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Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and they have pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorpha[ 1 ] (or Selachii) and are the sister group to the Batoidea (rays and kin).
- Types of Sharks with Their Picture and Common Name
- Great White Shark
- Blue Shark
- Hammerhead Sharks
- Tiger Shark
- Whale Shark
- Basking Shark
- Dogfish Sharks
- Shortfin Mako Shark
- Bull Shark
Let’s look in detail at the many types of sharks that inhabit oceans and seas around the world, starting with the most famous and fearsome shark, the great white shark.
The scientific name of the great white shark literally means “sharp or jagged tooth.” When you see pictures of large great whites, it is easy to see how they got their name. Great white sharks are a species of mackerel shark that are found in all the major oceans. An adult shark can grow up to 20 ft. (6 m) in length and weigh 4,200 lb. (1,905 kg). ...
Blue sharks get their name from their blue-colored body that is deep blue on the top and light blue on the sides. These are slow-swimming sea creatures that inhabit both temperate and tropical waters. Female blue sharks can grow up to 10 ft. (3 m) with the males being slightly smaller. Looking at pictures of blue sharks, you will notice that they h...
Looking at pictures of hammerheads, it is not difficult to see how they get their common name. There are 9 species of hammerhead sharks, all with flattened heads in the shape of a hammer or mallet. The smallest species of hammerhead shark is the bonnethead shark. These grow to about 3 ft. (0.9 m) long. As its name suggests, the great hammerhead sha...
Tiger sharks are a large species of gray-colored predatory shark that is a type of ground shark. The name tiger shark comes from the dark stripes down the sides of its body. However, this identifying feature is usually more apparent on younger sharks. As the shark grows, it can resemble in appearance a great white shark, although, shorter in length...
The common name of this species of shark gives a clue to its size. The whale shark is the largest shark species alive today with the largest recorded specimen being 62 ft. (18.8 m) long. Huge whale sharks are classified in the order Orectolobiformesand they inhabit tropical marine environments. Whale sharks are a type of carpet shark which are name...
When it comes to identifying large sharks, the basking shark is the second-largest shark. Similar to the whale shark, this is a filter feeder that feeds on plankton as it swims with an open mouth. Large basking sharks grow to between 20 and 26 ft. (6 – 8 m) in length. They have dark gray skin that has a mottled appearance. Apart, from its massive s...
Some of the smallest species of sharks are dogfish sharks belonging to the family Squalidae. There are about 119 species of shark in this family making it the largest of the shark orders. The name “dogfish” comes from their pack-hunting behavior as they chase other fish. Sometimes, these packs of dogfish can number up to 1,000. Other names for shar...
The shortfin mako shark is a type of mackerel shark that is one of the fastest sharks in the oceans. Part of its scientific name means “pointy snout.” If you look at pictures of this metallic blue-colored shark, you can see how it gets that name. The name “mako” for the shark is from the Māori language meaning “tooth.” This large species of shark c...
Like the great white shark, the bull shark is an aggressive species of shark that has been known to attack humans. This shark gets its name due to its stocky, bull-like build, aggressive behavior, and a flat snout. One of the unique features of bull sharks is that they can live in freshwater and saltwater. In fact, other names for this shark indica...
1 day ago · Shark, any of numerous species of cartilaginous fishes that make up the order Selachii (class Chondrichthyes). Most species have a tough skin that is dull gray in color and roughened by toothlike scales. The mouth contains sharp triangular teeth. Sharks lack a swim bladder and must swim to keep from sinking.
- Jeffrey Carrier
Common Name: Sharks. Type: Fish. Size: 7 inches to 32.8 feet. Weight: <1 ounce to 20.6 tons. Sharks star in blockbuster movies as blood-seeking villains, but in reality they’re far more...
Learn about the diversity, evolution and anatomy of sharks, the cartilaginous fish with more than 500 species. Find out how sharks are adapted for speed, feeding and survival in different ocean habitats.
Some common kinds of shark are the hammerhead shark, the great white shark, the tiger shark, and the mako shark. Most sharks are cold-blooded but some, like the great white shark and the mako shark are partially warm-blooded.
Learn about sharks, a group of cartilaginous, predatory fish that belong to the subclass Elasmobranchii. Find out their scientific classification, physical description, distribution, behavior, and more.
