Sharks Fact File
Sharks are some of the oldest, strangest and most misunderstood animals on Earth. Welcome to the Sharks Fact File — a growing collection of fun, surprising and genuinely useful facts about sharks, from record-breaking giants to the species behind the headlines.
Shark facts at a glance
Nine quick facts to get you started — then dive into the full articles below.
Older than trees
Sharks have patrolled the oceans for over 400 million years — longer than trees have existed, and long before the dinosaurs.
No bones at all
A shark’s skeleton is made entirely of cartilage, the same flexible material in your ears and nose.
Hundreds of species
There are more than 500 known species of shark, from the tiny dwarf lanternshark to the giant whale shark.
The biggest fish alive
The whale shark can grow longer than a bus, yet feeds almost entirely on tiny plankton.
Endless teeth
Many sharks grow, lose and replace tens of thousands of teeth across a single lifetime.
A sixth sense
Sharks detect the faint electrical fields of living creatures using organs called the ampullae of Lorenzini.
Centuries old
The Greenland shark is the longest-lived vertebrate known — some may be over 300 years old.
Not all are giants
The smallest sharks could sit in your palm, measuring under 20 cm (8 in) long.
Megalodon was real
The largest shark ever, megalodon, went extinct around 3.6 million years ago — and dwarfed today’s great white.
Shark facts, in depth
25 Amazing Shark Facts
Fun, surprising and downright weird truths about the ocean’s top predator.
Read →Hammerhead Shark Facts
Why that head? The nine species, their diet, and whether they’re dangerous.
Read →Does Jewelry Attract Sharks?
The truth about shiny jewelry in the water — and when to take it off.
Read →Love sharks? Bring one home — explore the best shark plush and shark jewelry, ranked by real reviews.
More than a scary reputation
For all their fearsome image, sharks are vital to healthy oceans — and far more remarkable than the movies suggest. The more you learn about them, the harder they are not to love. New articles are added to the Fact File regularly, so check back as it grows.