Shark Superlatives
Largest Shark: The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world, measuring up to 50 feet long.
Smallest Shark: Mature males of the dwarf dogshark (Etmopterus perryi) do not exceed seven inches in length.
Average swimming speed of a shark: About a yard per second
Fastest clocked speed: In sudden, brief bursts, the lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostrus) can attain speeds approaching 20 mph; mako sharks are thought to be even faster.
Youngest shark to bite a human: A marine biologist, while probing the uterus of a pregnant sand tiger shark, was bitten by an unborn pup.
The strongest shark bite: The greatest force of a shark bite ever recorded measured 132 pounds of force between the jaws of a dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus).
Largest egg in the world: An egg case of the whale shark found in the Gulf of Mexico measured 12 by 5.5 by 3.5 inches.
Most travelled shark: A blue shark (Prionace glauca) tagged off New York was recaptured 16 months later off Brazil, 3,740 miles away.
Freshwater shark: Alone among the sharks, the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is frequently found far up rivers.
Most exciting recent discovery of an unknown shark: In 1976 and 1984, respectively, two specimens of a 15-foot long, plankton-feeding shark were caught in the Pacific. To date at least ten specimens of this new species, whose gaping mouth inspired the name "megamouth," have been found.
Lowest note a shark can hear: 10 Hertz (or 1.5 octaves below the lowest key on the piano). The lowest note a human can hear is 25 Hertz, so we miss out on some of the very low frequencies that sharks can detect.
Highest note a shark can hear: 800 Hertz (or G above High C on the piano), so humans can hear many high sounds that sharks cannot.
Smallest Shark: Mature males of the dwarf dogshark (Etmopterus perryi) do not exceed seven inches in length.
Average swimming speed of a shark: About a yard per second
Fastest clocked speed: In sudden, brief bursts, the lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostrus) can attain speeds approaching 20 mph; mako sharks are thought to be even faster.
Youngest shark to bite a human: A marine biologist, while probing the uterus of a pregnant sand tiger shark, was bitten by an unborn pup.
The strongest shark bite: The greatest force of a shark bite ever recorded measured 132 pounds of force between the jaws of a dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus).
Largest egg in the world: An egg case of the whale shark found in the Gulf of Mexico measured 12 by 5.5 by 3.5 inches.
Most travelled shark: A blue shark (Prionace glauca) tagged off New York was recaptured 16 months later off Brazil, 3,740 miles away.
Freshwater shark: Alone among the sharks, the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is frequently found far up rivers.
Most exciting recent discovery of an unknown shark: In 1976 and 1984, respectively, two specimens of a 15-foot long, plankton-feeding shark were caught in the Pacific. To date at least ten specimens of this new species, whose gaping mouth inspired the name "megamouth," have been found.
Lowest note a shark can hear: 10 Hertz (or 1.5 octaves below the lowest key on the piano). The lowest note a human can hear is 25 Hertz, so we miss out on some of the very low frequencies that sharks can detect.
Highest note a shark can hear: 800 Hertz (or G above High C on the piano), so humans can hear many high sounds that sharks cannot.
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