Myth Busters: Shark Week Edition

Even with their rise in popularity due to programs like Shark Week, musical hits like "Baby Shark," and the representation of many shark species in aquariums worldwide, sharks are generally misunderstood and poorly characterized by humans.

There are over 500 species of shark found in aquatic habitats around the globe. Fossils and other scientific evidence indicate that these animals have been around for more than 400 million years, meaning they predate dinosaurs!

To help shed some light on just how incredibly complicated and interesting these animals are, we're busting some common myths we've heard about sharks:

Are all sharks big and aggressive?

Each species of shark has its own unique habitat, geographic range, diet behaviors, average size and coloration or patterning. With more than 500 known species of shark, that is a lot of individualism to account for! Sizes vary dramatically; the smallest species, the dwarf lantern shark, maxes out at 7.8 inches long, and the largest species, the whale shark, can reach up to 45 feet long.

For the most part, sharks are not as aggressive as pop culture has portrayed them to be. In fact, many shark species are quite docile and skittish! Humans are overwhelmingly more likely to have a positive encounter with sharks than a negative one—diving, snorkeling and responsible fishing are three of the most common ways to see sharks in their natural habitat. When venturing out to an aquatic habitat, keep in mind that a general rule of thumb for any close encounter with wildlife is to keep your distance and remember that you are entering their home.

Negative encounters between humans and sharks are incredibly rare and do not commonly result in injury or fatality. There is a common myth that shark interactions with humans are a case of mistaken identity for larger prey like dolphins or seals. This is not a theory that is clearly supported by scientific evidence. Most shark researchers believe that fear or curiosity are more likely to spur this type of behavior in sharks.

Do sharks really not have any predators?

In general, sharks are considered apex predators, meaning they sit at the top of their food chain and have few natural predators. As apex predators, these animals play an essential role in maintaining the health of their ecosystems by preying on sick or weaker individuals. When sharks are young and/or small, they are naturally lower in the food chain and can also be food for other species.

By and large, humans pose the largest threat to sharks. Overfishing, habitat destruction and ocean acidification have all contributed to the decline of shark populations worldwide. Unfortunately, sharks are often either the target of large-scale fishing operations that are not sustainably managed or they are caught by mistake in longlines or nets and are discarded back into the ocean. Because sharks take several years to reach sexual maturity, these unsustainable practices take a significant toll on shark populations and their ability to rebound.

Do sharks really lose thousands of teeth in their lifetimes?

Average tooth loss really depends on the species of shark. For example, sand tiger sharks have multiple rows of dozens of teeth that can replace any lost teeth within minutes. Other shark species, like the basking shark, have very little teeth and primarily rely on filter feeding to eat.

Depending on the species, a shark can lose up to 30,000 teeth in its lifetime.

Want to help protect sharks? Do your part to limit the amount of plastic pollution entering our ocean and waterways, make sustainable seafood choices and ensure you're keeping a safe distance from wildlife when you're exploring their habitats.