Sharks, without the scary music.
The biggest fish in the sea, the smallest shark in the world, one that glows, one that walks, and one that can live for centuries. Every fact traced to a source, plus games, printables and an eraser called Useless who has been told to mind the deep end.
The short version
Sharks are cartilaginous fish: their skeletons are made of cartilage, not bone, and they have five to seven gill slits on each side of the head. Wikipedia There are more than 500 species of shark. Wikipedia
Sharks have lived in our oceans for over 400 million years, well before the dinosaurs. Shark Trust The earliest confirmed modern sharks are known from the Early Jurassic, around 200 million years ago. Wikipedia
They come in every size. The whale shark is the largest known living fish. A whale shark 18.8 m (61.7 ft) long is considered the largest reliably recorded. Wikipedia At the other end, the dwarf lanternshark is the smallest shark in the world, reaching a maximum known length of 20 cm (8 in). Wikipedia
And many are in trouble. A 2021 study in Nature found that, since 1970, the number of oceanic sharks and rays had fallen by 71%, driven by an 18-fold increase in fishing pressure. Nature That’s why this site spends as much time on threats as on teeth.
Start somewhere
AnatomyNo bones, a liver full of oil and teeth on a conveyor belt.
Super sensesSharks can feel the electricity of a heartbeat. Hammerheads especially.
Eggs, pups & mermaid’s pursesSome lay eggs in leathery cases. Some give birth. One eats its siblings first.
Sharks of the worldTwenty sharks, from the whale shark to a goblin with slingshot jaws.
Basking sharks & the Isle of ManWhen, where and how to look from the Manx coast.
Shark bites: the real riskThe real numbers, from the people who count them.
Tile photos are credited on their pages and on the credits page.
The oldest-living animal with a backbone
The Greenland shark has the longest lifespan of any known vertebrate: an estimated 272 to 510 years. Wikipedia Greenland sharks only reach adulthood at around 150 years old. Wikipedia
And the fastest
The shortfin mako is the fastest known shark, reaching 74 km/h (46 mph) in bursts. Wikipedia Meet them both, and eighteen more, in sharks of the world.
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Shark printables
Fact-checked PDFs in A4 and US Letter.
Shark Explorer Action Pack
Egg-case beach hunt, shark-watching log, ocean action plan and certificate
Shark Anatomy & Life Cycle Worksheets
Labelling, super senses, eggs and pups, food chains and quiz, with keys
Shark Spotter & Species ID Cards
Twelve double-sided shark cards with fast facts, a spotter checklist and a Who am I? game
Basking Shark Watching Journal & Sightings Log
Sea-watch logs, fin sketches, weather and sightings records
Best valueThe Complete Shark Printables Bundle
All six packs, A4 and US Letter. Everything above in one download.