The Bull Shark

Bull sharks are special because they can live in both fresh and salt waters. You know how? Because they can balance the amount of salt in their bodies. Bull sharks have even been found in the Mississippi River in Illinois! Bull sharks usually swim in shallow waters, so they can sometimes run into people.

Bull sharks aren't very long but are very heavy and have a powerful bite. They are also aggressive and guard their territory. Bull sharks will attack creatures bigger than them if they feel threatened.

Bull sharks have small eyes, but since they swim in shallow and murky water, good eyes wouldn't help them, anyway. They use their other senses. Scientists think the bull sharks' weak eyes might be why there have been so many bites on people.

Have you ever seen a Bull Shark?

The Blacktip Reef Shark

Hi Shark Team,

Today I want to tell you about the Blacktip Reef Shark. These sharks get their name because they have black markings on their fins AND because they live in coral reefs. Blacktip reef sharks are about 4 to 7 feet long.

The blacktip reef shark mainly eats small fish and shellfish. They feed with hundreds of other sharks and have to compete for their food. But blacktips don't travel far to eat. They pick a spot with plenty of food to eat and stay in that area.

Want to know something really cool? There are caves along the coast of Mexico with currents strong enough to pass water through reef sharks' gills. This lets them breathe without having to swim. Sometimes divers can find 20 or more taking a break in these caves!

Have you ever seen a Blacktip Reef Shark?

The Lemon Shark

I really like lemon sharks. Lemon sharks have brown skin with a little yellow. These special colors help camouflage the lemon shark as it swims along the sandy ocean floor. Their skin has indentations, so it really looks and feels like a lemon! Lemon sharks are 8 to 9 feet long. The hang out in shallow water and eat smaller sharks, crustaceans, turtles, and sting rays.

Lemon sharks are social. They stick with other sharks the same size and are often with a group. Researchers discovered lemon sharks prefer being in a group to being alone.

Have you ever seen a lemon shark?

The Tiger Shark

The tiger shark is one of the most dangerous kinds of sharks. When tiger sharks are born, they have stripes like a tiger. As they grow older, the stripes fade away. Tiger sharks can be found in almost all coastal areas except the Mediterranean. They hunt alone, usually at night in shallow waters. Tiger sharks also swim to depths of 450 feet! Tiger sharks have teeth stronger than the teeth of a great white shark.

A tiger shark has the nickname 'garbage guts' because it eats almost anything, even trash! Things such as crocodile heads, dolls, license plates, and beer bottles have been found in the stomachs of tiger sharks.  But sometimes, even tiger sharks get a tummy ache. They will eat sea turtles, but it is hard for them to digest the shell. To get the turtle shell out, the shark actually vomits its own stomach out, gets rid of the object, and then swallows its stomach back into place. Can you believe that?!?!

Tiger sharks, like all sharks, are important to our ecosystem. They help keep our ocean in balance.

Have you ever seen a tiger shark?