Shark Types

Hammerhead Shark

Description:

Hammerhead sharks are dangerous predators that use their oddly shaped heads to improve their ability to find prey. Their wide eyes give them a better vision range than most other predators. And by spreading their highly specialized sensory organs over their wide, mallet-shaped head, they can more thoroughly scan the ocean for food.

Wobbegong Shark

Spotted Wobbegong Sharks

Description & Behavior

Spotted wobbegong sharks, Orectolobus maculatus (Bonnaterre, 1788), aka wobbegongs, reach a maximum length of 3.2m with the average size of adult males between 1.5-1.8 m. These amazing sharks are mottled yellow-green or brown in color with saddle- and O-shaped markings. Their body and heads are flattened in shape, and their jaws protrude forward when capturing prey. Spotted wobbegongs, like other wobbegong species, have nasal barbels and hanging tassels on and around their head and body. They have 2 dorsal fins, the first originating over their pelvis, the second just before their anal fin. The caudal (tail) fins are short and their pectoral and pelvic fins are broad. Other species of wobbegongs are similar in appearance, however, the patterns of spotted wobbegongs are specific to this species and aid in their superb camouflage among the reefs in the eastern Indian Ocean, off eastern Queensland and southern Australia, and possibly off southern Japan and in the South China Sea.

Spotted wobbegong sharks, Orectolobus maculatus, are found in relatively shallow waters in the eastern Indian Ocean, western Queensland, southern Australia, and possibly Japan and the South China Sea. They are found on the continental shelf, from the intertidal zone to 110 m. They are commonly found on coral and rocky reefs, under piers, and on sandy bottoms. They have also been known to swim in water so shallow that it barely covers their body.

Sand Shark

The Sand Shark is also known as the Sand Tiger Shark  the Grey Nurse Shark (Australia) and Ragged Tooth Shark (Africa). In the scientific community it’s known as the Carcharias Taurus. The “sand” portion of its name comes from the shark being seen around shallow waters and close to shore.

The dangerous appearance of this creature has given them a bad reputation, but in reality, they are quite peaceful and relatively harmless unless provoked.

This special shark grows up to 3.2 meters (10.5ft) and adults can weigh around 200 Kilograms (440lbs). Both sexes only live about 7 years and due to their ability to live in captivity, many spend their lives in public shark aquariums.see more details visit Sand Shark.

Angel Shark

With its exceptionally flat body and large pectoral fins, the angel shark (Squatina squatina) resembles a large ray more than a shark. Its skin is grey to reddish or greenish-brown, scattered with small white spots and blackish dots. Young angel sharks may also have white net-like markings and large, dark blotches, whilst adults are plainer. The dorsal fins have a dark leading edge and a pale trailing edge. It possesses simple, whisker-like projections near the nostrils, (nasal barbels), which are used to taste and feel  Large, round eyes with vertical slit pupils provide good all-round vision, enabling the angel shark to be an efficient ambush predator.

for more information visit Angel Shark

Saw Shark

Habitat: sand or mud bottoms, bays, and shallow waters for youthLocation: Northwest and Southeast Atlantic, West Indian, and West Pacific

Size: range between 1.5-4.6 feet longDescription: Saw sharks are slender sharks recognized for their long, flat snout. The saw-like structure is used for hunting and competing with other sharks. These sharked live in groups or alone, and they are harmless unless provoked.

for more information visit shark facts


Carpet Shark

Carpet sharks derive their name from both their carpet lifestyle - some species live on the ocean floor - and their beautiful and sometimes ornate coloration. Wobbegong sharks typify this description because of their flattened body that is perfectly camouflaged for their preferred habitat, matching sand, coral and rocky reefs. They have tassels, or dermal flaps, around the front of their faces, giving them a whimsical look.  But don't be fooled, they are powerful predators and don't take kindly to being trodden on by swimmers!

Some species have dark spot patterns or 'saddles' the length of their bodies and 'collars' of dark bands around the gills. The adult Zebra shark sounds like it was misnamed because of the delicate pattern of spots, but it is the young Zebra sharks that dons the stripes that earned their name. Some species have strong pectoral fins that help them amble around, almost like walking. These sharks are most diverse in the Indo-Pacific: the majority of the species are found there and nowhere else.

for more information visit carpet shark

Angular Roughshark

A rare and little-known species, the angular rough shark (Oxynotus centrina) is suitably named for its pointed head and fins, and the rough teeth-like scales, known as ‘denticles’, which cover its body. The angular rough shark has a broad, flattened head, a short, blunt nose and two tall, sail-like dorsal fin

The upper parts of the angular rough shark’s body are a marbled pattern of greyish-brown, with dark blotches on the head and sides. A number of lighter streaks decorate the head

Hexanchiformes Shark

Hexanchiformes are a group of sharks, also known as Cow Sharks, which live in the deepest and coldest waters of the world’s oceans. As such, they are particularly difficult to track and research, so little is known about this specific group. The Frilled Shark was included within this group, but has now been moved as it is so different.

Hexanchiformes are stout and stocky in build. They have an anal fin (not present in all shark species) as well as a dorsal fin situated closer to the tail than most other shark types. The name "hexanchiform" means "six arches" and refers to the number of gill arches present in this group. However, many also have an extra set of gills, totaling seven gill pairs. This occurs in Heptranchias and Notorynchus, while the Hexanchus have only six pairs. Hexanchiformes do not possess a nictitating membrane, which is commonly used for the protection of the eyes. Their jaws are under slung with thorny teeth at the top and very differently shaped teeth at the bottom closely resembling a cockscomb.

Hexanchiformes are ovoviviparous. This means that the eggs hatch inside the female’s body until the young are capable of living independently, at which time they are born alive into the ocean. As with other species, these sharks do not care for their young, and newborns quickly swim to safety as soon as they are born so as not to be devoured by their mother.

Hexanchiformes are marine sharks;they cannot survive in fresh water. They usually live in the deep outer continental shelf and slope waters. While they can be found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, they tend to prefer cold, deep waters.