What are sharks?
Sharks are one of the most recognisable marine species in the world with their sharp teeth, unmistakable fins and long, slender bodies. They’re often one of the most misunderstood sea creatures because of their negative portrayal in films and TV shows throughout history, but most sharks are actually docile and harmless to humans.
Sharks are the prehistoric predators of the sea, thriving in our oceans for millions of years. They come in many different shapes and sizes, with some species being as long as a bus, while others are more pocket-sized.
All sharks have four traits in common, which help define them as a species and allow us to easily spot them.
- Fixed fins: Unlike other fish, sharks can’t move their fins, and instead use them to cut through the water helping them to swim and turn faster while in pursuit of their prey.
- Bendy bones: Sharks don’t have a skeleton made of bones. Instead, their insides are made of cartilage (the same stuff that’s in our ears and noses). Cartilage is strong but flexible, making sharks agile swimmers!
- Glorious gills: Most other fish have just one gill slit protected by a gill cover. Sharks have around five to seven gills, although they have no gill cover to protect them. The more gill slits a shark has, the deeper in the ocean it likes to live.
- Sharp skin: Shark skin is not scaled but made of thousands of tiny teeth called denticles. Their sharp skin decreases drag and turbulence while a shark swims, making them stealthy hunters!
But even though sharks all share these traits, there are over 500 different species of sharks living in our oceans, each with their own unique characteristics and behaviours.
In the UK alone, we’re lucky to have 40 of some of the most unique sharks, including mako sharks in the south of England, Greenland sharks off the coast of Northern Scotland and sometimes even basking sharks in the River Severn here in Bristol.
Types of sharks at Bristol Aquarium
Ready to meet Bristol Aquarium’s shark species? Dive in below…
Sharks at Bristol Aquarium
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Port Jackson (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
Coming from a line of ancient sharks, the Port Jackson shark is an impressive species of horn shark. It has two types of teeth (which is where its scientific name comes from), an unmistakable blunt head and produces spiral egg cases taking up to 12 months to hatch.
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Japanese banded hound shark (Triakis scyllium)
Our Japanese banded hound shark is interesting for multiple reasons, including the fact that females reproduce without males and give birth to 10-20 pups per litter after the eggs hatch inside their bodies. Like the brownbanded bamboo shark, this species also loses its distinctive bands as it ages. They can grow to a larger maximum size of around 150cm.
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Lesser spotted cat shark (Scyliorhinus canicula)
The lesser spotted cat shark is native to the UK, typically living in shallow waters and up to 700m below sea level. Smaller than other species and rarely reaching its maximum size of around 100cm, you can easily spot this species thanks to its dark spots and blotches covering its skin.
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Bull huss shark (Scyliorhinus stellaris)
The bull huss shark can grow up to an impressive 170cm, and their large size starts when they lay their eggs. They hatch at almost double the size of the lesser spotted catshark species. Their diet is highly varied and includes a diverse range of prey, including crustaceans, cephalopods and even smaller sharks. Unfortunately, this species is classified as vulnerable and requires conservation efforts since populations are in decline.
More sharks!
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Arabian carpet shark (Chiloscyllium arabicum)
The Arabian carpet shark is typically found living in waters around the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean, which is where it gets its name. In terms of appearance, this species is known for its distinctive, mottled carpet-like pattern covering its slender body. They can grow up to 89cm in length, although when they’re born, they’re often less than 10cm. Arabian carpet sharks have a varied diet, including molluscs, crustaceans and snake eels.
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Brownbanded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum)
True to its name, this shark has a brown-banded pattern that fades with age, helping you tell how old it is just from a quick observation. Living for up to around 25 years old and growing up to 132cm in length, they’re a formidable presence in the Indo-West Pacific from Japan to northern Australia. Another interesting fact is that they can also survive out of the water for several hours.
Where to spot our sharks during your next visit
At Bristol Aquarium, our collection of exhibits is the perfect place to spot different shark species and learn more about their unique characteristics, behaviours, diets and more.
In our Sunken Shipwreck exhibit, you’ll find our lesser spotted cat shark and bull huss shark swimming around with more than 20 other marine species.
Meanwhile, in our warm, tropical Coral Seas exhibit, you can get up close and personal with several shark species, including the Port Jackson shark, Japanese banded hound shark, Arabian carpet shark and brownbanded bamboo shark alongside other exciting sea creatures.
Rays
Sharks and rays are actually very similar because they are both part of the same family!