Outline of sharks

• Ichthyology – branch of zoology devoted to fish (including sharks) • Meristics – branch of ichthyology that relates to counting features of fish, such as the number of fins or scales == Description ==

A shark can be described as all of the following: • Animal – multicellular, eukaryotic organism of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. An animal's body plan eventually becomes fixed as it develops, although some types of animal undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most kinds of animal are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and independently. • Chordate – Chordates (phylum Chordata) are animals which are either vertebrates or one of several closely related invertebrates. • Fish – gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate (or craniate) animal that lacks limbs with digits. • Chondrichthye (cartilaginous fish) – jawed fish with paired fins, paired nares, scales, two-chambered hearts, and skeletons made of cartilage rather than bone. • Elasmobranch – member of the subclass Elasmobranchii, which includes sharks, rays, and skates. • Predator – organism that attacks and feeds on prey (the organism that is attacked). • Apex predator – some shark species are apex predators, that is, predators with no predators of their own, residing at the top of their food chain. Biological classification shark orders|alt=Diagram showing shark "family tree" • Domain: Eukaryota • Kingdom: Animalia • Subkingdom: Eumetazoa • Superphylum: Deuterostomia • Phylum: Chordata • Subphylum: Vertebrata • Infraphylum: Gnathostomata • Class: Chondrichthyes • Subclass: Elasmobranchii • Division: Selachii == Types of sharks ==

List of sharks Subgroups of the Selachii include: • Carcharhiniformes – ground sharks • Heterodontiformes – bullhead sharks • Hexanchiformes – the five extant species of the most primitive types of sharks • Lamniformes – mackerel sharks • Orectolobiformes – includes carpet sharks, including zebra sharks, nurse sharks, wobbegongs, and the whale shark • Pristiophoriformes – includes sawsharks • Squaliformes – includes gulper sharks, bramble sharks, lantern sharks, rough sharks, sleeper sharks and dogfish sharks • Squatiniformes – angel sharks • † Cladoselachiformes? == Shark behavior ==

'' report of Jersey Shore shark attac|alt=Photo of front page of newspaper showing photo of large shark with open mouth • Shark threat display – Behaviour shown by some sharks when threatened • Spy hopping – Raising the head out of the water Shark attacks Shark attack • International Shark Attack File • List of fatal shark attacks in the United States • Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916 – series of shark attacks along the coast of New Jersey between July 1 and July 12, 1916 • Summer of the Shark – the name given to the summer of 2001 by American media outlets capitalizing on a bull shark attack and subsequent shark attacks == Range and habitats of sharks ==

Range • Bodies of water in which sharks can be found include: • Seas: all • Freshwater – some species of shark can live both in seawater and freshwater, and include: • Bull shark • River shark • Sandbar shark • Depths: from the surface down to depths of . |alt=Photo of whale shark with silhouettes of human observers at bottom of picture Habitats • White Shark Cafe – remote mid-Pacific Ocean area noted as a winter and spring habitat of otherwise coastal great white sharks Sharks in captivity Sharks in captivity • Shark tank • Shark tunnel – underwater tunnel that passes through an aquarium that keeps sharks == Shark anatomy ==

• Physical characteristics of sharks – shark skeleton, respiration and skin • Dermal denticle – small outgrowths which cover the skin of sharks • Ampullae of Lorenzini – sensing organ that helps sharks and fish to sense electric fields • Electroreception – the biological ability to perceive electrical impulses (see also Ampullae of Lorenzini) • Lateral line – sense organ that detects movement and vibration in the surrounding water • Shark cartilage – material that a sharks' skeleton is composed of • Shark teeth • Spiracle – pumps water across gills • Clasper – the anatomical structure that male sharks use for mating • Fish anatomy – generic description of fish anatomy == Protective equipment ==

• Drum lines • Shark net – submerged net placed around beaches to reduce shark attacks on swimmers • Shark proof cage – cage from which a SCUBA diver can examine sharks more safely • Shark repellent – method of driving sharks from an area, object, person, or animal • Magnetic shark repellent – use of permanent magnets to repel sharks • Protective oceanic device – first successful electronic shark repellent • Shark suit == Shark fishing ==

, Ecuador|alt=Photo of single-masted boat at sea • Drivers of the shark trade • Land-based shark fishing – fishing for sharks from land such as a beach, shoreline, jetty, pier, or bridge • Shark finning – the removal of shark fins for commercial purposes == Shark conservation ==

. • 1992 cageless shark-diving expedition – first publicized cageless dive with great white sharks which contributed to changing public opinions about the supposed "killing machine" • Shark Alliance – coalition of nongovernmental organizations dedicated to restoring and conserving shark populations by improving European fishing policy • Shark Conservation Act – proposed US law to protect sharks • Shark sanctuary – Palau's first-ever attempt to prohibit taking sharks within its territorial waters • Shark tourism – form of ecotourism showcasing sharks • Shark Trust – A UK organisation for conservation of sharks == Notable sharks ==

• Stronsay Beast – large, dead creature washed ashore on Stronsay, in the Orkney Islands, after a storm in 1808, later presumed to be a basking shark == Notable researchers and people ==

• Peter Benchley – author of the novel Jaws, later worked for shark conservation • Eugenie Clark – American ichthyologist researching poisonous fish and the behavior of sharks; popularly known as The Shark Lady • Leonard Compagno – international authority on shark taxonomy, best known for 1984 catalog of shark species (FAO) • Jacques-Yves Cousteau – French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water including sharks • Ben Cropp – Australian former shark hunter, who stopped in 1962 to produce some 150 wildlife documentaries • Richard Ellis – American marine biologist, author, and illustrator. • Rodney Fox – Australian film maker, conservationist, survivor of great white shark attack and one of the world's foremost authorities on them • Andre Hartman – South African diving guide best known for free-diving unprotected with great white sharks • Hans Hass – diving pioneer, known for shark documentaries • Mike Rutzen – great white shark expert and outspoken champion of shark conservation; known for free diving unprotected with great white sharks • Ron and Valerie Taylor – ex-spearfishing champions who switched from killing to filming underwater documentaries • Rob Stewart (filmmaker) – Canadian photographer, filmmaker and conservationist. He was best known for making and directing the documentary film Sharkwater == See also==