Transcript Sharks - Moodle

Sharks
Su Insley 13 January 2011
Types of Shark
•
•
•
•
•
•
Whale Shark
Bull Shark
Tiger Shark
Great White Shark
Fresher Shark
Nurse Shark
Looking for Prey
Sharks generally rely on their superior sense of
smell to find prey. At closer range they use the
lateral lines running along their sides to sense
movement in the water. Sharks employ special
sensory pores on their heads to detect electrical
fields created by prey and the electric fields of the
ocean. The Thresher shark feeds on fish and
squid, which it herds and then stuns with its
powerful upper lobe.
Shark Attacks
Contrary to popular belief, only a few sharks
are dangerous to humans. Out of more
than 360 species, only four have been
involved in a significant number of fatal,
unprovoked attacks on humans: the great
white, tiger, oceanic white tip and bull
sharks. These sharks, being large, powerful
predators, may sometimes attack and kill
people, but all of these sharks have been
filmed in open water, without the use of a
protective cage.
The perception of sharks as dangerous
animals has been popularised by publicity
given to a few isolated unprovoked attacks,
such as the Jersey Shore Shark Attacks of
1916, and through popular fictional works
about shark attacks, such as the Jaws film
series
Print this picture to take home and colour in
Conservation
The number of sharks being caught has increased rapidly over the last 50
years. Major declines in shark stocks have been recorded in recent years –
some species have been depleted by over 90% over the past 20-30 years with
a population decline of 70% not being unusual.