Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean and are the only members of the prehistoric Rhincodontida family. Scientists believe that the whale shark species originated around 60 million years ago.
Whale Shark
Whale sharks are among the friendliest shark species, if not the friendliest. They have been known for giving divers trips on their backs, and baby whale sharks are known to interact with humans.
Reef shark – calm and collected
If you're small, calm, and a little shyer, then we reckon you're a perfect Reef shark! These beautiful creatures tend to hang out around coral reefs in warm, shallow waters. They're totally chill and you'll never hear of them associated with a shark attack.
A shark may attack primarily because of mistaken identity (they see you as another fish) or because curiosity confuses them. So, there you have it, the most dangerous sharks ranked, number one being the great white shark and the least being the nurse shark.
Most sharks are not dangerous to humans — people are not part of their natural diet. Despite their scary reputation, sharks rarely ever attack humans and would much rather feed on fish and marine mammals. Only about a dozen of the more than 300 species of sharks have been involved in attacks on humans.
Porbeagles are one of the only shark species known to engage in playful behavior, just like dogs! They've been observed pushing floating objects and kelp around and chasing each other. They're very curious sharks and are likely to come check you or your boat out if you're in the water.
Human Encounters
Because of these characteristics, many experts consider bull sharks to be the most dangerous sharks in the world. Historically, they are joined by their more famous cousins, great whites and tiger sharks, as the three species most likely to attack humans.
The bamboo shark is a beautiful carpet pet shark popular as an aquarium pet due to its small size of 48 inches. They are relatively easy to keep once an aquarium has been set up for them. With a life expectancy of 25 years, the brown-banded bamboo shark makes a great human companion.
"They've probably never had affection before, but I can tell you for sure, they love it, and they come back repeatedly," said Abernethy. Now, the shark conservationist emphasized he's not encouraging the public to go out and pet sharks on their own.
The Pardachirus marmoratus fish (finless sole, Red Sea Moses sole) repels sharks through its secretions. The best-understood factor is pardaxin, acting as an irritant to the sharks' gills, but other chemicals have been identified as contributing to the repellent effect.
It is Safe to Swim with Sharks
Even when diving with more aggressive sharks like bull sharks and great white sharks, you will be entirely secure if you go with an experienced, knowledgeable dive team. People swim with sharks every day without incident, so you have nothing to be afraid of if you swim with them.
A new study from a multi-institutional group of researchers shows female sand tiger sharks are loyal to specific shipwrecks off the North Carolina coast. Sand tiger sharks don't look like the friendliest bunch.
Bamboo Shark
Like most harmless sharks, they are docile and non-aggressive. Bamboo sharks pose no threat to humans, and there have never been any reported cases of human attacks.
On the morning of January 15, 1983, a body of a black man washed ashore. Most of the body had been devoured by sharks. It appeared a shark had bit his foot when he was alive. However, it is unknown if this is what caused his death, as he could have drowned before he was bitten.
The smallest shark, a dwarf lantern shark (Etmopterus perryi) is smaller than a human hand. It's rarely seen and little is known about it, having only been observed a few times off the northern tip of South America at depths between 283–439 meters (928–1,440 feet).
Frilled Shark
No—it's a shark! The frilled shark is named for its strange appearance , including a snakelike body, three pronged teeth, and gills that give the impression of a frilly collar.
Nurse sharks often spend their days resting in groups of up to as many as 40 sharks in the wild. Some appear to be cuddling and snuggling while they rest.
Is it OK to touch a shark? While it may be tempting, Julie Andersen of Shark Angels says that divers should resist the urge to touch sharks. Julie Andersen — one of Scuba Diving's 2012 Sea Heroes — is founder and executive director of Shark Angels, a U.S. nonproft dedicated to protection of sharks.
Quick Answer: They are Fast, Smart, and Work as a Dolphin Team. Sharks and dolphins are two of the most formidable creatures in the ocean, but while sharks are often seen as fearsome predators, they are known to be intimidated by dolphins.
Made of very strong and thick bone, dolphin snouts are biological battering rams. Dolphins will position themselves several yards under a shark and burst upwards jabbing their snout into the soft underbelly of the shark causing serious internal injuries. More than Peas in a Pod.
Despite the mass fear surrounding the deadly animals, the chances of being attacked and killed by a shark are one in 3.75 million, according to the International Wildlife Museum. The chances are lower than the possibility of dying by a lightning strike, a firework accident, or a stroke.