Great white enigma: In search of the Mediterranean’s giant sharksJuly 22, 2021 – Few species thrill (or chill) like the great white shark. Yet little is known about the population inhabiting one of the world’s busiest seas—except that they’re there, and they’re big.
Why did these shark hunters bury their dead with extra limbs?July 07, 2023 – Archaeologists have found evidence of human-shark interaction going back more than 3,5000 years in Peru, including ceremonial shark burials and fishermen buried with additional body parts.
Sharks Galápagos Image | National Geographic Your Shot Photo of the DayA school of sharks swim in the Galápagos in this National Geographic Your Shot Photo of the Day.
How drones are revolutionizing our understanding of sharksJuly 11, 2022 – Aerial footage can provide real-time information about sharks’ presence near beaches, as well as insight into their unique behaviors.
Great White SharkApril 01, 2014 – When a great white shark is born, along with up to a dozen siblings, it immediately swims away from its mother. Born on the east and west coasts of North America, the south of Africa and southwest Australia, baby sharks are on their own right from the start. Their mother may see them only as prey. At birth the baby shark is already about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long; as it grows it may reach a length up to four times that. The pup (which is what a baby shark is called) will live its life at the top of the ocean's food chain. But before it grows larger, the pup must avoid predators bigger than it is—including other great white sharks. Many baby sharks do not survive their first year. Young great white sharks eat fish (including other sharks) and rays. As they grow, the sharks’ favorite prey becomes sea mammals, especially sea lions and seals. Sharks count on the element of surprise as they hunt. When they see a seal at the surface of the water, sharks will often position themselves underneath the seal. Using their tails as propellers, they swim upward at a fast sprint, burst out of the water in a leap called a breach, and fall back into the water with the seal in their mouths. They can smell a single drop of blood from up to a third of a mile (0.53 kilometers) away. Sharks don't chew their food; they rip off chunks of meat and swallow them whole. They can last a month or two without another big meal.
Single orca seen killing great white shark for first time everMarch 01, 2024 – A South African killer whale already famous for surgically extracting shark livers has a new trick up its sleeve—but it could harm shark populations.
Sharks vs. SlothsSeptember 05, 2019 – In one corner, swinging in ever so slowly, is the chillest dude himself: Sloth! And making a splash in the other corner is Shark, ready to sink her teeth into this competition! Get ready to rumble in this latest installment of the funny face-off series! Check out a sneak peek of the book and vote for your fave.
Sand Tiger SharkSeptember 10, 2010 – Find out why this shark is not nearly as fierce as its protruding teeth might suggest. See how surface air breathing sets them apart from their relatives.
Sand Tiger SharkMarch 01, 2014 – Sand tiger sharks are also known as sand tigers and gray nurse sharks. Like all sharks, they breathe underwater, through their gills. But sand tigers have one unique habit. They are the only sharks that come to the surface to gulp air, but not to breathe. The air ends up in its stomach. The air makes the shark more buoyant, so it can float motionless in the water as it watches for prey. Sand tigers generally hunt at night; just above the ocean floor. Sand tiger sharks like the shallow water close to shore and so have "sand" in their name. The "tiger" was inspired by their big appetite. Sand tiger sharks look ferocious, with a row of jagged teeth that you can see even when their mouths are closed! However, these fish are not very aggressive toward people and bother people only when people bother them first. Many aquariums keep sand tiger sharks in their shark exhibits because they're so impressive looking and survive well in captivity. On the top of its body, a sand tiger is brownish-gray and often sprinkled with darker spots. Its belly is whitish. Some kinds of sharks lay eggs; others, like the sand tiger, give birth to live young called pups. A newborn can swim and eat right away. When young their main danger is bigger sharks, but once they grow to their full size, they no longer have major predators to worry about.
Here’s what kids can learn from sharksJuly 15, 2021 – Shark tourism could help raise awareness about these misunderstood fish. But can your family do it safely and sustainably?
Episode 25: Do shark stories help sharks?July 12, 2022 – From Greek mythology to Jaws to Shark Week, sharks have always made for good stories. But is this perennial season of attention-grabbing coverage helping or hurting shark conservation?
Where the fear of sharks came fromAugust 05, 2020 – Blockbuster films and extensive news coverage of rare attacks often portray sharks as vengeful, human-eating beasts. However, the data and conservation efforts show that sharks actually have more reasons to fear us.
The surprising ways sharks keep the ocean healthyJuly 27, 2021 – The predators have a vital role in stabilizing their ecosystems—and that could be even more important as climate change progresses.
Helping kids overcome their fear of sharks and other ‘scary’ animalsJuly 27, 2020 – Animal experts weigh in on how to show children there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Shark Heaven | Nat Geo Photo of the DayA Caribbean reef shark swims over a coral reef in the Bahamas in this image from our photography archives.
My shark photo took over the internet, inspiring countless fakes and real awarenessJune 10, 2021 – We set out to track great white sharks. But when the tables were turned, a surprising photograph went viral.