The shark is a cartilaginous fish that has the ocean as its habitat, however, some species may be found in fresh water. This animal is characterized by being a born predator, because its skeleton is made up of cartilage, this animal is classified as a chondrichthyan. Sharks reproduce in an ovoviviparous way, which means that the young were gestated inside the female, but will develop inside an egg. When it is the mating season, the male goes in search of the female, which constantly secretes substances to inform the male that she is ready to procreate.
On the other hand, there are some species of sharks called " jaquetones ", examples of which are the bull shark and the white shark. Regarding its size, it is very variable and ranges from very small species to specimens that exceed 18 meters in length, as is the case of the whale shark.
Currently there are some species that are in danger of extinction, this is because more than 100 million specimens are killed annually, which far exceeds the rate of reproduction of these animals regardless of the species. The shark and its habitat play a very important role within its ecosystem since as a predator it is responsible for maintaining a balanced population of the different species that inhabit the sea, preventing them from reproducing disproportionately and consequently endangering the balance of the ecosystem.
Sharks are distributed throughout the planet, however, the waters in which they are located must meet a certain temperature and depth. On the one hand, there are those called tropical sharks, located both in temperate waters and in cold waters without a specific limit in both, however, they tend to prefer temperate and tropical areas.
Shark characteristic
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As mentioned above, sharks have a cartilaginous skeleton, but one of the characteristics that makes them distinctive are the teeth they present, which are not fused to their jaw and which also tend to replace them very quickly. In most cases, they tend to have an elongated, cylinder-shaped body. On the sides of its skull there are between 5 and 7 brachial fissures, while there are species that present an additional fissure called a blowhole, with respect to its snout it is generally pointed. The fins are very hard and the skin is covered with scales known as placoids.
These fish are animals that are very well adapted to the environment in which they live. Over the centuries, sharks developed organs that were quite sensitive to the slightest presence of blood, as well as to vibrations and movement. They have a good sense of sight that allows them to see both day and night, however, many times they cannot distinguish objects in the water, which can be a problem, especially for human beings, since they can be considered prey. for this predator.
In addition to that they have a much more developed brain compared to other fish. Another very important aspect that should be highlighted is that it is believed that the shark is a mammal, but in reality it is not considered a mammal, and that, despite its similarity to some aquatic mammals such as the dolphin, they breathe through gills and are cold-blooded.
Types of Sharks
Among the best-known types or species of sharks, the following can be mentioned:
White shark
Also known as shark or carcharodon. It is characterized by having a dark hue on the back and a little lighter on the bottom. It can reach 6.5 meters in length and exceed two tons in weight. Its fins have a backward curvature and the body has an abused shape, which allows it to move at high speed.
Tiger shark
Named that way due to the fact that it has dark lines in a transverse direction on the back and on its side, which fade over the years. Its body is gray, although some are greenish blue, while in the area of the face and belly the tonality is white. Their teeth are very large and sharp, they have very serrated edges.
Whale shark
It is considered the largest fish on the planet reaching over 12 meters in length, its habitat is that of warm tropical and subtropical waters, it is believed that it has lived on earth for thousands of years. It is important to mention that more than 20 million years ago there was a shark on earth that reached more than 25 meters in length, it was known as a Megalodon or also called a giant shark, considered the largest predator in the oceans.
Shark feeding
This large fish is characterized by being a carnivore, maintaining a diet of fish, squid, crabs, crustaceans, octopuses, etc. Its smell is quite sensitive and it is possible that it will detect its prey from several kilometers away. Also his sight is incredibly developed, which allows him to see at night. In general, they consume 2% of their weight during each meal, with large prey being their favorites. They can go a long time without eating, this may also be due to the fact that being cold-blooded, they do not use as much energy.
