Sharks Close-Up

Great white, bull, and tiger sharks are some of today’s most talked-about sharks. But have you met the sharks of yesterday? Each prehistoric shark had its own amazing—and sometimes strange—features. The scissor-tooth shark had teeth in a spiral shape. The giant megalodon was about three times the size of a great white. One small prehistoric shark had a big dorsal fin in the shape of an ironing board!

Big bodies. Razor-sharp teeth. Crushing jaws. Great white sharks are some of the most feared sharks. Some people say they seek out people as food. But this is a myth. Attacks on people are very rare. Some people say great whites live only in warm waters. This is a myth too! You can’t believe everything you hear! Listeners will bust more myths about these top ocean predators.

Would you swim with sharks? Many people do! Marine biologists swim with sharks to learn more about these top predators. Snorkelers witness whale sharks and spy spotted leopard sharks. Some thrill-seekers even cage dive to get face-to-face with the giant toothy jaws of great whites!

Snatch! A great white leaps out of the water to catch a seal. How did it get its dinner? It used its superpowers! From a super sense of smell to super speed, a shark’s body is built for one thing—hunting. Its nostrils can smell some substances 10,000 times better than people! Low light? No problem! A shark’s eyes see well in dim light.