What do you think of when you think of sharks? Maybe it’s that they have to keep swimming to stay alive? Or that they are all aggressive and hunt humans? Many common myths, including these, are spread about these ocean predators. However, we are here to dispel the most common myths and add the truth behind one of the most fearsome predators of the sea: sharks.
Myth: Sharks are aggressive and often attack humans.
Truth: Sharks are expert hunters of sea turtles, seals, and other aquatic animals—but humans are not on the menu. Most shark bites are a case of mistaken identity. Sharks confuse humans with normal food items, like sea otters, as people swim in the water.
Myth: All sharks are large and dangerous.
Truth: The sizes of sharks vary with the species. Dwarf lantern sharks are smaller than an adult human hand. Whale sharks grow more than 60 feet long.
Myth: Sharks must keep swimming, or they’ll die.
Truth: Sharks have two different methods of breathing. Some sharks, such as great whites, must continually swim to obtain oxygen from the water. Others, like nurse sharks, have special muscles that allow them to take in oxygen-rich water even when resting on the sea floor.
Myth: All sharks are the same.
Truth: There are 500 species of sharks, each with different colors, sizes, and shapes. In kelp forests, horn sharks use their murky colors to blend in with the shadows. Leopard sharks prowl nearby; their bronze skin is dotted with dark ovals.
Myth: Sharks have poor vision.
Truth: Shark eyes are much like humans’—they can detect light, color, and detail. Sharks also have a tapetum lucidum, a reflective lens that helps them see in dark and murky water.
Myth: Sharks are not important to ocean ecosystems.
Truth: Sharks are vital to ocean health. By keeping other species in check, they promote balance and biodiversity. Sharks also act as nature’s clean-up crew by scavenging dead animals.
Myth: Sharks are always in deep water.
Truth: Sharks live in all parts of the ocean, from shallow seas to the bottom of the ocean. Some deep-sea sharks glow with bioluminescence, while others patrol coastal waters. Others migrate vertically, moving between depths to hunt and survive.
Myth: Sharks have no predators.
Truth: Sharks may be fearsome predators, but they’re not invincible. Young sharks are often eaten by large fish and birds. Adult sharks have few natural predators, but one of their greatest is humans.
Myth: Sharks are unaffected by human activity.
Truth: Nearly 100 million sharks are killed every year by human activity. Some sharks are killed intentionally, while others are accidentally caught in nets meant for other fish.
Myth: All sharks lay eggs.
Truth: Sharks have various ways to prepare their offspring for success. Some lay eggs tucked away in safe spots, while others hatch eggs inside the mother and give birth to live pups. Others nourish their embryos internally before they are born.
Sharks are as diverse as the habitats they roam in, and ecosystems rely on their presence to thrive. Protecting sharks begins with changing the way we perceive them and shifting the narrative from fear to respect.