Scientific name: Carcharodon carcharias

Average size: 1,200 – 2,400 lbs (Adult)

Habitat: They live in almost all coastal and offshore waters which have water temperature between 12 and 24 °C (54 and 75 °F). They are mainly in the United States (Northeast and California), South Africa, Japan, Oceania, Chile, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Food: Great Whites have a favorite food of seal and sea lions. However, younger sharks tend to eat more fish, including other sharks, and rays.

Mouth or teeth size: Both the top and bottom jaws move in the Great White, making it easier to grasp prey. Great Whites have sharp, pointy teeth, usually ranging from 2-3 inches long. The mouth itself has a diameter of typically 3-4 feet.

Unique characteristics: They have muscles that generate heat to keep their core warm, giving them many advantages over other species who lack this trait. Great whites also have no true bones, instead they are made up of cartilage.

3 Interesting facts: They can grow up to 20 feet long, typically around 10-15ft. They are the largest predatory fish and are considered the most dangerous shark species on the planet. They typically live around 30-40 years, but can live up to 70!

The link to at least one YouTube video talking about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t82m6vPhsEA

New discoveries about their behavior, biology, possible uses in medicine (If any): Considered to be very intelligent animals, as well as one of the most curious and able to be socially available if the situation demands it. Trying to use sharks genes to discover how they can heal their wounds so quickly, and utilize that for humans.

Are they threatened (by humans, climate change)? Why? Yes, due to the rapidly increasing amount of overfishing for their fins and teeth. The shark fin soup, a delicacy in china, is the number one reason for shark finning in the world. Climate change does not affect these animals, as they can adapt and quickly develop to rising temperatures.

What are we doing to protect these species? What else could we do? Many shark protection conservations. Also, stricter regulation, watching illegal tourism and the illegal hunting of these species. As well as habitat preservations throughout the ocean. It is encouraged to not eat shark fin soup, to donate to local organizations, and to educate yourself and others.

Sources where did you find the information?

1. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/great-white

2. https://animals.mom.com/great-white-shark-teeth-facts-4415729.html

3. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/great-white-shark

Scientific name: Sphyrnidae

Average size: 13.1 ft. long, average weight of 500 Ibs.

Habitat: Found in warm waters all over the world. Most commonly found in schools around the islands of Darwin and Wolf in the Galapagos, but also found off the coast of Costa Rica at Cocos Island.

Food: Have a wide variety of food, including: fish like hake, dolphins, skates and rays, crustaceans, cephalopods (octopus and squid), sea snakes and other sharks. Sometimes seen to be eating smaller hammerheads.

Mouth or teeth size: They have a much smaller mouth compared to many other species of sharks.They have tons of teeth, having 17 complete rows filled with teeth. The teeth are very triangular and tend to be an olive color. Their teeth rangle from about ¼ to ¾ inches.

Unique characteristics: Their scalloped-shaped head is there for a reason! It allows the shark to have heightened senses, including better sight, and smell. Their head is often referred to as a metal detector because it uses these electromagnetic waves to find and identify prey that may be hiding underneath the sand.

3 Interesting facts: They have a unique scalloped-shaped head, long gill slits, and an extremely tall dorsal fin. The longest great hammerhead on record was 6.1 m or 20 ft. The female stays pregnant for 11 months before giving birth!

The link to at least one youtube video talking about it: https://seethewild.org/hammerhead-facts

New discoveries about their behavior, biology, possible uses in medicine (If any): Hammerheads are seen to be aggressive, not so much to humans, but to their prey. They are very defensive and will almost always attack when provoked. Similar to Great Whites, scientists are trying to see their genes to learn how they can develop and heal wounds so quickly.

Are they threatened (by humans, climate change)? Why? Hammerhead sharks are listed to be endangered species. This is due to overfishing for their fins, considered to be a common delicacy in Asian regions. If warmer water due to global warming kills of prey lower than them, then they could be in danger due to climate change.

What are we doing to protect these species? What else could we do? There are many organizations working to protect these species and much stricter law enforcement on illegal fishing. We can work to protect these sharks by educating yourselves and others, not eating shark fin soup, donating or volunteering, and speak out on this issue to your local town.

Sources where did you find the information? Wikipedia is not sufficient.

1. https://oceana.org/marine-life/sharks-rays/great-

2. shark#:~:text=The%20great%20hammerhead%20s

3. https://saveourseas.com/study-reveals-that-

Scientific name: Galeocerdo cuvier

Average size: Range from 10-14ft, weighing 849–1,400 lbs.

