Portal:Sharks

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Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorpha (or Selachii) and are the sister group to the Batoidea (rays and kin). Some sources extend the term "shark" as an informal category including extinct members of Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) with a shark-like morphology, such as hybodonts. Shark-like chondrichthyans such as Cladoselache and Doliodus first appeared in the Devonian Period (419–359 million years), though some fossilized chondrichthyan-like scales are as old as the Late Ordovician (458–444 million years ago). The earliest confirmed modern sharks (selachimorphs) are known from the Early Jurassic around 200 million years ago, with the oldest known member being Agaleus, though records of true sharks may extend back as far as the Permian.

Sharks range in size from the small dwarf lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi), a deep sea species that is only 17 centimetres (6.7 in) in length, to the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the largest fish in the world, which reaches approximately 12 metres (40 ft) in length. They are found in all seas and are common to depths up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). They generally do not live in freshwater, although there are a few known exceptions, such as the bull shark and the river sharks, which can be found in both seawater and freshwater, and the Ganges shark, which lives only in freshwater. Sharks have a covering of dermal denticles that protects their skin from damage and parasites in addition to improving their fluid dynamics. They have numerous sets of replaceable teeth.

Several species are apex predators, which are organisms that are at the top of their food chain. Select examples include the bull shark, tiger shark, great white shark, mako sharks, thresher sharks, and hammerhead sharks. (Full article...)

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The whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus, is a species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae, and the only member of its genus. A small shark usually not exceeding 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in length, this species is easily recognizable by its slender body and short but broad head, as well as tubular skin flaps beside the nostrils, oval eyes with vertical pupils, and white-tipped dorsal and caudal fins. One of the most common sharks found on Indo-Pacific coral reefs, the whitetip reef shark occurs as far west as South Africa and as far east as Central America. It is typically found on or near the bottom in clear water, at a depth of 8–40 m (26–131 ft).

During the day, whitetip reef sharks spend much of their time resting inside caves. Unlike other requiem sharks, which rely on ram ventilation and must constantly swim to breathe, this shark can pump water over its gills and lie still on the bottom. At night, whitetip reef sharks emerge to hunt bony fishes, crustaceans, and octopus in groups, their elongate bodies allowing them to force their way into crevices and holes to extract hidden prey. Individual whitetip reef sharks may stay within a particular area of the reef for months to years, time and again returning to the same shelter. This species is viviparous, in which the developing embryos sustained by a placental connection to their mother. One of the few sharks in which mating has been observed in the wild, receptive female whitetip reef sharks are followed by prospective males, who attempt to grasp her pectoral fin and maneuver the two of them into positions suitable for copulation. Females give birth to 1–6 pups every other year, after a gestation period of 10–13 months.

Whitetip reef sharks are rarely aggressive towards humans, though they may investigate swimmers closely. However, spear fishers are at risk of being bitten by one attempting to steal their catch. This species is caught for food, though there are reports of ciguatera poisoning resulting from its consumption. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the whitetip reef shark as Near Threatened, noting that its numbers are dwindling due to increasing levels of unregulated fishing activity across its range. The slow reproductive rate and limited habitat preferences of this species renders its populations vulnerable to over-exploitation.

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Did you know (auto-generated)

... that the ampullae of Lorenzini enable sharks to sense electric fields?
... that Alexis Sharkey's last Instagram post before her murder documented her travels to Tulum, Mexico?
... that since 2018, IKEA's stuffed toy shark Blåhaj has become a popular Internet meme and an icon of the online transgender community?
... that "the Hurricane Shark is real"?
... that a shark cost a competitor a silver medal in the spearfishing event at the 2014 Micronesian Games?
... that Hixxy and Sharkey created a schism in the UK rave music scene in 1995?

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Credit: Luc Viatour

The blacktip reef shark is a species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae, easily identified by the prominent black tips on its fins. It is among the most abundant sharks inhabiting the tropical coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and prefers shallow, inshore waters.

