Random Fascinating Facts About Sharks That Most People Don't Know (15 items)

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  (#1) Some Sharks Can Walk On Land

  Four new species of walking sharks were discovered in northern Australia and New Guinea in January 2020. Scientists from several research institutions spent 12 years studying walking sharks before announcing the new species. According to Mark Erdmann of Conservation International, the "bottom-dwelling sharks actually walk using their pectoral and pelvic fins" rather than swim, which allows them to "poke their heads under coral and rocks as they look for small fish, snails, and crustaceans to eat." 

  The walking sharks evolved just 12 million years ago, and are therefore the youngest shark species known to man. In 2016, scientists reported nine species of walking sharks. The four new species were found in what's called "Bird's Head Seascape," where they may have "hitched a ride on a drifting island." Apparently, the small, patterned animals cannot move across deep waters because they are unable to swim, so the only way for them to travel to distant locations is for their reefs to move. 

  Though they live on the ocean floor, walking sharks can in fact walk on dry land. They are not a threat to anyone other than "small crustaceans and mollusks." 
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  (#3) Sharks Use Electric Fields To Detect The Heartbeat Of Prey

  Sharks have special sensory organs known as ampullae of Lorenzini, which are deep pores found around their snouts. The ampullae are sensitive electroreceptors that help with hunting. A shark uses this electroreception sensory system to detect electrical activity that fluctuates from its prey, such as a creature’s beating heart.
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  (#7) You Are More Likely To Be Taken Out By A Coconut Than A Shark

  While you may be afraid of swimming in the ocean because of sharks, the truth is sharks are less lethal than you think. Research even shows that sharks honestly don't like the taste of human flesh, but attack out of confusion (you may resemble a seal). In fact, you're more likely to be injured or ended by a falling coconut or a mosquito than by a shark!

  What's even more odd is that you're more likely to be injured or ended by a toilet-related accident than by a shark. Reports from 1996 show that over 43,000 Americans were injured in a toilet-related incident within that year, while shark injuries involved a mere 13 human-related incidents. Shark-related deaths are low, only averaging about 10 a year, which is less than one a month. 
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  (#4) Sharks Have Roamed The Earth's Waters For Over 419 Million Years

  Sharks have been around for over 419 million years and have adapted to increase their survival rates. For example, the great white is recorded as the largest predatory fish in the ocean, averaging 15 to 20 feet long. While great whites may sound intimidating in stature, there was an even larger predatory shark that lived millions of years ago called the megalodon. 

  Megalodons resembled the great white in every aspect, save for its immense size. In length alone, the megalodon was said to have grown up to 59 feet!  
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  (#15) Latern Sharks Glow In The Dark

  The lantern sharks are a species that are rarely seen. In fact, they enjoy living in the furthest depths of the ocean’s dark waters. Lantern sharks have the amazing ability to glow in the dark and appear invisible to predators below them. When they light up, they let off a soft, luminous glow that is produced by organs called photophores. Researchers believe the sharks may be glowing to attract a mate and to ward off or hide from predators.  
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  (#11) Some Sharks Can Heat Up Their Eyeballs To See Better

  Most sharks are cold-blooded in biology, but there are some sharks, such as makos and great whites (classified as Laminids) that have the ability to generate their own heat. This helps them maintain their body temperature as the ocean temperature changed. In addition, Laminids can also use this ability to heat up their brains and eyeballs to improve vision. 

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