SHARK ACADEMY

We believe the best way to get people to care about sharks is to educate.

In this section you will find links to all of our learning resources and knowledge pages. This includes our species guides, quizzes, dive tips, and more.

We really hope you find this a valuable resource. Please email us about topics you would like to see covered as the team are adding new pages all the time.

Remember that the biggest threats to sharks come from ignorance and mistaken beliefs. The world has been subjected to negative perceptions of sharks that bear very little relation to the truth. Sharks are magnificent creatures but extremely misunderstood.

Sharks are also fascinating animals - as you will find out they are some of the most accomplished creatures on earth, and have been here for so long they are perfectly evolved. In fact, rather than be afraid of sharks we should all be in awe of them, and change fear to appreciation and respect. By doing so we can all make sure we save sharks before it's too late.

Order: Hexanchiformes

The order Hexanchiformes contains two families. The Frilled sharks, or Chlamydoselachidae, and the Cow sharks, or Hexanchidae.

These sharks can be found all over the world in tropical, temperate and boreal waters. They prefer deep, cold habitats mostly in the tropics. However, they can be found inshore in temperate temperatures as well.

Hexanchiformes typically have 6 or 7 gill slits. Their vertebral column extends all the way to the caudal fin’s long dorsal lobe. They have one spineless dorsal fin over or behind the pelvic fins.

More About Hexanchiformes

Families:

Frilled Sharks

Cow Sharks

Order: Squaliformes

The Squaliformes, or common name Dogfish sharks are an order of sharks that includes about 130 species in seven families.

Most sharks in this order have two dorsal fins, which may or may not have spines. They can have a sharp head, no anal fin or nictitating membrane, but do have spiracles. The nostrils are not connected to the mouth. The caudal fin has a vertebral column that is elevated with a somewhat long dorsal lobe. There are 5 gill slits all in front of the pectoral fin origins. Squaliformes range in size from dwarf to huge.

More About Squaliformes

Families:

Bramble Sharks

Lantern Sharks

Sleeper Sharks

Rough Sharks

Kitefin Sharks

Order: Pristiophoriformes

Pristiophoriformes or Sawsharks are most recognized for their long, saw-like rostrum edged with sharp teeth (which are actually a form of dermal denticles), that they use for various functions like to search for, slash and disable prey. The teeth of the saw typically alternate between large and small in juveniles. They have long nasal barbels, which extend from about halfway up the saw. They have two dorsal fins, but lack anal fins. Most sawfish have 5 gill slits, however one of them has 6 (Genus: Pliotrema). Sawsharks reach a length of up to 5 feet and a weight of 18.7 pounds with females tending to be slightly larger than males. The body of a Longnose saw shark is covered in tiny placoid scales: modified teeth covered in hard enamel. The body is a yellow-brown color which is sometimes covered in dark spots or blotches. This coloration allows the sawshark to easily blend with the sandy ocean floor.

More About Pristiophoriformes

Families:

Sawsharks

Order: Squatiniformes

The Squatiniformes, or common name Angel Sharks are an order of sharks that is comprised of one family, Squatinidae (also common name Angel sharks or Angelsharks), which are unusual in having flattened bodies and broad, triangular pectoral fins that give them a strong resemblance to rays. The rear has a muscular appearance. The eyes and spiracles are on top and the five gill slits are on its back. Both the pectorals and the pelvic fins are large and are horizontally origin. There are two dorsal fins, no anal fin and the lower lobe of the caudal fin is longer than the upper lobe. They can grow on an average of 5 feet in length.

More About Squatiniformes

Order: Heterodontiformes

The Heterodontiformes, or common name Bullhead sharks are a small order of fairly modern sharks. They are uncommon, unique and rare. There are 9 (possibly 10) living species, which are placed in a single genus, Heterodontus, in the family Heterodontidae (also common name Bullhead sharks). All of them are relatively small, with the largest species reaching a maximum length of just 5.5 feet. They are bottom feeders in tropical and subtropical waters.

