{"id":12236,"date":"2012-01-11T12:07:49","date_gmt":"2012-01-11T17:07:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/wildwire\/?p=12236"},"modified":"2022-12-16T16:11:19","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T21:11:19","slug":"top-ten-unusual-sharks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/top-10\/top-ten-unusual-sharks\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Ten Unusual Sharks"},"content":{"rendered":"

When someone says the word \u201cSHARK\u201d most people think of a massive, grey, toothy, underwater animal; basically, they are imagining a Great White. In fact, sharks come in all shapes, sizes, and even colors<\/em>! That\u2019s why we\u2019ve made a top ten list with some of the planet\u2019s most amazing sharks, featuring everything from hammerheads to species with horns, saws, and even frills.<\/p>\n

Angel Sharks (Squatina squatina)<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

\n

\"Angelshark,
Angel sharks easily blend into the rocks. Photo Credit: Philippe Guillaume<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Location:<\/strong> North-eastern Atlantic<\/p>\n

Size: <\/strong>up to 2.4m (3 feet 11 inches)<\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong> Critically Endangered<\/p>\n

What makes it unique? Their flat, wide bodies!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

These sharks look more like a ray than a member of their own species. They have large flat bodies with big pectoral fins. This shape allows them to hide under mud or sand and wait for prey to come close. When it is a perfect time, these sharks shoot out of their hiding spot and catch their lunch.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.arkive.org\/angel-shark\/squatina-squatina\/<\/p>\n

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Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci)<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

\n

\"Horn
You can easily see the horns on this Horn Shark. Photo Credit: Cymothoa exigua<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Location:<\/strong> Along the Western Coasts of the Americas<\/p>\n

Size:<\/strong> Around 1.2m<\/p>\n

Status: <\/strong>Not Yet Evaluated<\/p>\n

What makes it unique? The two large spines on their backs!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If a predator attempts to gobble up one of these sharks, it is certainly in for a surprise. As the predator bites down, the spines on the Horn shark\u2019s back will stick into the predator\u2019s mouth and the Horn shark can make its getaway.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.iucnredlist.org\/apps\/redlist\/details\/39333\/0<\/p>\n

Great Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna mokarran)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\n

\"Great
Photo Credit: Angel Shark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Location:<\/strong> In most of the world\u2019s oceans<\/p>\n

Size: <\/strong>up to 6.1m, making them the largest of the Hammerhead species (20 feet)<\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong> Endangered<\/p>\n

What makes it unique?<\/strong> Their heads!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It is easy to spot a Hammerhead because their heads are, well, shaped like a hammer. Their eyes are placed on either side of the hammer which allows them to see a much larger area than other sharks. Once they\u2019ve spotted their prey of choice, stingrays, they use their heads to pin them down so they can\u2019t get away.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.arkive.org\/great-hammerhead\/sphyrna-mokarran\/<\/p>\n

Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\n

\"Basking
A Basking Shark swimming with its mouth wide open. Photo Credit: jidanchaomain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Location:<\/strong> Arctic to temperate oceans of the world<\/p>\n

Size: <\/strong>Basking Sharks are the second largest living fish in the world reaching 11m (36 feet!)<\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong> Vulnerable to Endangered<\/p>\n

What makes it unique?<\/strong> The way they eat!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

There are three species of filter feeding sharks (the Whale shark, the Basking shark, and the Megamouth shark) but Basking sharks are unique among them. Where the other two suck in water and filter to collect their prey, Basking sharks leave their mouths open as they swim, filtering water passively.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.baskingsharks.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Sawshark (Pristiophoriformes)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\n

\"Japanese
Japanese Sawshark. Photo Credit: Opencage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Shortnose
Shortnose sawshark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Location:<\/strong> Indo-pacific and Atlantic oceans<\/p>\n

Size: <\/strong>Can grow to 1.5m long (about 5 feet)<\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong> Least concern to Near Threatened<\/p>\n

What makes it unique?<\/strong> Their snouts!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Their snouts are long and lined with teeth which they use to slash their prey. About halfway down their snouts are very sensitive catfish-like whiskers called barbels that Sawsharks use to find prey hiding out on the bottom of the sea floor.<\/p>\n

Interesting fact:<\/strong> There is only one other fish that has long blade-like snouts: the sawfish. These two fish look very similar but you can tell the difference because sawsharks have barbels and the sawfish does not.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.sharksavers.org\/en\/education\/shark-species-introduction\/46-sawsharks-order-pristiophoriformes.html<\/p>\n

