Sharks have been around since prehistoric days. These incredible animals not only outlived the dinosaurs, they evolved to the very top of the marine food chain. To become the apex predators of the sea, Sharks had to develop into intelligent and fearsome hunters. Not all sharks are the same, however, and some are more deadly than others. Today, we will examine the deadliest types of sharks, and see what makes them kings of the ocean.
There are around 450 species of Sharks worldwide. They obviously vary significantly in size, shape, and behavior between them. We will only focus on the deadliest types of Sharks, and as we do, we’ll explore each species’ hunting habits, the methods they use to catch prey, and the features that enable them to employ these deadly tactics. Before we start, let’s get a few general Shark facts out of the way.
What Makes Sharks Great Hunters
Sharks are cartilaginous fish, meaning they don’t really have bones. Their skeletons are actually made entirely out of cartilage. Cartilage is less dense than bone, but is equally as durable, and much lighter and more flexible. This allows most Sharks to move with great agility and speed.
While some of the more tame Sharks can sustain themselves on a diet of mollusks, squid, and crustaceans, more ferocious Sharks prefer big, chunky fish like Tuna and Mackerel. Some larger predator Sharks have developed a taste for sea mammals, or even other Sharks. Some of the popular food choices include dolphins, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and birds. And no, humans are not among Sharks’ preferred foods.
That’s a lot of different food options. Some types of Sharks, however, are very picky about what they eat. For example. Hammerhead Sharks eat Rays almost exclusively. Others, like Tiger Sharks, will eat almost anything – some were even found with alarm clocks in their bellies!
Speaking of Sharks’ bellies, they are often as mighty as the jaws themselves. Most Sharks swallow entire chunks of food without actually chewing any of it. That means that the stomach has to do the heavy lifting. To digest large pieces of solid food, some Sharks’ stomachs excrete powerful acids, which quickly turn solid food into almost liquid.
But what happens when a Shark realizes that the thing they just swallowed isn’t as appetizing as it first seemed? Some Sharks have the ability to turn their stomachs inside out, and get rid of unwanted food. As soon as the “junk” is out, the stomach goes back to normal – no biggie.
As we examine the deadliest types of Sharks, we’ll go over their physical features and hunting abilities in detail. If you want to know more awesome facts about Sharks in general, give this article a read.
Without further ado, the deadliest types of Sharks are:
Shortfin Mako Shark
Recognizable by their distinct indigo blue coloring, Shortfin Mako Sharks are among the most fascinating Sharks in existence. These beasts are highly intelligent animals, featuring a number of attributes that make them exceptionally skilled hunters. They also have a very diverse list of food choices, making them a terror for a whole range of species.
Shortfin Makos have a close relative by the name of Longfin Mako Shark. Since these fish are very rare and occupy deeper parts of the ocean, people usually don’t even use the “Shortfin” distinction.
Where do Shortfin Makos live?
In short – all over the globe. Shortfin Mako Sharks inhabit offshore tropical and temperate waters worldwide. Although they handle cold water very well, they are rarely found in seas colder than 61°F. In the Atlantic, for example, you can find these Sharks from Nova Scotia all the way down to Argentina.
Physical Attributes
Shortfin Makos are relatively big Sharks, often growing to 10 feet or more. Boasting excellent vision and the largest brain-to-body ratio out of all shark species, Shortfin Makos were made to become apex predators.
Speed Demons
Mako Sharks’ deadliest attribute is probably their speed. Swimming at a constant 21.75 mph with bursts above 50 mph, Shortfin Makos are the fastest Sharks in the ocean! Not only are they blazing fast, but these fish can also travel vast distances, too – 1,300 miles in just over a month! What’s even more fascinating is that Makos can burst into a hunting sprint even after a thousand-mile marathon.
How is this possible? Thanks to a countercurrent heat exchange mechanism. Not to get too scientific, Shortfin Mako Sharks are among a small number of warm-blooded fish. Their blood vessels line up so that the ones going to and from the cold parts of the body are right next to blood vessels coming from warm parts of the body.
