But sharks are still super cool

YEAH, we know, “Shark Week” is disappointing. No, the shark Michael Phelps “raced” wasn’t real. No, a giant prehistoric shark called a megalodon doesn’t prowl the seas. Sure, there’s awesome science thrown in with the bogus “voodoo shark” stories. But the week is a multimillion-dollar marketing ploy masquerading as educational programming.

But! We really like sharks. We’re not above shamelessly exploiting the Discovery Channel’s gimmick to share our favourite fun facts about these brilliant and bizarre creatures.

Sharks are ancient: The first sharks evolved more than 400 million years ago, long before mammals, dinosaurs and flowering plants. They survived at least four mass extinctions, including one that killed 90% of all species. More than 500 shark species are around. They range from the dwarf lantern shark, which is as long as a pencil, to the whale shark, which can be as big as a school bus.

They have no bones: Sharks are distinguished from other fish by their cartilaginous skeletons. The stuff that forms the framework of their bodies is the same rubbery tissue that makes up our noses and ears. This makes their skeletons light and flexible and them swift swimmers.

Their sixth sense is electric: Sharks are capable of electroreception. They can detect the disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field generated by the movement of animals and waves. A shark could theoretically detect the current from a AA battery 1 600km away.

Female sharks don’t need a man: Some shark species are capable of parthenogenesis – the females can give birth without meeting a male. The process involves mama sharks doubling their eggs’ genomes, essentially cloning themselves.

Several species are ovoviviparous – the mother retains her eggs inside her body, and her pups hatch and develop in her uterus. Sand tiger sharks practise in-the-womb cannibalism. During gestation, the biggest embryos devour their litter mates until only two are left. This means only the strongest and fiercest survive. – The Washington Post.

Video: Sharks are circling at the National Aquarium https://www.facebook.com/washingtonpost/videos/10155404378117293/