What is a Shark?

Quick shark facts for kids (and adults)

• Sharks have good eyesight and can see well in dark areas.
• A shark's skin feels similar to sandpaper and is made up of tiny teeth-like structures called placoid scales.
• When a shark is flipped upside down, they go into a trance.
• Scientists count the rings on a shark's vertebrae to work out their age (a bit like trees). Vertebrae contain pairs of translucent bands, these are counted to work out their age.
• A whale shark's pattern is as unique as a fingerprint.
• Not all sharks have the same teeth. Mako sharks have pointed teeth, whereas white sharks have triangular teeth.

For more amazing shark facts for kids, be sure to make the most of our printable shark fact files for KS1 and KS2.

All about sharks

Sharks are fish that can measure up to 32.8 feet and weigh up to 20.6 tons. They fall into a subclass of species called elasmobranchii, which means their skeleton is made from cartilage rather than bones. Sharks can also have up to seven gills at each side of their head, which is uncommon as most fish only have one.

Based on scientists' findings and examining fossilised teeth from sharks, they believe that sharks have been around for 400 million years - this means they've outlived dinosaurs! Today sharks have evolved hugely and there are approximately 1,000 species of sharks and rays, with new ones discovered every year.

Whale Sharks are one of the biggest species of fish on earth and can actually grow up to 55 feet - that's a big jump compared with dwarf lantern sharks that only measure up to eight inches.

Sharks are predators and have multiple rows of pointy teeth - did you know they fall out and routinely grow back on a routine basis?

Different species of sharks

There are around 1,000 different species of sharks, here are just a few:

• Whale shark - the largest shark species and the biggest fish in the world.
• Basking shark - the second-largest shark species. They can grow up to 40 feet long and weigh seven tons.
• Shortfin mako shark - thought to be the fastest shark species and can grow to 13 feet and weigh 1,220 pounds.
• Thresher shark - there are three types of thresher shark: the common thresher, pelagic thresher and the big eye thresher.
• Bull shark - these sharks tend to inhabit warm, shallow and murky water.
• White shark - among the most feared predators in the ocean. Their maximum size is around 20 feet long, weighing 2,000 pounds.
• Oceanic white tip shark - they live out in the open ocean far from land and live in tropical and subtropical waters.
• Blue shark - they get their name from their colour, as they have dark blue backs and lighter blue sides. They can grow up to 12 feet.
• Hammerhead shark - there are several species of Hammerhead sharks including the wing head, mallet head, scalloped hammerhead, scoop head, great hammerhead and bonnethead shark.
• Nurse shark - these are nocturnal creatures. They like to live at the bottom of the ocean.
• Black tip Reef shark - these sharks are easily identified with their black tip and grow to a maximum of six feet.
• Sand Tiger shark - this shark grows to a maximum of 14 feet and is found in shallow waters.
• Lemon shark - this shark is commonly found in shallow waters and grows to a maximum of 11 feet.
• Brown-banded bamboo shark - a small shark found in shallow waters.
• Megamouth shark - this shark was discovered in 1976. There have been roughly only 100 sightings.

What do sharks eat?

Sharks are carnivores, most of their diet comes from fish and other sea mammals including dolphins and seals. However, some shark species have also been known to eat turtles, seagulls, krill and plankton. When sharks are hunting for their prey, they use their lateral line system. They use this to help them detect water movements, which can be great during the night when visibility is poor.

Where is a Shark's habitat

A shark's habitat can be found in deep and shallow oceans throughout the world's oceans. Some sharks migrate far distances to breed and find food. You can find a shark habitat in all five of the Earth's oceans including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Southern. They can also be found in freshwater lakes and some rivers.

Over time sharks have been able to adapt to living in a range of aquatic environments including shallow waters and different temperatures as well as coastal regions too. Some inhabit locations close to the ocean floor, whereas others like the open space.

What are the threats to sharks?

Surprisingly, one of the main threats that sharks face is human beings. Overfishing has seen drastic declines in sharks over the years. It's estimated that around 100 million sharks are killed each year, they’re mostly killed for an extravagant dish served in China called Shark fin soup. Another problem is rising water temperatures and coastal developments, as they're destroying mangroves and coastal reefs. These are important for sharks as they use them for breeding, hunting and protecting young shark pups.

As sharks drop in numbers, this is bad for the ocean's health because sharks are top predators, therefore they ensure a balanced food web.

Can Sharks attack people?

Shark attacks are very rare, it's estimated that a person visiting the beach has only one in 11.5 million chances of being bitten. Humans don't interest sharks; they only bite or attack if they feel threatened or attacked, or sometimes they can confuse humans with prey.

Since 1900 shark attacks have increased, but this is down to our systems for recording attacks being more advanced and thorough.

Shark conservation status

32% of sharks are classified as threatened, 6% endangered, 26% vulnerable and 24% are near-threatened.

But, why are sharks important?

• They help keep the ocean healthy - They do this by keeping the population steady by preying on the sick and old - preventing diseases from spreading in the ocean.
• Sharks are good for the economy - sharks provide income and jobs for communities across the world.
• Biodiversity - sharks play an important part in creating biodiversity.

How do sharks reproduce?

Some shark species reproduce by laying eggs, whilst others give birth to their young. In some cases, some have placentas, just like human babies. In cases where there is no placenta, the shark embryos get their nutrition from a yolk sac or an unfertilised egg filled with yolk.

More resources to support your teaching on sharks

Here at Twinkl, we have a range of resources to help support and transform your teaching. They’ve all been designed by our experienced teachers, so you can rest assured they are all in line with curriculum aims.

Try these resources for a great starting point

• Parts of a Shark Labelling Activity
• Whale Shark Mindfulness Colouring Page
• Feeding Frenzy Shark Craft
• Self-Marking Shark Comprehension