Pumping warm blood through their body lets Makos work their muscles harder and faster than almost any other fish. Couple that with a missile-shaped body with a sharp snout, and you’ve got a speed demon ready to devour everything in its path.
Being warm-blooded gives Makos a lot more than just speed and stamina. Makos’ brain, sight, and digestion continue to work efficiently even when they traverse through much colder waters. This makes these Sharks a highly adaptive hunter, and a danger to other fish no matter where they are.
No Free Lunch
All this comes at a cost, though. To keep the flow of warm blood going, Mako Sharks must constantly keep moving. Of course, being on the move non-stop will burn a lot of energy. This is why a Mako Shark will never say no to a potential meal.
There are a couple of other features that make Mako Sharks even more deadly. Apart from supreme musculature, Mako skin is uniquely textured to reduce drag. This lets Makos achieve even higher speeds. So fast are these fish, that they can breach the water and jump as high as 15 feet!
And if that wasn’t enough, Mako Sharks have the sharpest teeth out of all Sharks. Did you know that in Māori, the word “Mako” means “Shark tooth”? In New Zealand, necklaces and earrings made from Mako teeth have been part of traditional attire for generations.
Diet and Hunting Habits
When it comes to hunting, being big, strong, and fast goes a long way. Shortfin Makos can pretty much choose to hunt and eat anything they want. A Mako’s favorite food choices are Bluefish, larger Tuna, Sailfish, and Swordfish. They also enjoy eating dolphins, porpoises, and even smaller Blue Sharks! Considering that baby Makos eat undeveloped fetuses while they’re still in their mother’s womb, this should come as no surprise.
When it’s time to hunt, Mako Sharks’ intelligence comes to full glory. From stealthily stalking its prey to all-out attacks, the witty predator has more than a few tricks up its sleeve.
Makos can spend a lot of time following their prey and examining their movement. They often swim below their would-be victim when doing this. When it’s time to attack, a Mako will go for the kill only if it’s certain that the perfect opportunity has arrived. Otherwise, a Mako might swoop in to bite off a vital part of its prey, like the tail. It will then follow the target until it dies, or will make a few more swoops to weaken it further.
All in all, the Mako Shark is a calculated and brutal hunter.
Great White Shark
One of the most dreaded creatures on the planet, the Great White Shark is a predator like no other. Not only is it the largest predatory fish in existence, the Great White also boasts a whole range of evolutionary adaptations to make it even more deadly.
Where do Great White Sharks live?
Great Whites are widespread in oceans around the world. They generally prefer water temperatures between 54–75°F, but can tolerate colder waters, too. On the US West Coast, you can find them from California all the way to Alaska. They also frequent the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the East Coast up to Nova Scotia. You can also find them roaming off eastern and western South America.
Outside the Americas, Great Whites are common around South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the Mediterranean.
Physical Attributes
Take any part of a Great White, and you’ll see that it’s been created for one purpose: Hunting. To achieve the top-tier of predators, Great Whites developed a number of incredible physical features.
Let’s start with size. Great Whites are the largest predator in the ocean, topping out at an average of 20 feet and an astounding 2,500 pounds. These are the averages, but there have been reports of Great Whites as big as 7,000 pounds!
Jaws
As we all know, Great Whites have massive jaws (thank you, Steven Spielberg). Not only are they big, but these pearly whites can also produce an incredible amount of force – 1.8 metric tons per square inch. That’s more powerful than the bites of a hippo and a gorilla combined!
Great White jaws are filled with 300 razor-sharp teeth. To ensure a deadly bite, the teeth are serrated along the edges and can grow up to 3 inches long! But the craziest part about them is that they are self-renewable. If a tooth gets damaged or lost during a fight, a new one will grow in a matter of days. Over a lifetime, a single Great White grows an incredible 30,000 teeth!
Smell
Another key weapon in a Great White’s arsenal is its sense of smell. These Sharks can smell a very small amount of blood from as far as 3 miles away. What’s even more impressive is that they can tell if the blood is from a fellow Great White, or say, a sea mammal. Based on whose blood they smell, Great Whites will decide whether to approach or avoid an area.
