#small shark

[respect-the-locals]

🦈 Daily Shark Fact: 🦈

Bonnethead Sharks, also known as the Shovelhead shark, is a species of tropical shark, and is the smallest member of the hammerhead genus. Bonnetheads are the only shark species known to be omnivorous. They consume both animal and plant matters. Their diet is usually dominated by marine crustaceans, mostly blue crabs. They also eat mollusks, shrimp, and different species of small fishes. Seagrasses have also been found in their stomachs.

[againsttheroofofmymouth]

Shark Day!

Did you guys know that there are only 2 living species of frilled shark (C. Africana and C. Anguineus)? They're such a banal(primitive ig) type of shark that they got their own family, Chlamydoselachidae (don't rag on my spelling plz) which belongs to the order of hexanchiformes (also don't rag on my spelling) which consist of cow sharks and frilled sharks.

Taxonomy aside, these guys have 1 dorsal fin (which is located near their anal fins), 1 set of pectoral fins, 1 set of pelvic fins, a cool strange lookin' caudal fin (kinda reminds me of a weakly electric fish, HOLLY SHIT I LOVE GHOST KNIFEFISH) and 5 gill slits.

C. Africana, or it's common name the Southern African frilled shark, is about half the size of the C. Anguineus (frilled shark). It's only found at the Southern western tip of Africa. It's diet mainly consists of smaller sharks (like the african sawtail catshark) and cephalopods. Its also got 147 spinal vertebrae compared to the Anguineus' 160-171 vertebrae.

Tldr, It's a cute bugger.

Meanwhile, the C. Anguineus is about double the length of the Africana. It's got a wider range of prey, is nocturnal and lives all over the place. You can find them anywhere, from the coast of Georgia(the state) to the Maldives, and from the Chillean coast to Hawaii. This species was first documented in the 18 somethings (srry i forgot the date) in Japan, while the C. Africana was only recently discovered in 2009! It's also got...more teeth?(idk actually I just love spreading misinformation, go Google it).

. . . Oh uhhhh . . . I forgot to mention that these guys are nocturnal, both eat squid and other cephlapods (which is why their teeth look like that cause it keeps the squid from trying to swim back out. Also they hunt with their mouths open). Also they're found in the bathypelagic zone (midnight zone). Also the Africana has more space between it's head and pectoral fins while the Anguineus has a longer head or smth.

. . . Wow, if ya made it this far, i think you like sharks. Follow for more sharks and random shit ig.

[biologyboop]

Little shark dudes!

[shawnasaurart]

A cute shark girl inspired by some adorable little spotted sharks I found at the aquarium. 

So precious <3

[respect-the-locals]

🦈 Daily Shark Fact: 🦈

Speartooth Sharks are a rare species of river shark, one of the rarest animals on earth actually. Scientists estimate that only around 200 of these interesting sharks, are left in the world.

[respect-the-locals]

🦈 Daily Shark Fact: 🦈

Most Leopard Sharks are “homebodies” that remain in the same area for much of their lives. They prefer muddy bay habitats, estuaries and occasionally patrol the kelp forests, usually staying near the bottom. They are most common in the shallow waters of northern California. It’s rarely found in water more than 65 feet deep, although some have strayed as deep as 300 feet 

[respect-the-locals]

🦈 Daily Shark Fact: 🦈

Port Jackson Sharks are similar to others of their genus, bearing a broad, blunt, flat head, an anal fin, and crests above its eyes. They are often mistaken for crested horn sharks (which only live across Australia’s East coast). Identification of this species is very easy due to the pattern of harness-like markings that cross the eyes and run along the side of the shark. They also have a spine in front of both dorsal fins.

[respect-the-locals]

🦈 Daily Shark Fact: 🦈

Crested Bullhead Sharks overlap in range with the closely related, more common Port Jackson Shark. These two species can even be observed in the same habitat. However, the Bullhead starts to replace the Port Jackson Shark in the more northern part of its range. Unlike its relative, the Bullhead does not gather in large groups.

This species is protected within the Marine Parks that occur within its geographic range in eastern Australia. Unfortunately that part of the world is experiencing noticeable effects of climate change, from documented impacts on the physical environment of the ocean.