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... that male Arabian carpetsharks competing for a mate have been known to bite the claspers of their rivals?
... that the porbeagle has been known to "play" with kelp fronds, pieces of wood, and fishing floats?
... that the blind shark and the bluegrey carpetshark close their eyes when taken out of the water?
... that male Arabian carpetsharks competing for a mate have been known to bite the claspers of their rivals?
... that the whitefin, Cook's, Australian reticulate, spotted, leopard-spotted, painted, flagtail, speckled, saddled, and narrowbar swellsharks were all scientifically described in 2008, more than doubling the number of species in the genus Cephaloscyllium?

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General images

The following are images from various shark-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Dorsal fin diagram with landmarks labeled. (from Shark anatomy)
Image 2Great white shark at Isla Guadalupe, Mexico, August 2006. Animal estimated at 11–12 feet (3.3 to 3.6 m) in length, age unknown. (from Shark tourism)
Image 3The gill slits of a whale shark flaring as it expels water from its pharyngeal cavity. (from Shark anatomy)
Image 4A sign at Pyramid Rock Beach in Hawaii warning about a shark sighting, 2015 (from Shark tourism)
Image 5Depiction of shark anatomy including eggs, pups, and the liver (from Shark anatomy)
Image 6Shark cage diving (from Shark tourism)
Image 7Sharks swimming outside shark-proof cage with people inside (from Shark cage diving)
Image 8Placoid Scale (from Shark anatomy)
Image 9This grey reef shark demonstrates countershading, with its darker dorsal surface and lighter ventral surface. (from Shark anatomy)
Image 10Postural configuration of a Gray Reef Shark as it displays agonistic behaviour, in a sculpture (from Shark agonistic display)
Image 11The major features of sharks (from Shark anatomy)
Image 12In a milestone decision in 2013, CITES prohibited international trade in the fins of the scalloped hammerhead (pictured) and four other shark species. (from List of threatened sharks)
Image 13The whale shark, the world's largest fish, is classified as Endangered.

Binding legislation and harvest management strategies... are urgently needed to address the disproportionate impact of fisheries on cartilaginous fishes.

– IUCN global study 2010

(from List of threatened sharks)
Image 14White shark cage diving near Gansbaai in South Africa (2015) (from Shark cage diving)
Image 15A dissected view of the unique four-chambered heart of the sharkChambers: Sinus Venosus, Atrium, Ventricle, Conus Ateriosus (from Shark anatomy)
Image 16Distribution of highly sensitive ampullae of Lorenzini across the shark's head and rostrum. (from Shark agonistic display)
Image 17Lateral and cross section view of shark's red and white locomotor muscles (from Shark anatomy)
Image 18Anti-cull protesters on Perth's Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia in 2014 (from Shark culling)
Image 19A ventral dissection of a pregnant female dogshark exposing its internal gill slits and internal spiracles. (from Shark anatomy)
Image 20Clear agonistic behaviour observed in Great White Shark (from Shark agonistic display)
Image 21Great white shark cages at Isla Guadalupe, Mexico (from Shark cage diving)
Image 22Sharksucker (Echeneis naucrates) (from Shark agonistic display)
Image 23Shark Anatomy (50693674756) (from Shark anatomy)
Image 24Postural elements of the agonistic display of the Gray Reef Shark (from Shark agonistic display)
Image 25Branchiostoma lanceolatum (from Shark anatomy)
Image 26A 14-foot (4.3 m), 1,200-pound (540 kg) tiger shark caught in Kāne'ohe Bay, Oahu, in 1966

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Topics

Shark · Outline of sharks

Shark orders

Carcharhiniformes (groundsharks) · Cladoselachiformes (extinct) · Eugeneodontida (extinct) · Heterodontiformes (bullhead sharks) · Hexanchiformes (most primitive sharks) · Hybodontiformes (extinct) · Iniopterygia (extinct) · Lamniformes (mackerel sharks) · Orectolobiformes (carpet sharks and relatives) · Pristiophoriformes (sawsharks and relatives) · Squaliformes (gulper sharks, bramble sharks, lantern sharks, rough sharks, sleeper sharks, dogfish sharks and relatives) · Squatiniformes (angel sharks) · Symmoriida (extinct) · Xenacanthida (also known as Xenacantiformes, extinct)

Major species