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In the minds of most people, the shark is a large, fast-swimming, ruthless predator that cruises the oceans in search of prey, particularly in the form of humans. The feared great white shark has done more to cloud people’s opinions of sharks than any of the other species, most of which are harmless to humans. Well over 350 species of sharks are known to science, and they can be found in all the world’s oceans, from the polar regions to the equator, and at all depths, from the surface and

the seashore to the deepest ocean troughs. Some live in estuarine conditions, finding their way into river mouths, and one or two species are able to live in freshwater in large river systems. There is nowhere in the world’s oceans, except perhaps for the most heavily polluted or over­ fished regions, where sharks cannot be found. Given their abundance and sheer variety, sharks bear closer examination. As we begin to understand them better, we come to appreciate them more fully.

The white-tip reef shark is a common species around reefs and submerged rocks, easily recognized by its white fin tips. It is a fish eater and is also curious about human swimmers but usually not aggressive.

The excellent camouflage of the Pacific angel shark helps it blend with its background on a sandy seabed. The broad mouth is surrounded by sensory barbels, which detect food in the dark.

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