Apex Predators
Requiem and Mackarel Sharks are the main hunter sharks. These two classes of sharks include bull sharks, makos, tigers, threshers, reef sharks, tigers, and great whites. The top 3 most dangerous species of sharks are:
- Great White Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Bull Shark
Great White Shark
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/1/2/11124671/1330462121.png)
Great White Shark:
Max. Length: 21 ft.
Max. Weight: 2.5 tons (5,000 lbs)
Diet: Seals, dolphins, large fishes
Scientific Name: Carcharodon carcharias
Great White Sharks are now endangered after major hunting. They have been viewed as brainless killers since the 1975 Spielberg film JAWS. But, they actually try to avoid humans more than we try to avoid them. Over 95% of shark attacks every year worldwide are a case of curiousty or mistaken identity. A human on a boogieboard looks like a seal in the water to a Great White, and they don't know any better! They are the world's perfect apex predator.
Max. Length: 21 ft.
Max. Weight: 2.5 tons (5,000 lbs)
Diet: Seals, dolphins, large fishes
Scientific Name: Carcharodon carcharias
Great White Sharks are now endangered after major hunting. They have been viewed as brainless killers since the 1975 Spielberg film JAWS. But, they actually try to avoid humans more than we try to avoid them. Over 95% of shark attacks every year worldwide are a case of curiousty or mistaken identity. A human on a boogieboard looks like a seal in the water to a Great White, and they don't know any better! They are the world's perfect apex predator.
Tiger Shark
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/1/2/11124671/1330742283.jpg)
Tiger Shark:
Max. Length: 16-17 ft.
Max. Weight: 1,400+ lbs
Diet: Seabirds, turtles, bony fish, other sharks, seals, tin cans, license plates, etc.
Scientific Name: Galeocerdo cuvier
Tiger Sharks are literally the "garbage bins" of the sea, because they are known to eat virtually anything! Scientists have discovered tin cans, car tires, gloves, license plates, and even a human hand inside Tiger Shark's stomachs. They swallow the material, but it sits in their stomach because of the inability to digest it. It then dies with that in its stomach.
Max. Length: 16-17 ft.
Max. Weight: 1,400+ lbs
Diet: Seabirds, turtles, bony fish, other sharks, seals, tin cans, license plates, etc.
Scientific Name: Galeocerdo cuvier
Tiger Sharks are literally the "garbage bins" of the sea, because they are known to eat virtually anything! Scientists have discovered tin cans, car tires, gloves, license plates, and even a human hand inside Tiger Shark's stomachs. They swallow the material, but it sits in their stomach because of the inability to digest it. It then dies with that in its stomach.
Tiger Shark
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/1/2/11124671/1330742226.png)
Bull Shark:
Max. Length: 10 ft.
Max. Weight: 500+ lbs
Diet: Turtles, seabirds, bony fish
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus leucas
Bull Sharks are very agressive predators, and have a testosterone level of over 400, which is much higher than that of an average man! They are known to be one of the few sharks that actually attack people! They are becoming a large problem, because they can actually survive in freshwater.
Max. Length: 10 ft.
Max. Weight: 500+ lbs
Diet: Turtles, seabirds, bony fish
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus leucas
Bull Sharks are very agressive predators, and have a testosterone level of over 400, which is much higher than that of an average man! They are known to be one of the few sharks that actually attack people! They are becoming a large problem, because they can actually survive in freshwater.
Even though these are the top 3 most dangerous, that doesn't mean they're the only dangerous! There's Makos, both Shortfin and Longfin, Sleeper Sharks, Reefs, Blue Sharks, and the Oceanic Whitetip!
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/1/2/11124671/1330568213.png)
Oceanic Whitetip Shark:
Max. Length: 4m (13.2 ft.)
Max. Weight: 168 kg (370 lbs)
Diet: Threadfin, Tuna, Dolphinfish, Sea Turtles, Stingrays, Squid
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus longimanus
The Oceanic Whitetip, even though it seems as if it's related to reef sharks, it is not a species of reef shark. It is common to show up at shipwrecks first. They are quite a danger to humans, especially considering they are an extremely inquisitive shark.