The Heterodontiforms are an ancient order which appear in the fossilrecord as far back as the early Mesozoic era, well before any of the other Galeomorphii, a group that includes all modern sharks except the dogfishand its relatives. However, they have never been common, and their origin probably lies even further back.

More About Heterodontiformes

Families:

Bullhead Sharks

Order: Orectolobiformes

The order Orectolobiformes, or common name Carpet sharks are named so because many species resemble ornately patterned carpets. These patterns are used to camouflage them in their environments, most of them lying on the sea floor. Carpet sharks have five gill slits, two spineless dorsal fins, and a short, transverse mouth that does not extend past the eyes. They do have spiracles just beneath the eyes, except the Whale shark, which sit behind the eyes. Many species have barbels.

The largest Carpet shark is the Whale shark, extending 40 feet in length, and the smallest is about 12 inches long, the Barbelthroat Carpet shark.

Carpet sharks are found in all the oceans of the world but mainly in tropical and temperate waters. They are most common in the western Indo-Pacific region and are usually found in relatively deep water.

More About Orectolobiformes

Families:

Collared Carpetsharks

Blind Sharks

Wobbegongs

Longtail Carpetsharks

Nurse Sharks

Zebra Sharks

Whale Sharks

Order: Lamniformes

The Lamniformes (from the Greek word, Lamna “fish of prey”) are an order of sharks commonly known as Mackerel sharks. It includes some of the most familiar species of sharks, such as the Great White shark and extinct Megalodon, as well as more unusual representatives, such as the Goblin shark and Megamouth shark.

Members of the order are distinguished by cylindrical bodies, possessing two dorsal fins, an anal fin, five gill slits, eyes without nictitating membranes, and a mouth extending behind the eyes. The nostrils are free from the mouth. Unlike other sharks, they maintain a higher body temperature than the surrounding water. They are mainly larger, active, fast-swimming, oceanic and pelagic sharks. There are some coastal, slower, less active sharks.

Lamniformes can be found globally in a wide range of habitats. Most prefer warmer waters; however, some do prefer colder temperatures. All are found only in salt water. Some are highly migratory and social. Lamniformes can be found from the intertidal zone to at least 5,250 feet offshore and in the open ocean.

More About Lamniformes

Order: Carcharhiniformes

Carcharhiniformes, also known as the common name Ground Sharks, is the largest order of sharks, with over 270 species. These species are the most diverse group of sharks. Members of this order are characterized by the presence of a nictitating membrane over the eye, two dorsal fins, an anal fin, and five gill slits. Most sharks in this order are small and harmless, but this order also includes some of the largest and most dangerous sharks to humans.

The families in the order Carcharhiniformes are expected to be revised; recent DNA studies show that some of the conventional groups are not monophyletic. These sharks are found worldwide. Some of these sharks are bottom-dwelling, and some large, oceanic sharks. Some in cold oceans, and others in tropical seas from intertidal zone to pelagic open ocean. Some sharks are poor swimmers, and others excel in swimming.

Reproduction and behavior vary greatly among families and species within this order.

More About Carcharhiniformes

Families:

Catsharks

Weasel Sharks

Requiem or Whaler Sharks

Hammerheads

Order: Rhinopristiformes

Rhinopristiformes is an order of rays, cartilaginous fishes related to sharks, containing shovelnose rays and allied groups. Rhinopristiformes are generally slow to grow, they mature late and have low fecundity, causing them to be susceptible to extinction. They are prone to being caught by many types of commercial fishing equipment. They are caught for their meat but most importantly their fins. While the meat is mostly consumed locally the white fins are a delicacy and highly sought after. They are the most valuable part of Rhinopristiformes; therefore, their fins are in high demand. Both the combination of overfishing and the high desire for their fins the Rhinopristiformes population is depleting rapidly.

More About Rhinopristiformes

Families:

Sawfish

Prehistoric Sharks

The prehistoric sharks are quite unique. They come from different orders and different families. They are special for they are the dinosaurs of the waters of Earth past. Relics too fascinating to forget about.

More About Prehistoric Sharks

Families:

Prehistoric Sharks

Southern African Frilled Shark

Frilled