Habitat: Typically found in tropical and warm temperate waters. Inhabits both oceanic waters, up to depths of 140 m, as well as shallow coastal waters. Prefer turbid coastal areas where fresh water runoff.

Food: A non-selective feeder and a voracious predator. Consumes a wide variety of marine prey and even some terrestrial animals, including: crabs, shellfish, lobsters, squid, bony fish, small sharks, skates, rays, porpoises, turtles, marine birds and mammals.

Mouth or teeth size: They have Cockscomb-shaped curved serrated teeth with deep notches on the outer margin

Unique characteristics: They have very recognizable patterns, with a mottled pattern in juveniles and a striped tiger-like pattern in adults. They also have a Snout shorter than the width of the mouth, a large head, and slender body.

3 Interesting facts: Considered to be the most aggressive shark and is dangerous to humans, often interacting aggressively when hungry. Have a short snout and a slender body. One of the top three most deadly sharks in the world.

The link to at least one YouTube video talking about it: https://oceana.org/marine-life/sharks-rays/tiger-shark.

New discoveries about their behavior, biology, possible uses in medicine (If any): Tiger sharks are nocturnal, extremely aggressive hunters. They are known to attack other sharks when hunting as well as humans. They do not enjoy social interaction, even within its own species. They have no medical impact, as they are endangered and tend not to be tested on.

Are they threatened (by humans, climate change)? Why? Tiger sharks are considered to be near threatened due to the increasing amounts of fishing and finning in the oceans. Similar to other top apex predators, if global warming caused by humans kills lower species that can't handle the hotter waters, the whole food chain will fall apart. This will lead to not enough food for the upper predators and the extinction of hundreds of species, including sharks.

What are we doing to protect these species? What else could we do? There are many organizations working to protect these species and much stricter law enforcement on illegal fishing. We can work to protect these sharks by educating yourselves and others, not eating shark fin soup, donating or volunteering, and speak out on this issue to your local town.

Sources where did you find the information?

1. https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/profiles-profils/tigershark-requintigre-

2. https://environment.bm/species-spotlight/2011/6/16

Scientific name: Carcharhinus leucas

Average size: 7tf in length, weigh typically 200-500 pounds.

Habitat: Usually live near high-population areas like tropical shorelines. Not bothered by brackish and freshwater, sometimes venturing far inland via rivers and tributaries.

Food: They eat almost anything they can including: fish, dolphins, and other sharks. Also, alongside The Great White and Tiger Shark, as being known to attack humans, mainly if they are provoked or out of pure curiosity.

Mouth or teeth size: Their teeth to be at max 1 inch, typically shorter. They are considered to be smaller, needle like teeth, that are extremely sharp. The bull shark has a ridiculously high amount of teeth, as it has 50 rows of these small knives lining up its mouth.

Unique characteristics: Like the great white, they are grey on top and white on their bellies to match the lighting in the ocean. They have thick, stout bodies and long pectoral fins.

3 Interesting facts: They have special glands by their tails that help them keep salt water in their bodies, even in freshwater. Said to be more aggressive due to higher testosterone levels compared to other sharks. Can swim in waters up to 5ft deep, which many humans are unaware of, leading to human attacks.

The link to at least one youtube video talking about ithttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcd67bSR5sQ

New discoveries about their behavior, biology, possible uses in medicine (If any) Considered to be solo hunters,, but sometimes hunt in pairs. They are extremely fast and excelerate high aggression towards their prey. This makes them considered to be the most aggressive shark on the planet. They are super unpredictable and humans are advised to avoid them. Not used in medical research by humans.

Are they threatened (by humans, climate change)? Why? Yes, due to the increasing amounts of fishing and finning in the oceans. Similar to other top apex predators, if global warming caused by humans kills lower species that can't handle the hotter waters, the whole food chain will fall apart. This will lead to not enough food for the upper predators and the extinction of hundreds of species, including sharks.

What are we doing to protect these species? What else could we do? There are many organizations working to protect these species and much stricter law enforcement on illegal fishing. We can work to protect these sharks by educating yourselves and others, not eating shark fin soup, donating or volunteering, and speak out on this issue to your local town.

Sources where did you find the information?

1. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/b/bull-shark/#:~:text=Bull%20sharks

2. https://www.dentalcenter-in.com/anatomy-shark-tooth/#:~:text=The%20bull%20shark%20has%20s