9 interesting facts about sharks
These predators usually appear on TV screens as purposeful killers, but in real life, they rarely harm people.
9 PHOTOS
1. People kill more sharks than sharks kill people.
It's true: sharks kill about six people a year around the world, while humans kill between 75 and 100 million sharks.
2. Only three types of sharks are responsible for the majority of attacks and deaths.
Of the over 400 shark species out there, blunt sharks, tiger sharks, and white sharks are the most dangerous, but even with these groups, most attacks are driven more by curiosity than hostility.
3. In the US, shark attacks are more common than in any other country, but there are fewer deaths.
Most attacks in the United States take place in Florida. In 2017, 31 people were attacked by sharks without provocation (there were other incidents when a bitten person tried to provoke a shark), but no one died.
4. Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea.
They can grow up to 12 meters and weigh over 20 tons, making them about twice the size of most white sharks.
5. Sharks come in all sizes.
Pygmy lantern sharks that can fit in the palm of your hand have been found in the Caribbean off the coast of Colombia and Venezuela, according to the Smithsonian Institution, and scientists believe they live at depths of more than 270 meters.
6. Sharks occupy an important ecological niche.
The role of sharks in preying on weaker species can be important. Sharks play a key role in ocean ecosystems. Removing them from the chain can cause a domino effect that can affect other species, down to corals and algae.
7. Great white sharks are travelers.
In 2005, a great white named Nicole sailed from Africa to Australia and returned nine months later, covering over 19,000 kilometers in total.
8. Some sharks will never stop swimming.
This does not apply to all species, but great white, tiger, and mako sharks must move in order to breathe.
8. Some sharks will never stop swimming.
Great whites live up to 70 years and Greenland sharks live up to 400 years!
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