Basics
Sharks are classified as part of which broad group of animals?
Fish
The fin on a shark’s back, often seen above the water, is called what?
Dorsal fin
Which shark is the smallest, measuring only about 17 centimeters long?
Dwarf Lanternshark
Sharks rely on which sense more than any other when hunting prey?
Smell
Sharks shed and replace what part of their body thousands of times in their lifetime?
Teeth
On which day were sharks created?
The 5th day
Which fins on the sides of a shark help it steer and lift?
Pectoral fins
Which shark is the largest in the world, reaching up to 12 meters?
Whale shark
Sharks are especially attracted to what type of sound in the water?
Low frequency sounds
What is the most aggressive member of the shark family?
Great White
Water passes through a shark’s mouth and over what to extract oxygen?
Gills
Most sharks have how many gill slits along the sides of their head?
5-7
Which shark has a wide shaped head called a cephalofoil?
Hammerhead shark
Sharks have a special line along their sides that helps them feel movement in the water. What is it called?
Lateral line system
What happens to most species of sharks after their birth?
They are abandoned, left to fend for themselves
Instead of a bony skeleton, sharks are supported by what substance?
Cartilage
The openings on a shark’s snout that detect smells are called what?
Nostrills/Nares
Which rare deep‑sea shark, sometimes called a “living fossil,” is known for its long, protruding snout and extendable jaws?
Goblin shark
When biting into an object, what gets released into the shark's mouth and throat.
Chemicals
How many shark attacks are recorded per year worldwide?
Usually under 10
What special skin covering helps sharks reduce drag and resist parasites?
Dermal denticles
Sharks sense electrical signals in the water using what special pores?
Ampullae of Lorenzini
Which shark is nicknamed the “garbage can of the sea” because it eats almost anything?
Tiger shark
What is the protective eyelid that covers some shark's eyes when they attack?
Nictitating membrane
Name the predators of the Great White shark
Humans, other great whites, orca whales