Sharks

Sharks come in many sizes and live in oceans around the world. Most have small teeth are not aggressive to people. Their bodies are supported by cartilage rather than bone. As they swim along, they use electric signals or their sense of smell to find prey to eat. Some sharks, like those at the Indianapolis Zoo, are adapted to life in shallow coral reefs and tide pools, feeding with small teeth on invertebrates and small fish. Different shark species have different strategies for finding food and avoiding predators: some are nocturnal, some patrol the sea bottom alone and others gather in schools. They often blend in to their habitat with dark and light colors, spots and other patterns.

Female sharks can reproduce once they reach an adult size. In some species, like epaulette sharks and coral catsharks, females lay egg cases that protect one or more eggs. Other sharks, such as the smooth dogfish, give birth to live young!