Eyes
And then there are the eyes. Great Whites boast very sharp eyesight, especially in the dark. This allows them to hunt even in murky waters where light is very limited. But where things get a little freaky is in how Great Whites can protect their eyes. When under attack, some sea animals (like Billfish) will try to defend themselves by piercing their attacker’s eyes. What do Great Whites do when this happens? They roll their eyes to the back of their heads!
Diet and Hunting Habits
Out of all the types of Sharks, Great Whites have the most diverse diets. Juveniles usually stick to a diet of fish and smaller Sharks. As they mature, Great Whites will move on to more challenging prey, like sea mammals. These include seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins, and even small whales.
Great White Sharks are highly intelligent hunters. Rather than mindlessly attacking prey on sight, Great Whites will carefully consider their surroundings before making their move. They will consider potential escape routes, competing predators, environmental conditions, and a number of other factors. When they move in for the strike, Great Whites can sometimes launch their prey straight out of the water.
If they happen to miss their target, they themselves breach the water in a spectacular areal display.
And if an attack doesn’t succeed, a Great White will remember. These Sharks learn from experience. Over time, they memorize the most productive spots and readily return to them when it’s time to hunt again.
Common Thresher Shark
Nothing spells certain death like a Shark’s bite. If fish had a “Survival 101” course, the first thing they would probably learn is to avoid a Shark’s jaws. But what happens when the Shark you’re up against is equally as deadly from its rear end?
Thresher Sharks are among the most unique-looking types of Sharks in the ocean, and that’s saying a lot. These Sharks are known as Fox Sharks after their unusually long tails, which can grow as long as the entire rest of the body! Threshers come in three varieties:
- Common Thresher – the largest and most widespread;
- Bigeye Thresher – hey have enormous eyes to help them hunt in depths of up to 3,000 feet;
- Pelagic Thresher – much smaller and rare outside the Pacific Ocean.
We will focus on the Common Thresher Shark, as it is the largest and most commonly found.
Where do Common Thresher Sharks live?
Thresher Sharks like to gather around coastal waters, and are often seen swimming near the water surface. However, they are also sometimes found in waters as deep as a 1,000 feet. This occurs in areas where the waterbed drops off steeply, like a submarine canyon.
Physical Attributes
As we mentioned, the main characteristic of a Common Thresher is its long caudal fin (tail). These Sharks can reach lengths of 20 feet, and can weigh over a 1,000 pounds. Grayish to dark green in color, they have short heads and relatively small jaws compared to other Sharks of their size.
Diet and Hunting Habits
Thresher Sharks like to eat schooling fish like juvenile Tuna, Herring, and Mackerel, but will sometimes settle for cephalopods such as squid. The reason why they prefer schooling fish is because these are perfect for the way Threshers hunt. And the way they hunt is as unique as these Sharks themselves.
Upon seeing a school of tasty fish, a Thresher Shark will exercise caution as it makes its approach. When it figures out the right angle, a Thresher will dive nose-down and suddenly whip its tail in the direction of the fish. The fish will likely flee in one direction – precisely where the Thresher wants them to go. Once it chooses its target, the Thresher will whip its tail again to try to incapacitate it.
Once it does, it moves in for the kill. Seeing a Thresher in action is nothing short of spectacular. Recreational anglers are often awe-struck when battling a Thresher for the first time. These Sharks are famous for beating the fishing lines with their tails when hooked.
Goblin Shark
For those who are faint-hearted, seeing a Goblin Shark could be deadly by itself. This thing has been around for 110 million years, and is nothing like the sleek-looking Sharks most of us know. Luckily, these otherworldly-looking beings aren’t that interested in humans, nor are you likely to ever see one in the flesh.
The common name “Goblin Shark” is a translation of an old Japanese word tenguzame. The Tengu is a mythical creature often depicted with a long nose and red face. Younger folks probably know it as the devil-looking emoji everybody uses nowadays.
Where do Goblin Sharks live?
Goblin Sharks live in deep waters of all three major oceans. Most commonly found at depths between 900 and 3,100 feet, these Sharks have been caught pretty much all over the world. Still, they are very rare, and you’re not likely to see one unless you’re deep sea fishing.
