R & C | ICHTHYOLOGY | SHARKS: FACT AND FANTASY

Dangerous Sharks

Sharks do not intentionally hunt people, but occasionally they do bite us. Researchers are not entirely sure why sharks attack. Perhaps they mistake us for something they do like to eat - a white shark, for example, might mistake a surfer on a surfboard for a seal or sea lion. Perhaps they are provoked by something we are doing or are trying to defend their territory. Over 380 kinds of sharks are known but most species seldom pose a threat to people The three most potentially dangerous sharks are probably the bull shark, white shark, and tiger shark.