Shark History
How long have sharks been on earth for?
450 million years
What is the class called for sharks that is the evolutionary divergence of cartilaginous skeletons?
Chondrichthyes
How does the frilled shark get its name?
from the frilly looking tissues protruding from its gills
What is the shortfin Mako known for?
its speed, it is the fastest shark
What is the thresher shark's tail used for?
to stun prey, for hunting
What were the first fossils found of sharks?
shark scales
Name the 8 classification groups of organisms
Domain, Kingdom, phylum, class order family genus species
What is a unique adaptation Port Jackson sharks have that is specific to its group?
can lie motionless and breathe by muscular pumping action in the gills, this allows the shark to breathe and eat at the same time
What does the great white shark use countershading for?
camouflage so they can ambush their prey
What state is a breeding ground for lemon sharks?
Florida
Why are shark skeleton fossils hard to come by?
because shark skeletons are made out of cartilage which breaks down faster than bone
How many order of sharks are there?
6-10
What is the Greenland shark known for?
its extremely long lifespan
What is a breach?
When a shark jumps fully out of the water, when they launch out of the water to capture prey
What is an adaptation Lemon sharks have that allows them to survive in habitats such as mangrove swamps?
they can survive in waters with low concentrations of oxygen
What was a possible demise of megalodon?
thermoregulation, their prey moved to colder water where the shark could not survive
What was the worst war disaster involving sharks (for the US)? What happened?
the USS Indianapolis disaster, where the cruiser sunk and 900 men were left in the ocean and after 4 days only 300 were left while the others were killed by sharks
What can be used to age Greenland sharks?
the lenses in their eye and their size
What are goblin sharks known for?
the shark with the fastest jaw
What is the wobbegong known for?
its ability to camouflage on the ocean floor
Name the 3 shark relatives
skates, rays, and ratfish
What is another name for skates and rays?
batoids
Why is the number of gills a frilled shark has unique?
because it has 6 gills and most sharks have 5
What do scientists think the Goblin shark uses its long snout for?
navigation in the deep ocean by having extra electrical sensors on its snout
What are the dermal lobes used for in a wobbegong?
camouflage