Sharks

Feared by most, loved by some and hunted by many, sharks are one of the most mysterious groups of creatures roaming the Earth today. Defined as a fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a sleek, streamlined body, a shark can range in size from the two foot pygmy shark, to the colossal 50-foot whale shark.There are more than 250 different species of sharks currently identified, making it one of the most diverse animal genera on the planet. Sharks are found in every major body of saltwater in the world, but are more common in warmer waters. There are a small number of shark species that do thrive in fresh water, and certain sharks have been known to venture from their saltwater homes to major freshwater lakes and rivers.Most members

Latest about Sharks

The dead hammerhead shark is towed away on a truck.

Critically endangered hammerhead shark found dead on US beach was pregnant with 40 pups

By Harry Baker published

The 14-foot great hammerhead washed ashore on a beach in Alabama. Researchers have since dissected the expectant mother but are unsure exactly what killed her.

A grinning great white shark seen from the front swims up close.

Great white shark washes up on South Carolina beach in rare, unusual stranding

By Sascha Pare published

The 10-foot-long female stopped breathing after locals tried several times to coax her back into the water. The cause of the animal's death remains a mystery.

megamouth sharks

Watch 2 megamouth sharks caught on video for the 1st time ever

By Joshua A. Krisch published

This rare video, showing two megamouth sharks swimming off the coast of San Diego, is scientists' 'only knowledge' of the sharks' social lives.

A close-up of a sleeper shark.

Missing man's remains found in shark's belly, but it's 'very very unlikely' the shark killed him

By Harry Baker published

The remains of a missing person from Argentina were recently found inside the belly of a dead school shark. But experts say it is improbable that the shark killed him.

Two megalodon sharks on the prowl.

Megalodon: Facts about the long-gone, giant shark

By Alina Bradford last updated

Megalodon was the largest shark and one of the largest fish on record. It went extinct about 2.6 million years ago.

A great white shark swimming among fishes.

In rare attack, great white shark decapitates diver in Mexico. But why?

By Harry Baker published

A great white shark recently decapitated a Mexican fisher as he was diving for shellfish. But what was the reason for the unusually gruesome attack?

A shortfin mako shark swimming.

Threatened shark meat is being served as fish and chips in Australia

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

Fish and chip shops across Australia are using threatened shark meat in their food.

9-year-old Molly Sampson holds the 5-inch megalodon tooth she discovered at Calvert Cliffs State Park in Maryland.

Massive megalodon tooth discovered in Chesapeake Bay by 9-year-old fossil hunter

By Harry Baker published

A 9-year-old girl from Maryland, who has collected more than 400 fossilized shark teeth, discovered a 5-inch megalodon gnasher on Christmas Day.

An array of shark teeth displayed on a tray.

Massive graveyard of fossilized shark teeth found deep in the Indian Ocean

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

Australian researchers discovered 750 shark teeth deep in the Indian Ocean.

Adult zebra shark swimming amongst fish.

Female zebra shark opts for 'virgin birth' even when sharing a tank with healthy males

By Joshua A. Krisch published

A female zebra shark conceived her pups through 'virgin birth,' despite sharing a tank with two males.

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