Knowra Shark Shark Sharks are cartilaginous fishes with lateral gill slits and pectoral fins distinct from the head. They range from small bottom-dwellers to large pelagic predators.
Chondrichthyes : A class of fishes whose skeletons are made primarily of cartilage, including sharks, rays, and chimaeras. Sharks belong to this broader group of cartilaginous fishes.
Shark skin : The dermal covering of sharks, bearing placoid scales and a protective mucus layer. Its surface texture affects protection, drag, and movement through water.
Whale shark : The largest living fish, a filter-feeding shark found in warm seas. It shows that sharks include enormous plankton feeders, not only hunters.
Shark finning : The removal of shark fins, often followed by discarding the body at sea. Demand for fins has contributed to severe pressure on some shark populations.
Elasmobranchii : A subclass of cartilaginous fishes that includes sharks, rays, and skates. This group places sharks alongside their closest living relatives.
Shark tooth : A replaceable tooth in a shark's continuously renewing rows of teeth. Tooth shape and replacement suit different prey and feeding strategies.
Great white shark : A large predatory shark found in coastal and offshore waters worldwide. Its ambush hunting and public prominence shape common images of sharks.
Shark conservation : Efforts to protect shark species through research, fisheries controls, and habitat measures. Many sharks face declines from fishing and slow population recovery.
Ampullae of Lorenzini : Electroreceptive organs that detect weak electric fields in water. These sensory organs help sharks detect prey and other signals.
Shark liver : A large, oil-rich organ that stores energy and helps many sharks maintain buoyancy. Its oils partly offset the lack of a gas-filled swim bladder.
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