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Rowing sharks are amazing creatures that live in all the oceans of the world. It is not only the second largest fish in the world, but also the only shark that passively filters food. While not everything is known about the giant shark due to its stealthiness, there are many interesting facts to learn about this species. Here are eight giant shark facts that will amaze you and show you just how incredible this shark can be.
1.) Rowing sharks can weigh over 10,000 pounds.
Giant sharks, being the second largest fish in the world, are expected to be large. But did you know that the average weight of an adult giant shark is estimated at 10,260 pounds? To put this in perspective, this is the same weight as five Medium Great White Sharks combined.
Unsurprisingly, they weigh so much when you consider that they can reach lengths up to 12 m (39 ft). Everything about the giant shark is larger than life, thanks to its large gills, powerful crescent-shaped tail and giant gaping mouth.
The largest giant shark ever recorded was found in 1851 in Canada and is estimated to have weighed up to 36,000 pounds! That’s 7.2 times the size of the largest white shark ever recorded.
2.) Despite their huge size, swimming sharks can jump out of the water.
You might think that their slow movements and large size will make it difficult for these species to catch air. Despite this, there are many cases when this huge shark breaks into the water like a small dolphin.
Swimming sharks can jump 1.2 meters (4 feet) out of the water, reaching speeds of 18 km / h (11.1 mph). The disturbance is believed to signal other sharks to clear their skin of parasites. It’s nice to see such a large creature jumping out of the water as a species much smaller than it.
3.) Dirty sharks can be very annoying.
Swimming sharks are covered in thick slime. This strong mucus can not only corrode nets, but it can also have a strong odor that some say can be felt over water. The smelly mucus that covers their bodies is used to ward off aquatic parasites such as lampreys.
4.) The liver of a giant shark makes up 25% of their weight.
The liver of a giant shark makes up 20 to 25% of its entire body weight. Their livers are important for regulating their buoyancy and energy use. Their liver contains 60% fat, which helps this large fish to stay afloat.
Throughout human history, this shark has been hunted for its giant liver, which contains piles of shark oil. The oil is used for healing and cosmetic items, and its collection has become a factor in why this species is endangered.
5.) The giant shark has about 1500 teeth.
The mouth of a giant shark reaches 1 meter in length and can contain more than 1,500 teeth. These teeth are not used for chewing; they are small and tapered. They have 6 rows of teeth in the upper jaw and 9 rows in the lower jaw. Each row contains about 100 teeth, 5 to 6 mm long. One of the uses for their small teeth is to hold onto partners during mating. While the total number of giant shark teeth is impressive, their filter-feeding cousins, whale sharks eat using 3,000 teeth!
6.) Swimming sharks usually cover a distance of more than 3000 kilometers.
Giant sharks are highly migratory animals that travel thousands of miles in winter and dive into the depths of the ocean to feed on plankton. One giant shark spotted covered 9,589 km (5,958 miles) and dived to 1,264 m. The reason for the migration is unknown to scientists, but some reasonable theories include mating, foraging, and shifting to preferred water temperatures. The marking technology has brought insight into this species that was previously unattainable, and will allow scientists to completely piece together their mysterious journeys.
7.) Dirty sharks can travel in groups, and one of them was about 1400 sharks in size.
Rowing sharks live alone, but sometimes shark groups can form large schools of up to 100 members. On November 5, 2013, a large group of sharks was sighted off the coast of New England with 1,398 sharks within a 17.7 km radius of each other. Numbers so high have never met together before, and this is a positive sign for this species. It was believed that the large amount of plankton in the water caused such a great feeding frenzy.
8.) Pregnancy of riding sharks is up to 3.5 years.
The gestation period of a giant shark can last about 3.5 years and is the longest of all vertebrates. They give birth to live young, which hatch from eggs inside their uterus. Unlike some species, such as the whale shark, which can give birth to hundreds of cubs, the giant shark only gives birth to a few live cubs. Their long gestation period and the number of babies born is the reason why it is difficult to restore the population of this endangered species.
9.) Dirty sharks could be mistaken for dinosaurs!
Have you ever heard of the Loch Ness Monster? It is believed to be a plesiosaur, which has been a species of long-necked carnivorous marine reptile since the days of the dinosaurs. In addition to the Loch Ness Monster, there were other reports of plesiosaurs around the world, such as the report of a Japanese trawler in 1977, which attracted considerable attention.
So, are ancient creatures from the time of the dinosaurs hiding in the ocean? The truth is, DNA analysis showed that this trawler actually carried the carcass of a giant shark, not a plesiosaur. When giant sharks decompose, their bodies decompose so that their head remains intact and their midsection withers. This results in an appearance similar to the ancient reptiles from the sea. So, if you hear about a long-necked dinosaur being washed out of the sea, the truth is, it’s probably just a giant shark!
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