- Freepik
VIVA – Sharks are a group of fish with a complete cartilaginous skeleton. Sharks have bodies covered with dermal denticles to protect their skin from damage from parasites, and to enhance water dynamics. Sharks are known as deadly animals because they have sharp teeth.
Sharks not only look scary, but they can play an important role in maintaining marine ecosystems. Although sharks rarely cause death in humans, this marine animal attack can still be deadly.
Here are some myths about sharks that are not true.
1. All Sharks Eat Humans
Hiu Babi.
- Times Now
Many people believe sharks prey on and can eat humans. That's not true at all. Sharks eat fish and invertebrates such as squid.
Shark attacks usually occur because the animal's visibility is not very good. That is the reason why in most cases people are bitten by sharks more often than killed by aquatic predators. On average there are about 30 cases of shark attacks reported each year, but only 5 to 10 cases are truly fatal.
2. Stupid Sharks Have a 'Peanut' Brain
hiu putih besar
- Pixabay
Sharks are air creatures with high intelligence. The existence of evolution of more than 400 million years has made the development of animal intelligence increase.
Previously, these predators were not intelligent. But in recent years research has shown that sharks display complex social behaviors.
A 1996 study by Wesley Strong found that some sharks will "scrutinize" a box first, before confronting it out of curiosity.
Another shark expert, Aidan Martin, states that some sharks can even communicate with their herd using body language.
3. All Great Sharks Have Sharp Teeth
Hiu Mako
- Instagram/@richardherrmannphotography
Not all sharks have huge bodies and terrible sharp teeth. Noted, there are 450 species of sharks on earth that have various shapes and sizes. Dogfish sharks that live in deep sea waters have a very small body, which is only 8 inches long or the equivalent of 20 centimeters.
On the other hand, the great white shark can cause serious injuries as a result of its 300 teeth. While the frilled shark or frilled shark looks like an eel with more teeth.
4. If Attacked by a Shark, Hit the Nose
Sejumlah wisatawan berenang bersama seekor Hiu Paus di perairan Botubarani, Kabupaten Bone Bolango, Gorontalo, Minggu, 21 April 2019.
- ANTARA FOTO/Dian Bawenti
This one method was originally a good idea. David Shiffman, a shark scientist at the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy at the University of Miami, said on Twitter it would have no effect.
David said the best way is to focus on the eyes. Sharks have eyelids that serve as protection to keep the eyes from thrashing prey in their jaws.
5. No Animals Eat Sharks
Facts about larger sharks like tiger sharks and sharks don't have to worry about other predators attacking them. But this is not the case for the smaller sharks. Some species of shark have very small bodies and are often easy targets for other large marine predators.
The biggest threat to sharks comes from humans. The animal is threatened with extinction, due to excessive restrictions. One example is the high demand for shark fins in the market for medicinal and food purposes, leading to at least 100 million sharks being hunted every year.
