SHARK OF THE DAY!

1. SHARK OF THE DAY!

2. Black tip reef shark Black tip reef shark Black tips usually live in warm costal waters. Black tips live in Florida and some black tips migrate in the summer to Massachusetts. Black tips usually travel in schools, and prey on squid, stingray and other crustaceans. Black tips are sometimes seen above water. They like hurtling themselves out of the water and spin before plunging back in. The sharks come out of the water and hit schools of hard fish, so it is easier to kill the prey. The smart sharks tend to follow fishing boats to scavenger any discarded catch. Young black tips follow schools so they are not attacked by bigger sharks. Black tips can grow up to 8 ft. and weigh up to 66 to 220 lbs. Black tips have black tips on their fins and tail. Protection status: Threatened

3. BASKING SHARK BASKING SHARK Basking sharks are harmless sharks that usually stay close to the surface of the water. Of course, to bask in the sun. Basking sharks are the second biggest fish. They eat plankton. Its enlarged mouth has gill rakers that catch the plankton while keeping its mouth open. The basking shark has several small harmless teeth that curve backwards to get the plankton. Basking sharks are believed to go deep in the water over winter. Basking sharks migrate during seasons and live in warm coastal waters. They live in bays and narrow openings, often close to land. During the winter they go in small schools or travel alone to find plankton. The basking shark is endangered and hunted for their fins and shark liver oil. Populations of the basking sharks are reducing because of being hunted. Adults typically reach 6-8 m in length. They can weigh up to 7 tons. Protection status: Threatened

4. WOBBEGONG SHARK WOBBEGONG SHARK Wobbegong is a name given to 12 different species of carpet sharks. They are found in temperate and shallow tropical waters, wobbegongs like to blend in with the ocean floor so they don’t go near the surface. They are found in western parts of the Pacific Ocean and eastern parts of the Indian Ocean, usually around Australia and Indonesia. But one wobbegong, the Japanese wobbegong is found around Japan. They are called carpet sharks because they stay near the sea floor. Wobbegongs camouflage to catch unlucky fish that swim near, its whiskers are known as sensory barbs to help feel the sea floor. Wobbegongs will bite, but if provoked. Some divers accidently step on them, and they will bite their attacker. Sadly humans also eat this specie of shark, in Australia they use them for food, such as fish and chips. Their skin is also used to make leather. Most species have a maximum length of 1.25m, The largest wobbegong is 3 m in length. They can weigh up to 70 kg. Protection status: Threatened

5. ZEBRA SHARK ZEBRA SHARK The zebra shark is a species of carpet sharks. Its found around the tropical Indo-Pacific. Usually around coral reefs. Adult zebra sharks have a white body with a pattern of dark grey spots. Younger zebras have a different look, a brown body with vertical white stripes. Zebra sharks are nocturnal and don’t move much during the day. But at night they get active to hunt. Zebra sharks prey on mollusks, small crustaceans, bony fish and sometimes sea snakes. People hunt zebra sharks for their fins, meat and liver oil. There is proof that their numbers are decreasing. Zebra sharks attain a length of 2.5 m, and weigh a width of between 20 and 30 kg. Captive zebra sharks may only live up too 15 years. In the wild they can live up too 30 years. Protection status: Threatened