Home > Science Fact Finder > The Animal World - How Many Kinds Of Sharks Are There And How Many Are Dangerous?

1. Printable Version
2. Download PDF
3. Cite this Page

How many kinds of sharks are there and how many are dangerous?

There are 354 species of sharks, ranging in length from 6 inches (15 centimeters) to 49 feet (15 meters), according to the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization. While 35 species are known to have attacked humans at least once, only a dozen do so on a regular basis.

The relatively rare Great White shark (Carcharodan carcharias) is the largest predatory fish in the world. The largest specimen of this species to be accurately measured was 20 feet 4 inches (6.2 meters) long and weighed 5,000 pounds (2,270 kilograms).

Sources: The Guinness Book of Records 1994, p. 41; The Guinness Book of Records 1996, p. 34; Maniquet, Xavier. The Jaws of Death, pp. 15-16; O'Brien, Tim. Where the Animals Are, p. 102.

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass

1. Physical Characteristics And Terms
   1. What are the largest and smallest living animals?
   2. How long do animals, in particular mammals, live?
   3. Besides humans, which animals are the most intelligent?
   4. Do all animals have red blood?
   5. How is the age of fish determined?
   6. Do animals have color vision?
   7. Can animals regenerate parts of their bodies?
   8. What names are used for groups of animals?
   9. What names are used for male and female animals?
   10. What names are used for juvenile animals?
   11. What is the difference between a pig and a hog?
2. Mammals
   1. Which mammal has the shortest gestation period? Which one has the longest?
   2. How many quills does a porcupine have?
   3. Are there any mammals that fly?
   4. How does the breath-holding capability of a human compare with other mammals?
   5. What is the difference between porpoises and dolphins?
   6. What are some animals that have pouches?
   7. How long does a gray wolf live?
   8. What is the chemical composition of a skunk's spray?
   9. Do camels store water in their humps?
   10. How do whales compare in weight and height?
   11. What is the difference between an African elephant and an Indian elephant?
   12. How long do wombats live and what do they eat?
   13. Is there a cat that lives in the desert?
3. Birds
   1. Why do birds migrate annually?
   2. Which bird migrates the greatest distance?
   3. Do all birds fly?
   4. Why do geese fly in formation?
   5. Which birds lay the largest and smallest eggs?
   6. How does a homing pigeon find its way home?
   7. Will wild birds reject baby birds that have been touched by humans?
   8. When was the bald eagle adopted as the national bird of the United States?
   9. What can an orphaned wild bird eat?
   10. What species of birds will nest in birdhouses?
   11. Can any birds fly upside down?
4. Aquatic Life, Reptiles, And Amphibians
   1. How many kinds of sharks are there and how many are dangerous?
   2. How do salmon find the way to their spawning grounds?
   3. How are coral reefs formed?
   4. How fast can a crocodile run on land?
   5. How much electricity does an electric eel generate?
   6. What are giant tube worms?
   7. What is the difference between a reptile and an amphibian?
   8. What kind of care do tadpoles need and what do they eat?
   9. Which poisonous snakes are native to the United States?
5. Insects And Spiders
   1. What are the stages of insect metamorphosis?
   2. What are some beneficial insects?
   3. How many species of insects are there?
   4. How does a butterfly differ from a moth?
   5. How many eggs does a spider lay?
   6. How long does it take the average spider to weave a complete web?
   7. What is the most destructive insect in the world?
   8. What is a "daddy longlegs"?
   9. What are "killer bees"?
   10. How many pairs of legs does a centipede have?
   11. How is the light in fireflies produced?
   12. Do male mosquitoes bite humans?
   13. What causes the Mexican jumping bean to move?
   14. How fast is a snail's pace?
6. Pets
   1. Why can a dog or cat hear a whistle that a human cannot?
   2. Do dogs and cats dream?
   3. Do dogs and cats have memories?
   4. Which breed is known as the "wrinkled dog"?
   5. Which breed is known as the "voiceless dog"?
   6. Why are dalmatians called "firehouse dogs"?
   7. Which breeds of dogs are the most dangerous?
   8. Why and how do cats purr?
   9. Why do cats' eyes shine in the dark?
   10. Why do cats like catnip?
   11. Which types of birds make the best pets?
   12. What do you feed a hermit crab?