Some of the main types of sharks are the angel sharks, saw sharks, and cow sharks. Squainiformes, or also known as the angel sharks, are characterized by their ray like flattened bodies. This order has one family that is called Squatindae that contains about 13 species. The maximum size that can be reached by any one of these species is 4-6 feet in length. Pristiophoriformes are also known as the saw sharks. This order has only has one family, Phistophoriformes, which contains five species. These sharks are easy to recognize because they have an elongated blade like snout that is lined with sharp teeth along the edges, which gives them the name saw sharks. Hexanchiformes, or cow sharks, comprise of two families. They are recognized by their six or seven pairs of gill slits. These sharks can often be found in deep water.
Shark fossil records are incomplete at best. Most fossils found so far consist of nothing but teeth; in some cases a few vertebrae have been found. This is rare because sharks do not have bones; instead, they have cartilage which, contrary to common belief, is rather solid. In the rarest of cases complete fossils have been discovered. There were not too many changes in the shark fossils in millions of years. The Hybodonts, who made their appearance some 320 million years ago in the age of the dinosaurs, were quite common throughout both oceanic and fresh water. Due to reasons unknown to science, both oceanic and fresh water Hybodonts became extinct at about the same time as the dinosaurs. The largest shark to ever swim the oceans is called the Megalodon. Many think that it is an ancestor to the great white shark; however, there is great controversy surrounding this matter. The size of the shark was from 40 to 50 feet in length. It is safe to say that Megalodon is still considered the largest predatory fish to have ever existed.
The shark is considered by many to be the perfect predator. It is perhaps the most perfectly adapted predator in its environment. Shark jaws are another fascinating development of evolution. Each species jaws are perfectly adapted to its eating habits. Some sharks have long pointed teeth for catching fish and other species of sharks are harmless bottom dwellers, like cat sharks or hound sharks. Also, because of their cartilage bodies, they can swim and turn around faster. However, most of these sharks are in danger of becoming extinct.
Sharks have an array of body forms. They can range from the popular sharks like the Great White with a typical body to the Hammerhead whose head is shaped like a hammer. A good example of this is a Bizarre Goblin Shark. This shark has a horn-like projection coming from its head. The body forms of sharks can be related to their way of life. Some like the angel and woebegone sharks, whose shape of their body are perfectly adapted to their environment and their way of life. All sharks swim by snaking their way through the water while using their pectoral fins for lift and direction.
Most attacks take place within 100 feet of the shoreline. However, it is not impossible to be attacked in the open sea. Sharks have been recorded following boats for many years. Sailors used to consider this a bad omen and would throw one man overboard to please the shark. If there is one drop of blood from a person, a shark can sense from over 200 feet away where the blood is coming from. The people most at risk of shark attacks are men from a shipwreck, just floating in the open ocean. This is because there are usually large amounts of blood in the water. The most known shipwrecks that involve sharks occur in the U.S. More then 500 people have died by being attacked by a shark. The most common shark that attacks is the blue shark.
In a nut shell, a number of the most frequent seen types of sharks are the angel sharks, saw sharks, and cow sharks. Sharks have an odd fossil documentation consisting of mostly teeth. The shark is also thought to be the ideal killer. Sharks come in all unlike shapes and sizes. Sharks are also known to from time to time assault citizens.
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