WHITE DEATH

The image below is a photo of the exhibit panel. Following it is a transcript of the panel.

Photo of the panel from the exhibit.

The largest shark (ever!) was related to the modern great white. It preyed on early whales.

Lacking bone, sharks leave behind few fossils except teeth. From tooth remains, much can be interpreted about shark behavior.

The first sharks were probably bottom-dwellers. Some later sharks left the bottom to become streamlined, mid-water predators. Others, such as rays and skates, became even more specialized to bottom life by becoming flat. Even later, manta rays returned to mid-water and adapted to plankton feeding.

Shark Feeding

    Sharks feed in various ways: by inhaling, cutting, plankton straining, electric shocking, tearing, crushing, gulping, or puncturing.

white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
The largest flesh-eating shark alive (up to 21 feet long and 7,000 pounds), the "great white" is found in all seas. Unborn siblings probably eat each other while inside the mother's body. The white shark is a fierce predator, and has been known to attack humans.

Teeth:

  • some are serrated for cutting, others are pointed for stabbing
  • are covered with dentine and enamel
  • occur on the skin surface, as well as in jaws
  • are continuously replaced with lost

Jaws:

  • upper jaw is not fused to skull, drops away from the snout to increase mouth opening and drive teeth into prey

PICTURE CAPTIONS:

  • ancient shark
    Carcharodon megalodon
  • white shark
    Carcarodon carcharias