Sharks are one of the most powerful fishes in the world and almost all sharks live in oceans, however, some of them are seen in rivers and lakes as well. As of now, 400 types of sharks are known to humans and distributed across the world. Sharks differ from fish because they do not have a skeleton made of bones. The shark skeleton is made up of cartilage which is a lighter elastic material. This helps sharks bend and twist in the water. Sharks spend most of their time hunting prey and can swim at a speed of 40 miles per hour. Here is the list of 10 different types of sharks in the world,
Different Types of Sharks
1. Shortfin Mako
Shark Shortfin mako shark is also known as a blue pointer or bonito shark can have a length of upto 4 m (13 ft) in length and an average wieght is 570 kg (1,260 lb). It is scientifically known as Isurus oxyrinchus and commonly referred to as the mako shark categorized as Endangered by the IUCN. They are one of teh fastest swimming sharks in the world and can attain a speed of 35km/h and can jump 6m out of the water. The shark species can be seen at a depth of 500m and a significant threat to the species is overexploitation.
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Image Source: Wikimedia
2. Nurse Shark
Nurse Sharks scientifically known as Ginglymostoma cirratum and is commonly seen in Central American waters. Nurse sharks used to feed on squid, fish, and octopuses. The shark species used to thrive in the waters of warm waters and tropical coastal regions. The primary predators of nurse sharks are bull sharks, tiger sharks,s and humans.
The avarage wieght of nurse sharks is between 90 to 150kg and the avarage lifespan is between 20 to 25 years. Nurses used to breathe through a unique technique known as the buccal pumping method to breathe where they use oral muscles to pull water into their mouths to oxygenate their gills, allowing them to stay still and even sleep.
Image Source: Wikimedia
3. Great Hammerhead
The great Hammerhead is the largest of all hammerhead shark species in the world that can reach upto length of 20 feet (6.1 m) with an avarage wieght of 991 pounds (450 kg). They are one of the apex predators that can be seen in all oceans across the world and loves to thrive in warm waters of 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) or even higher.
The growth of the shark species is even faster compared to other hammerhead shark species where they will reach maturity between 5 and 9 years old. They are seen at depths of 84 feet (300 m) but typically stay in coastal waters up to 262 feet (80 m) deep.
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Image Source: NOAA Photo Library
4. Oceanic Whitetip
Oceanic Whitetip is one of the most abundant shark species and one of the top predators that prefer wide-open oceans. These shark species are often confused with the oceanic whitetip sharks that prefer the open sea. Female oceanic whitetips are typically larger than males and they can grow more than 11 feet.
They are scientifically known as Carcharhinus longimanus and they are named oceanic whitetip sharks because the tips of their pectoral, first dorsal, pelvic, and caudal fins are often white or show white mottling. The shark species is getting matured between 6 and 7 years of age and the avarage lifespan in the wild is 15 years, however, the longest known lifespan recorded in the wild is 22 years.
Image Source: Wikimedia
5. Silky Shark
A silky Shark scientifically known as C. falciformis can grow a length of between 6ft to 7.5ft and its avarage wieght is between 400lbs to 420lbs. The avarage lifespan of shark species is 23 years in the wild. Silky Sharks used to prey on bony fish, cephalopods, and tuna.
It is also called by different names such as grey whaler, blackspot shark, olive shark, ridgeback shark, and sickle shark. They can be identified with the help of rounded snouts, large eyes, and small jaws. Killer whales are primary predators of silky sharks.
Image Source: Wikimedia
6. Great White Shark
The great white shark scientifically Carcharodon carcharias is one of the most feared shark species in the world. They belong to the oldest group of shark species named the mackerel sharks and many of the shark species are believed to have existed for over 120 million years.
These big teeth fish species were seen in almost all coastal and offshore with temperatures of between 12 and 24 °C (54 and 75 °F). The avarage lifespan of great white sharks is estimated to be as long as 70 years or even more. It can grow in length between 3.4 to 6.1 meters and avarage wieght in between 520 and 2,268 kilograms (1,145 and 5,000 pounds). The female species of the great white shark is usually larger than the male.
Image Source: Wikimedia
7. Tiger Shark
Tiger Shark, scientifically known as Galeocerdo cuvier, is considered the second world’s most dangerous, followed by great white sharks. The name comes from the dark stripes which resemble a tiger’s pattern, howvever, it is most visible in juveniles, and as the sharks mature these lines disappear and fade away.
The shark species can grow upto a length between 3.52 to 4.25 meters and the avarage wieght is between 385 to 635 kilograms. Females species of tiger shark are usually larger than the males. These are strongly built sharks with two dorsal fins, a pair of pelvic fins, an anal fin, a caudal fin, and five-gill slits.
Also Read Top 10 Endangered Animals In The World 2022.
Image Source: Wikimedia
8. Lemon Shark
Lemon Sharks are widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The name of the shark comes from the yellow-brown skin that helps them camouflage in the sandy and tropical waters where they inhabit. These shark species are usually identified at a depth of 300 feet (90 m). It usually feeds on all kinds of fish such as fish, rays, crustaceans, seabirds, and other sharks as well. The avarage lifespan of a lemon shark is upto 30 years in the wild and the avarage wieght is upto 551 pounds (250 kg).
Image Source: Wikimedia
9. Galapagos Shark
Galapagos Shark is one of the different types of sharks scientifically known as Carcharhinus galapagensis and is quite difficult to differentiate from the other large requiem sharks. It can be identified with the help of dark grey coloration on top with an off-white belly along with the tail with a black edge and a ridge running between the dorsal fins.
They feed mostly on bony fishes and cephalopods. It can grow upto a maximum size of 3.7 meters and can be very easily identified in Lord Howe Island` located off northern New South Wales in Australia. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the shark species is near threatened because of heavy fishing pressure across its range.
Image Source: Marine National
10. Gray Reef Shark
Gray Reef Sharks scientifically known as Carcharhinus Amblyrhynchos usually seen in different colors such as grey, black and white. It is also known as bronze whalers, whaler sharks, and blacktail reef sharks. The mature gray reef shark species can grow between 4 to 5 feet, however, the largest reported shark species is 8.5 feet and body weight of around 74lbs.
These shark species can be easily identified with the help of fins which has a distinct dark margin along the entire backside of the caudal fin on its tail. The shark species loves to thrive in tropical and subtropical climates and is geographically distributed in teh regions of Indonesia, northern Australia, various Pacific Islands, and the eastern coastline of Africa.
This is the list of different types of sharks in the world. Kindly share and do post your comments.
