Sharks have been gliding through the ocean waters of our planet for an incredibly long time. They predate humans, the dinosaurs, and even trees! They’ve survived their share of mass extinction events and have barely needed to evolve at all, as they are clearly built to survive. Yet, they often get a bad reputation as vicious man-eaters, based on movies such as Jaws and a whole series of other films. However, sharks do not go out of their way to attack humans unless provoked and these attacks and any related deaths are exceedingly rare. While there are approximately 500 different varieties of sharks, let’s celebrate these majestic creatures by exploring 15 species of sharks.

Great White Sharks

The famous species spotlighted in Jaws, these sharks are easily recognizable by their incredible size as they can be over 20 feet long and a hefty 5,000 pounds! Their cylindrical bodies, grey backs, and white bodies featuring a head with several rows of razor white triangular teeth are also clear identifying factors. Enjoying warm coastal waters, these sharks are relatively social creatures and do not mind the company of others of their species. If there’s a conflict over food, they engage in slap-battles with their tails rather than biting under most circumstances as their teeth can cause serious damage. Part of their reputation as fierce predators comes from their ability to detect even a single drop of blood in water from three miles away using their olfactory bulb. Read more

Tiger Sharks

Weighing in at around 2000 pounds and a length of up to 19 feet, the tiger shark is one of the largest shark species and an aggressive and unselective eater, happy to chomp on whatever they can get their teeth on, even other sharks! They are named for the vertical stripes that most of them feature on their bodies, much like those of the tiger, and they prefer a shallow coastal habitat in warmer waters. They tend to have rather large litters of babies when they reproduce, with an average of 25 baby sharks! Read more

Bull Sharks

Stout sharks due to their greater width to length ratio than others of the shark species, bull sharks tend to keep to themselves, only occasionally coming together with others in a desire to mate. Not picky eaters, they do not limit themselves to only fish, happy to feast on turtles, birds, and varieties of marine animals they come in contact with. They are aggressive predators and are more likely to attack humans than either Great White Sharks or Tiger Sharks. They have the ability to filter salt out of their body which means they can live in salt or fresh coastal waters. Read more

Hammerhead Sharks

A rather popular species because of the hammer-like head which gives this shark its name, it has been determined that this unusual eye placement actually grants the hammerhead 360-degree vision! Unfortunately, it has a blind spot right in the center of its vision, so the feature isn’t perfect. The largest of this species, the aptly named “Great Hammerhead” can stretch 13 feet long and weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 pounds. Thanks to the shape of their head, it can sweep the ocean floor for prey like a food metal detector using its ampullae to locate a good meal. Read more

Goblin Sharks

These pinkish creatures are an atrocity to behold. They look like they were drawn by a small child and resemble prehistoric creatures. These unusual sharks typically dwell deep around 1300 below the surface, so they are rarely encountered. It prefers living in the deep and the use of its unusual snout is a mystery. It loves crabs and squid and can open its mouth fairly wide.

Mako Sharks

This shark is the fastest breed, reaching speeds of over 40 miles per hour thanks to its sleek, bullet-shaped body. They share their time between deep waters and near the surface, hunting fast prey such as dolphins, tuna, and billfish. They also exist in a wide geographical range, often found almost anywhere except in extremely cold environments. They prefer warmer waters and particularly enjoy Southern California. Exceptional learners, this trait ranks them high on the shark intelligence scale as they can evolve and adapt their hunting style, learning from their mistakes. Read more

Basking Sharks

Second only to the Whale Shark in size, this large creature is best known for its wide mouth which can open three feet wide. As he feeds near the surface, he appears to be basking in the sun, which is why he gets his name. Over thirty feet long at times and in some cases weighing over 12,000 pounds, this massive shark sweeps through the water with his mouth open, eating primarily plankton. The inside of his mouth resembles a rib cage with white bones when he has it opened wide! Read more

Blue Sharks

These sharks are named for the color of their skin and are considered a beautiful species of shark, due to their blue hue, sleek figure, and large eyes. Their large pectoral fins are believed to allow them to glide along with the current in order to conserve energy as they travel. They travel all over, so they are located almost anywhere except in the polar circles because the water is too cold for them. Their preferred meals are small prey, such as fish or squids. Read more

Lemon Sharks

The unusual yellow-brown color of these sharks gives them their name, and they live in subtropical waters along coasts. They are non-aggressive towards humans. They have very poor eyesight, so they are forced to rely on electroreceptors to help them find and hunt their prey. Lemon sharks tend to live in complex social hierarchies with many general rules for participation in society and regarding dominance within the group. Read more

Megamouth Sharks

Reaching lengths of up to 25 feet in some cases, this shark is well known for (you guessed it!) his mouth. This slow swimmer has a large mouth with 50 rows of tiny teeth and he has glowing pores around his mouth to draw fish to him. He possesses scales called denticles which help protect him from parasites and other dangers.

Angel Sharks

Out of the many shark species of the sea, angel sharks are some of the most distinct. Angel sharks hunt mostly along the ocean floor and are adept at staying hidden, unlike many sharks that spend their life in open water. Many of these ocean dwellers are now considered to be critically endangered, and the clock is ticking for humans to save these rare creatures. Learn more about the angel shark and their standout features below. Read more