Interesting Facts About Sharks

Did you know there are over 400 different species of sharks? We are lucky enough to have 12 different species at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. Discover some interesting facts about some of them below!

 

Grey Nurse Sharks:

AKA the Ragged-Tooth Shark

The Grey Nurse Shark grows up to 3.2 metres long and has rows and rows of long pointy teeth. Their razor sharp teeth stick out so much that they can never completely close their mouths! This cage of teeth helps stop their fish dinners from escaping after they're caught. 

 

Blacktip Reef Sharks:

The Little Shark

Named because of the black tip on their dorsal fin, Blacktip Reef Sharks usually grow to no more than 1.8 metres. They are usually found around shallow coral reefs and can be found in Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef. But, don't worry if you plan on going for a snorkel there, these much smaller species of sharks are not considered dangerous to humans.

Watch this video of a friendly Blacktip Reef Shark swimming up to divers... 

If the Blacktip Reef Shark female can’t find a mate, believe it or not, they are able to self reproduce. This phenomenon is called parthenogenesis and results in a genetic copy of the mother. The Blacktip Reef Shark is one of a number of shark species capable of self reproducing. Can you imagine creating a clone of yourself?

 

Whitetip Reef Sharks:

The Curious Shark

Much like the Blacktip Reef Shark, the Whitetip Reef Shark was named because of its brilliant white dorsal fin. These shark species are also very slim and have a short, blunt snout. As the name suggests, they also love coral reefs and can often be found lying on the bottom in caves and around ledges.

Unlike Black Tips who are most active at dawn and dusk, White Tip Sharks are most active at night. Their threat to humans is very minimal and they often swim close to people in the water out of curiosity. Have you ever seen a shark while swimming?

 

Wobbegong Sharks:

The Bearded Shark

Wobbegong literally means “shaggy beard” in Aboriginal language and, yes, that’s because they look like they have a beard! They have whiskers, called barbels, around their mouths that create the beard illusion. Their unique pectoral and pelvic fins (the ones on the bottom) also allow them to shuffle along the ocean floor. Cool, huh?

Ever fancied swimming with sharks?

You can swim with ours at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium! Shark Dive Xtreme is the ultimate experience where you can dive with our Grey Nurse sharks as well as sea turtles, stingrays and more - no experience required. It’s one of the few experiences in the world where you are guaranteed to encounter sharks, without a cage! Click the button below to find out more...

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