside their heads.

6. Sharks lose their teeth often and grow up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime.

7. Sharks have skins that feel like sandpaper. They have the thickest skin of an animal specie and some sharks have skins that are up to six inches thick.

8. The world’s smallest shark, the pygmy shark, is just six inches long when fully grown.

9. Sharks have the largest brain of any fish.

10. Sharks use body language as their means of communication. Some of their unique forms of communication include zigzag swimming, head shaking, hunched backs, and head butts.

11. Sharks have no vocal chords, making it impossible for them to make any sounds. This is why they are known as the “silent killers”.

12. Known for their excellent hunting skills, sharks can detect whether a scent is coming from their left or right nostrils to help easily locate their prey.

13. Sharks will sink if they stop swimming.

14. Sharks have no bones. Their skeletons are made up entirely of cartilage. This makes it easy for salt to completely dissolve their skeleton when they die, leaving only shark teeth behind.

15. There are hundreds of shark species in water bodies including angel, bullhead, carpet, and dogfish sharks, not to mention weasel, mackerel, crocodile, zebra, and even cat sharks.

16. Although sharks inhabit all of the world’s oceans, a few species live in freshwater lakes and rivers.

17. You are more likely to be struck by lightning than to be killed by a shark. In the US, there are just an average of 19 shark attacks each year one shark-attack fatality every two years. Meanwhile, some parts of the US record more than 37 lightning-strike fatalities per year.

What other amazing facts do you know about sharks? Tell us in the comment section below.