Think again! Sharks are more than their scary reputation and play important roles in sanctuary habitats from coral reefs to the deep seas. As predators, sharks help keep food webs in balance.
Your National Marine Sanctuary System is home to a variety of amazing sharks. Learn more about them in the links below.
📸: Leighton Lum (2022 GIYS Photo Contest Honorable Mention) Have you taken any fin-tastic photos? Submit your sharky pics to our #GetIntoYourSanctuary Photo Contest: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html
Some species of sharks have a spiracle that allows them to pull water into their respiratory system while at rest. Most sharks have to keep swimming to pump water over their gills.
A shark's spiracle is located just behind the eyes which supplies oxygen directly to the shark's eyes and brain. Bottom dwelling sharks, like angel sharks and nurse sharks, use this extra respiratory organ to breathe while at rest on the seafloor. It is also used for respiration when the shark's mouth is used for eating.
Sharks are beautiful animals, and if you're lucky enough to see lots of them, that means that you're in a healthy ocean. You should be afraid if you are in the ocean and don't see sharks. —Sylvia Earle
This #SharkWeek, we'd like to highlight the beauty and ecological significance of these captivating creatures. From the mighty great white to the tiny dwarf lantern shark, the diverse array of shark species play a pivotal role in many ocean ecosystems and help to support a healthy ocean.
In the deep sea, we often come across this spectacular species—the longnose catshark, Apristurus kampae. These catsharks are found at depths ranging from 180 to 1,900 meters (about 600 to 6,300 feet). Catsharks are bottom feeders, often sleeping in groups during the day and hunting at night.
Behold! The largest fish in the sea, the #whaleshark! Thought I’d end the month with something big and Keo fits the job! But you gotta wonder and awe, they get that big just by eating tons of tiny planktons, And they could still share with whales and other giant filter feeders. Its wonderful how vast the ocean is and how endless the population of planktons it held. *sigh well #sharkweek is over… But that doesn’t stop me from loving #sharks! https://www.instagram.com/p/CgrcDSEvPNh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
“That’s a really big fish! We may need a larger boat!” While these may sound like lines from a Hollywood movie, they are declarations during a real-life research cruise where scientists came across a massive white shark feeding on a whale carcass—an encounter that was not part of the original science plan.
Check out the incredible scene of white sharks scavenging in NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.