Yes, my friends, it is that time of year again! No, not Father’s Day, or the Summer Solstice, or whatever Juneteenth day is, it’s time for Shark Week — the greatest week-long celebration ever! People still watch Shark Week, right? Right? Just me? Oh whale, anyway — in honor of Shark Week 2016, here are some intriguing facts about one of the world’s most misunderstood animals.
1. How They Breathe:
Contrary to popular belief, most sharks don’t really have to swim all the time just to breathe. Nurse sharks, for example, can pump water over their gills while they rest on the sea floor, giving them plenty of oxygen to stay alive.
2. We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat:
The mechanical shark used in Jaws malfunctioned so often that Steven Spielberg called it the “Great White Turd.”
3. Not Just Great Whites And Hammerheads:
As of now, over 440 species of sharks have been discovered, including the little known goblin shark, which sports a face only a mother shark could love.
4. Healing Properties?
Scientists now are researching shark skin for it’s unique anti-bacterial features in hopes of treating infections in humans.
5. The Largest Shark Ever:
Thought great whites were big enough? The prehistoric Carcharodon megalodon was larger than a Tyrannosaurus Rex, reaching upwards of 50 ft! Bonus Fact: As a nerdy 7-year-old, I would go around saying Carcharodon megalodon as if I were a brilliant shark expert.
6. The Man-Eater Myth:
Sharks always get a bad rap because of their ‘fearsome’ appearance and portrayal in popular media, but in reality, shark attacks result in an average of only 4.2 deaths each year world-wide. I mean come on, this big guy is far from fearsome!
7. Sharks Are In Danger:
Around 100 million sharks are killed each year; their fins go into making the popular Asian dish, shark fin soup, while their teeth and liver oil are used in medicines and cosmetics. Sharks are friends, not food people!
Watch Shark Week on the Discovery Channel starting on June 26! Love sharks as much as I do and want to save them? Here are 25 Ways to Help Sharks from Sharksaver.org.
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