Max. Length: 4m (13.2 ft.)
Max. Weight: 168 kg (370 lbs)
Diet: Threadfin, Tuna, Dolphinfish, Sea Turtles, Stingrays, Squid
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus longimanus
The Oceanic Whitetip, even though it seems as if it's related to reef sharks, it is not a species of reef shark. It is common to show up at shipwrecks first. They are quite a danger to humans, especially considering they are an extremely inquisitive shark.
About Makos
The Oceanic Whitetip is cool, but the makos are the lightning bolts of the sharks! They can bolt to speeds of up to 25 mph and leap out of the water! Check it out!
Shortfin Mako:
Max. Length: 13.2 ft. (4 m)
Max. Weight: 500+ kg (1,100+ lbs)
Diet: Squid, Mackarel, Dolphins, Blue Sharks
Scientific Name: Isurus oxyrinchus
Shorfin Mako Sharks and their cousins Longfin Makos are known as the "lightning bolts" of the sea, being able to breach themselves high into the air, visible in the picture above on the right. Makos seem to prey on Blue Sharks, but do not seem to prey on any other kind of shark. They might eat each other during tight spots, but that's about it. It seems also that it could possibly prey of swordfishes because many there have been many reports of captured makos with ugly scars! now we can talk about another type of shark, though. The Sleeper Shark!
Max. Length: 13.2 ft. (4 m)
Max. Weight: 500+ kg (1,100+ lbs)
Diet: Squid, Mackarel, Dolphins, Blue Sharks
Scientific Name: Isurus oxyrinchus
Shorfin Mako Sharks and their cousins Longfin Makos are known as the "lightning bolts" of the sea, being able to breach themselves high into the air, visible in the picture above on the right. Makos seem to prey on Blue Sharks, but do not seem to prey on any other kind of shark. They might eat each other during tight spots, but that's about it. It seems also that it could possibly prey of swordfishes because many there have been many reports of captured makos with ugly scars! now we can talk about another type of shark, though. The Sleeper Shark!
Pacific Sleeper Shark:
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/1/2/11124671/1330570293.jpg)
Max. Length: 23+ ft.
Max. Weight: Unknown
Diet: Crabs, Squid, Octopuses, Seals, Dolphins
Scientific Name: Somniosus pacificus
The Pacific Sleeper Shark is a very deepwater shark that are abundant through the Arctic, South Pacific, Temperate Eastern Pacific, and Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. They usually reach only about 14-15 feet long, but some 23+ ft. specimens have been photographed in the deep. Then there's the Blue Shark and Thresher Sharks, of course.
Max. Weight: Unknown
Diet: Crabs, Squid, Octopuses, Seals, Dolphins
Scientific Name: Somniosus pacificus
The Pacific Sleeper Shark is a very deepwater shark that are abundant through the Arctic, South Pacific, Temperate Eastern Pacific, and Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. They usually reach only about 14-15 feet long, but some 23+ ft. specimens have been photographed in the deep. Then there's the Blue Shark and Thresher Sharks, of course.
Blue Shark:
Max. Length: 12.5 ft. Max. Weight: 206 kg (453 lbs) Diet: Squid, Cuttlefish, Small bony fish Scientific Name: Prionace glauca The Blue Shark is a very fast shark, capable of racing a mako for a short time only. The Mako would still win, and ironically, it is the blue shark's predator! Along with the infamous Great White. Blue Sharks are known to attack humans on occasion. |
Common/Atlantic Thresher Shark:
Max. Length: 7.6 m (25 ft.) Max. Weight: 765 lbs (348 kg) Diet: Schooling fish, like bluefish, lancetfish and mackarel, Squid, Octopuses, and Crustaceans Scientific Name: Alopias vulpinus The Common Thresher, also referred to as the Atlantic Thresher Shark, is a very special shark, with a very long top caudal fin fluke that accounts for over half of its enormous body length! What's amazing is, they use it to stun their prey. This was proven by an underwater camera crew. You can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/11/repost-shark-mystery-solved-how-thresher-sharks-use-their-tails/ |