Common Thresher Shark (Alopias vulpinus)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\n

\"Thresher
Photo Credit: Klaus Stiefel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Location:<\/strong> Temperate Oceans<\/p>\n

Size: <\/strong>About 6m (about 19 feet and 8 inches)<\/p>\n

Status: <\/strong>Vulnerable<\/a><\/p>\n

What makes it unique? Their tails!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

These sharks are big! But what makes them so big is the fact that about half of their size is made up by their tail. They use it as a whip to disorient, stun and even kill their prey!<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.arkive.org\/thresher-shark\/alopias-vulpinus\/image-G27207.html<\/p>\n

Wobbegong or Carpet Sharks (Orectolobidae)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\n

\"wobbegong,
Spotted Wobbegong. Photo Credit: Richard Ling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Location:<\/strong> In the Indo-Pacific Ocean<\/p>\n

Size:<\/strong> 1.8-2.4m (6-8 feet)<\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong> From Least Concern to Near Threatened<\/p>\n

What makes it unique?<\/strong> Their appearance and the way they catch their food!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When Wobbegongs lay on the sea floor they look just like seaweed-covered rocks, which come in handy for catching food. They lay still, waiting for some prey to swim by, then they pounce! Wobbegongs have special gills that allow them to stay still, while other sharks need to move in order to breathe.<\/p>\n

Maurice Burton and Robert Burton, The International Wildlife Encyclopedia<\/em>: Volume 1<\/em>. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1970: Page 2954.<\/p>\n

www.iucnredlist.org<\/p>\n

Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\n

\"Nurse
Photo Credit: Gary Rinald<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Location:<\/strong> Tropical and Subtropical parts of the Atlantic and Pacific<\/p>\n

Size:<\/strong> Up to 3m (about 9 feet 10 inches)<\/p>\n

Status: <\/strong>Vulnerable in Brazil, Colombia, and US waters<\/p>\n

What makes it unique?<\/strong> The way they eat!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nurse sharks spend their days sleeping on the bottom of the sea but when the sun goes down, they go searching for food. Hunting at night allows them to sneak up on unsuspecting sea creatures that are fast asleep. Like the Saw shark, they have barbels that they use to feel around on the sea floor to find the perfect snack. Nurse sharks\u2019 can literally suck their prey out of their hiding spots because they can hoover around the floor like a vacuum.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.arkive.org\/nurse-shark\/ginglymostoma-cirratum\/<\/p>\n

Goblin Shark (Mitsukurina owstoni)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\n

\"Goblin
Model of a Goblin Shark with its jaw extended. Photo Credit: Peter Halasz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Location: <\/strong>Parts of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans but very rare<\/p>\n

Size:<\/strong> about 3.8m (over 12 feet and 5 inches)<\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong> Least Concern<\/p>\n

What makes it unique?<\/strong> Their protruding jaws!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When swimming casually, these sharks look pretty much like any other shark. All that changes when they go to take a bite\u2026 their jaw shoots out and they snap up their prey with their long sharp teeth. With their jaws fully extended, they truly look like monsters from the deep.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/eol.org\/data_objects\/15616051<\/p>\n

Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\n

\"Frilled
Photo From Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Frilled
Drawing of a Frilled Shark’s Tooth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Location: <\/strong>Found in most of the world\u2019s oceans but it is very rare<\/p>\n

Size: <\/strong>Up to 1.5m (4 feet 11 inches)<\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong> Near Threatened<\/p>\n

What makes it unique? Their bodies!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Frilled sharks have lizard-like features and snake-like bodies. Their gills meet on the underside of their throats so it looks like they have frills. Inside their wide mouths, there are over 300 sharp three-pronged teeth. These definitely aren\u2019t sharks you would want taking a bite out of you!<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.arkive.org\/frilled-shark\/chlamydoselachus-anguineus\/image-G38906.html<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everybody knows about the Great White shark but have you heard of sharks with horns, a saw and even frills? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[931,1353,411],"tags":[197,92,9,266,335],"class_list":{"0":"post-12236","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all","8":"category-to-edit","9":"category-top-10","10":"tag-fish","11":"tag-ocean","12":"tag-sharks","13":"tag-teeth","14":"tag-top-ten"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12236"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":595940,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12236\/revisions\/595940"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}