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A Kinder, Gentler Shark

A Kinder, Gentler Shark

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on May 26, 2012

Sharks are having a pretty rough time right now, what with all the finning and media frenzy over their increasing interactions with humans, which often end in fatalities. While there are certainly shark species that you may want to keep your distance from, there is a wonderful array of sharks that pose little threat to humans, preferring a place away from the spolight. Meet some of the shark family’s unsung heroes, who can come off a little mellower than their fearsome cousins, but beware — touching or getting too close to a shark can trigger territorial behavior in some species.

Angel Shark

The angel shark appears to be a hybrid of a ray and a shark, with a flattened body, broad pectoral fins, and a finned, muscular tail. It spends most of its time buried just below the seafloor, waiting for its prey to come close. It then shoots up out of the sand with a quick, powerful motion to catch its unwitting victim. Because they’re so efficient with camouflage, it can be easy to step on them without knowing it, possibly provoking a confrontation. Angel sharks prey on small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, and have a powerful bite that can cause injury to divers who intrude on its turf. Left alone, the angel shark provides some great photo opportunities because it lies so still.

Goblin Shark

This deep sea shark is so rare we could only find pictures of heads that were preserved in 1909. Guess it’s been a while since anyone’s seen the goblin shark! What you’re probably seeing first in this photo is the exact reason why they were named goblin sharks — what a mug! What you can’t see from this picture is that the goblin shark has pink skin, presumably to soften its terrifying appearance. As it feeds primarily on deep sea squid, crustaceans, and fish, their teeth are long and smooth-edged in the front, but stronger and flatter in the back for crushing shells and bones. So rare are the encounters with goblin sharks that science knows almost nothing about their life history or reproductive habits, but it does know that those suckers live deep: at least 250 meters below the surface.

Basking Shark

The basking shark is the second-largest fish in the world, but they are rather elusive, so sightings of these animals are also rare. This behemoth is a filter-feeder, so although it has numerous teeth, they are small and not so sharp. It is not aggressive and poses no threat to humans, other than the possibility of getting sucked in if you’re too close to its giant mouth when it’s feeding! Curiously, despite the fact that it bears little resemblance in appearance or demeanor to a great white or mako shark, it is in the same order of mackerel sharks. It is called a basking shark because it comes right up to the surface to feed, basking in the sun.

Nurse Shark

The nurse shark may not be totally uncommon, but it is a nocturnal bottom-dwelling species that generally prefers the dark, quiet corners of the reef, so you may not see one unless you’re looking for it. During the day, when they’re resting, you can often see a group of nurse sharks all piled up together, napping the day away. But at night the wander the seafloor alone, searching in the sediment for crustaceans, mollusks, tunicates, sea snakes, and stingrays. Unlike many shark species, the nurse shark can respire while motionless by pumping water in through its mouth and out through its gills.

Wobbegong Shark

The wobbegong shark has got to be the coolest looking of all the sharks. The word wobbegong comes from an Aboriginal language, which means “shaggy beard,” in reference to the characteristic growths around its mouth. With its mottled and patterned markings, the wobbegong gets some killer camouflage while hanging out on the ocean floor looking for food. Because of this, they suffer the same plight as angel sharks: being stepped on by divers. Although they are not typically aggressive, they will react to their personal space being infringed. And once they bite down, they are reportedly difficult to remove.

Catshark

Catsharks are also known as dogfish, which we think may be the most confusing dual naming ever. They owe the catshark moniker to the cat-like shape of their eyes, which we guess could look like dog eyes to some people too. Growing to no longer than about 30 inches, the catshark is one of the smallest species of shark. The range at which they can be found is probably the most astonishing thing about catsharks, which is anywhere from shallow tidal zones to 2,000 meters below the surface! The eggs they lay are known as “mermaid’s purses,” which for us, couldn’t make a shark any cuter if it tried.

Greenland Shark

The Greenland shark hails from the frigid waters of the North Atlantic around Greenland and Iceland, and is also known as a sleeper shark. These sharks are closest in resemblance to a great white shark, with less powerful jaws and razor-sharp teeth. It is a pelagic predator, eating primarily fish, but it is thought that they also prey on seals. Due to the poisonous nature of its flesh and the fact that it remains mostly underneath thick sea ice, the Greenland shark has enjoyed an absence of the human predation that other marine creatures are subject to.

Frilled Shark

The frilled shark is our favorite on this list of lesser-known shark species, almost entirely due to the unique physiology of this animal. It has been termed a “living fossil” because of the rather primitive features of its makeup. Another seldom observed species, the frilled shark likes to be at the edge of the continental shelf, presumably for the upwellings full of nutrition that arise from the ocean depths. Its strange, eel-like body makes it a very efficient swimmer, and the unusual layout of its many rows of teeth facilitate shredding power needed to rip through squid and octopus, its primary food source. A jaw that can be unhinged allows the frilled shark to swallow prey whole, while those little teeth prevent any attempts at escape. Due to its habitat preference, the only interactions they really have with humans is by becoming the bycatch of deep sea fishing operations.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

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