Concept in Definition ABC

In the media communication shocking news about sharks often appear. They talk about beaches evicted in their presence, injured surfers, sightings and, in short, news in which the shark is presented as a serious threat. One could speak of the shark as an animal of legend.

Main features

The shark is a fish whose skeleton is cartilaginous. Their skin has denticles, a kind of scales that allow great mobility and velocity. They are overwhelmingly cold-blooded fish. Its gills through which it breathes are located on the sides of its head. It has a high sensitivity to pick up electric fields, a keen sense of smell and its vision adapts perfectly to the shortage of light. Its teeth are pointed, very sharp and are replaced in case of loss (the lower teeth serve to capture prey and the upper ones act to tear it).

For its movements it uses its fins, which are attached to the cartilaginous skeleton (you have to remember that cartilage is lighter than bone and this allows the shark more buoyancy). A curious aspect of his

physiology is the fact that its gastric juices are so powerful that they can corrode stainless steel.

The strategy The reproductive process of the shark consists of fertilizing the eggs internally and thus the offspring are more protected. Some are gregarious and maintain social ties, but most are loners. They do not sleep although they have periods of low activity.

The controversial fishing

Shark is fished for oil and its liver was prized as a source of vitamin A decades ago (the invention of synthetic vitamins has reduced shark fishing). At present, the gastronomy Japanese is the one that maintains the shark fishing, especially for the consumption of the famous shark fins. This circumstance has originated harsh criticism from animal defenders, who have even said that genocide of a species occurs on the Japanese coasts. Japanese fishermen consider the shark fin to be part of their gastronomic culture and, at the same time, giving up fishing would ruin thousands of families.

Zoologists disprove the dangerous animal myth

The statistical number of attacks on humans is negligible (it is estimated that five people die a year worldwide). The terror of sharks comes from movie theater and the myth that the shark was created as a killer animal. Of the more than 360 recognized species, only a few are dangerous (the bull, tiger and white shark). The specialists in the behavior of these sharks consider that the only reasons that explain their attacks on humans are curiosity or feeling threatened.

Photo: iStock - DNY59

Topics in Jaws