SPECIAL FEATURES:
Email
Top 5 endangered sharks
Shark Week is over, but let's not forget who is the scariest predator of them all -- humans. Planet 100 counts down the Top 5 endangered sharks.
Tue, Aug 10 2010 at 3:49 AM
Related Topics:
Shark Week tends to bring out mostly unwarranted fears about shark attacks, but actually sharks are the ones that should be scared ... of humans. As a reminder, the Planet 100 show offers a list of the 5 most endangered shark species:
5. Basking shark
In at number five, the slow-moving and generally harmless basking shark gets its name from basking in shallow temperate waters to feed. Unfortunately its docile nature has been its downfall as it fast became a staple of the fishing industry. Its fins appear in shark fin soup and its cartilage is used in traditional Chinese medicine or as an aphrodisiac in Japan.
4. Dusky shark
In at number four, one of the largest of its genus, dusky sharks have a slender, streamlined body and their eyes are equipped with protective third eyelids.But sadly, they too are being endangered by a bowl of soup. Dusky sharks are now so depleted that scientists at the National Marine Fisheries Service estimate it could take from 100 to 400 years to rebuild their populations.
3. Scalloped hammerhead
Defined by its unusual hammer-shaped head, the scalloped hammerhead is often seen in schools of up to 100. Like the many large coastal shark species, the scalloped hammerhead has seen population declines of over 95 percent in the last 30 years — mind-boggling given sharks evolved some 400 million years ago. The scalloped hammerhead was added to the “globally endangered” species list in 2008.
2. Whale shark
In at number two, whale sharks — which can grow up to 40 feet — are the largest living fish species, can live up 100 years, and are endangered. Although revered around the world, whale sharks are targeted by fishermen in areas where they seasonally aggregate. Considered vulnerable by IUCN, their hunting is banned in some countries including the Philippines, India and Taiwan.
1. Great white shark
At number one, although they were depicted in "Jaws" as a ferocious man-eater, in reality humans are not the preferred prey of the great white shark. In fact, its humans that are endangering great whites through overfishing and collisions with shipping vessels. It’s now estimated that only 3,500 great whites are left in the wild, making them more endangered than tigers.
Related on MNN: Where sharks attack
via: Planet Green
MNN homepage photo: cdascher/iStockphoto
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.
You might also like:
Sign in with one of these accounts to add your comment.
EDITORS' PICKS
Earn 100 points for signing up for a free iMeet trial now.
Sponsored by
Advertisement
TODAY'S MOST POPULAR ON
- 15 famous people who mysteriously disappeared
- 13 natural remedies for the ant invasion
- Stone Age people may have battled against a zombie apocalypse
- 10 false facts most people think are true
- 5 life lessons learned by working at McDonald's
- Building a rocket stove to heat up the house
- The weirdest and wackiest animal discoveries of 2011
- 5 mind-bending facts about dreams
- Indian man single-handedly plants a 1,360-acre forest
- 12 best new features of the Samsung Galaxy S4
From our sponsor
NEWSLETTER
Advertisement
Most huge carnivorous animals have gone extinct, like the T-Rex, which allowed other species to thrive, like humans. So sharks going extinct really isn't something we can stop, it's just the circle of life, animals come and go. Humans ourselves may face an incurable virus someday and we'll go extinct as well. But the earth will go on without us, new life forms will emerge to take our place.
People are cruel, they're killing sharks for soup. Soup! It ridiculous! Sharks don't deserve being turned into soup, they deserve being protected.
It's so disturbing to see how creatures who roamed our great earth before us are endangered.... more disappointing is that they are endangered because of us! I wish people would be more knowledgeable to decrease their fear of those things they don't know about! Sharks are one of the most amazing and interesting creations....they deserve respect...not death!