Shark’s fin soup was once a delicacy reserved for special occasions but a 2006 study conducted by Fisheries Scientist, Shelley Clarke indicates that up to 73 million sharks are now being killed annually to supply the fin trade!

Image credit: Great White Shark by jurvetson.

Now, did you know that:

1. the Great White Shark is the only shark which is able to lift its head above the surface of the water and look for prey?
2. the Great White Shark, which can be more than 6 metres long and weight more than 2 tonnes, only has a brain at the size of a thumb?
3. 30 species of sharks are known to have attacked humans?
4. the sense of smell of sharks is so important to sharks that two thirds of the brain is attached to the sense of smell?
5. a shark can detect blood in the water from farther away than the length of a football field?
6. sharks can feel vibrations in the water at a distance of 100m away?
7. 1% of the species of fish in the world are sharks?
8. sharks are colour blind, and they cannot swim backwards as other fish?
9. only about five to ten shark attacks a year is fatal?
10. more sharks are killed for their fins than humans in the traffic?
11. sharks never get sick, they are immune to all known diseases?
12. sharks can hear sounds in the water at a distance of several miles, but they cannot see more than 70 feet?
13. most of the big sharks have to move all the time, so they do not die of a lack of oxygen?
14. sharks do not have a skeleton of bone, but the “skeleton” of sharks is made of cartilage?
15. teeth of sharks break of and new ones appear? And that sharks can change 20,000 teeth through their life?
16. shark cartilage is used to create artificial skin for humans?

References:

• Malaysian Naturalist, Volume 60-2.
• A World of Sharks

Interesting reads:

• What do you know about sharks?
• 13 things you did not know about sharks

What else do YOU know about sharks? Tell all :D