Most dangerous and deadliest shark species
- by Indiatimes
- Jul 25, 2024
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Jul 25, 2024, 15:53 IST
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Great White Shark
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) leads the list with the highest number of attacks on humans, totaling 354, including 57 fatalities. Despite their fearsome reputation, these sharks are not mindless killers but are curious and may bite to investigate. They generally prefer the fatty blubber of seals and sea lions over humans. Their large bite and powerful jaws make them particularly dangerous when attacks do occur.
Tiger Shark
Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) are known for their indiscriminate feeding habits, consuming a wide range of items, including other animals and inedible objects. They have been responsible for 138 attacks, with 36 fatalities. Their powerful jaws and elastic muscles make them formidable predators capable of inflicting severe damage.
Bull Shark
The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is notorious for its aggressiveness and adaptability, capable of living in both saltwater and freshwater. With 121 attacks, including 26 fatalities, it ranks among the most dangerous sharks. Its ability to inhabit shallow waters increases the likelihood of encounters with humans, making it a significant threat.
Requiem Sharks
The requiem shark family includes about 50 species, known for their aggressive feeding behaviour, particularly when they detect struggling prey. They have been involved in 68 attacks on humans, with one fatality. These sharks are versatile feeders, consuming a wide variety of marine creatures. Larger species, like the bull shark, are particularly dangerous.
Blacktip Shark
The blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus), often seen in Florida, is known for causing about 16 percent of shark bites on surfers in the state. Measuring around 5 feet (1.5 metres) and weighing about 40 pounds (18 kilograms), blacktip sharks have been involved in 41 documented attacks on humans, but none have been fatal. They are often found near shore in shallow waters and are distinguished by the black markings on their fin tips.
Sand Tiger Shark
The sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) is a large and bulky shark, recognizable by its prominent, jagged teeth. Although they have attacked humans 36 times, none of these encounters have been fatal. Sand tigers are found in warm seas around the world and are typically found close to shore. They are known to hunt in groups and have a hearty appetite for various prey.
Wobbegong Shark
Wobbegong sharks, part of the genus Orectolobus, are known for their camouflaged appearance and tend to lie in wait on the ocean floor for prey. Despite their seemingly docile nature, they have been responsible for at least 19 attacks on humans, although no fatalities have been documented. Species like the spotted wobbegong can be particularly aggressive, with unprovoked attacks occurring when people accidentally step on them or come too close.
Bronze Whaler
The bronze whaler (Carcharhinus brachyurus), named for its grey to olive-green colouring, is a substantial shark species with males reaching about 6.6 to 7.5 feet (2 to 2.3 metres) and females up to 7.9 feet (2.4 metres). They have unique hooked teeth, broad snouts, and bulges at the base of their upper tail fin. Bronze whalers are found in temperate waters worldwide but are often fished for consumption in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, and South Africa.
Since 1962, bronze whalers have been involved in 15 shark attacks, with only one fatality reported. These sharks are often seen near shore, feeding on schooling fish and may migrate seasonally, following large sardine groups along Africa’s southern coast. They are fast-moving and occasionally leap out of the water.
Blue Shark
Blue sharks, such as the one seen in the Azores, Portugal, are typically more frightened of humans than humans are of them. This is reassuring news for those enjoying the ocean close to the shore. The blue shark (Prionace glauca), which can reach over 12 feet (3.6 metres) in length, prefers deeper waters, generally staying at depths of at least 1,150 feet (350 metres). It primarily preys on small bony fishlike like herring and sardines, and invertebrates such as squid, cuttlefish, and octopus. Blue sharks are also known to scavenge and occasionally steal from fishermen's nets.
However, despite their generally non-aggressive nature compared to more dangerous species like bull sharks, blue sharks may occasionally bite if they come across a distressed human, especially in situations like shipwrecks or plane crashes. There have been 13 unprovoked attacks recorded, including four fatalities.
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
The oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), identifiable by the white tips on its fins, is known for its bold behaviour. Despite having only 12 unprovoked attacks and three fatalities on record, it is believed that this shark might be responsible for more incidents than reported, especially
during wartime shipwrecks. Jacques Cousteau once labelled it as highly dangerous due to its aggressive nature and tendency to investigate divers.
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