Younger Goblin Sharks tend to swim in shallower waters than the more mature of the species. They like to visit submarine canyons, but on rare occasions will even enter inshore waters at depths of around a 100 feet.
People have caught Goblin Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, off southern California, Brazil, Portugal, South Africa, and Australia. However, these Sharks most commonly frequent the waters off the coast of Japan.
Physical Attributes
Goblin Sharks come from a prehistoric lineage, and certainly have the looks to prove it. For instance, the color of these Sharks ranges from grayish pink to bubblegum pink. This hue doesn’t come from pigmentation, however. No, these Sharks actually have translucent skin, allowing their blood vessels to show in full glory.
Speaking of skin, the skin of a Goblin Shark is not firm and sleek as on most other Sharks. Nor are their muscles as developed. They may not be as fast or powerful as a Mako or a Great White, but Goblin Sharks have their own unique ways of being deadly. More on than in a second.
The most distinctive feature of the ancient Shark has got to be its protruding snout. Long and flat, a Goblin Shark’s snout has a blade-like appearance. Below it, an unshapely jaw protrudes in a parallel direction. The teeth are fang-like and elongated, adding to the oddball look.
The caudal fin of a Goblin Shark is elongated, almost like on a Thresher Shark, but lacking its functionality. Most Goblin Sharks grow to 5–7 feet, however, the largest recorded of the species was 12.6 feet long.
Diet and Hunting Habits
The diet of a Goblin Shark consists mainly of smaller fish, like grenadiers and dragonfish. When fish are scant, they will also consume cephalopods or crustaceans. Granted, not the most impressive target, but that’s not why Goblin Sharks have made out list. These Sharks are among the deadliest because of the way they catch their prey.
As we mentioned, the Goblin Shark is not as fast as some other types of Sharks. Instead of being a chase-down artist, Goblin Sharks are masters of the ambush. Thanks to a large oily liver, they are neutrally buoyant, which allows them to drift with minimum motion.
Here comes the scary part. When the Goblin Shark gets close enough, it launches its jaw forward like a catapult, often swallowing its victim whole! This is made possible by a pair of ligaments that are holding the law in place. When it’s time to attack, the ligaments release their tension, essentially launching the jaw forward.
Tiger Shark
Large and powerful, Tiger Sharks are among the most aggressive predators on the planet. Named for the Tiger-like stripes running down the sides of their bodies, Tiger Sharks won’t say no to a meal no matter what it is.
These are solitary animals, known for attacking their own kind if they get in the way of a good meal. They’re also among the Sharks which are most likely to attack a human, preceded only by Great Whites. Humans, in turn, have made Tiger Sharks one of their favorite game fish.
Where do Tiger Sharks live?
Tiger Sharks like to swim in tropical and warm, temperate waters. They’re found all over the world, from the Gulf of Mexico and the shores of the Americas to South Africa, Indonesia, and Australia.
They like to keep relatively close to the coastline, where the water is warmer. You can sometimes find them at depths over a 1,000 feet, as well as in extremely shallow coastal waters. This is part of the reason why they “interact” with humans so much.
Physical Attributes
Reaching an impressive 11–14 feet in length, the Tiger Shark is the fourth-largest type of Shark on the planet. Adult individuals top out around 1,400 pounds, but there have been encounters of Sea Tigers weighing well over 2,000 pounds.
In terms of color, Tiger Sharks can range from light green to blue, with underbellies of white or light yellow. The stripes that these Sharks got their names from usually disappear by the time they reach adulthood.
Sea Tiger’s lateral lines work as a sensory organ, alerting the Shark to the smallest of reverberations in the water. Like the Great White and Mako Shark, its snout is equipped with electroreceptors helping it locate a potential target.
The teeth are serrated and razor-sharp. They are also conveniently pointing in a sideways direction. This allows the Tiger Shark to slice through tougher material, such as a turtle shell.
Tiger Sharks are nocturnal hunters, meaning that they mostly operate during nighttime. To achieve this, Tiger Sharks have evolved into creatures with supreme vision. Their retinas have an additional reflective layer, which allows light-sensitive cells a second chance to capture an image.
Not only that, Tiger Sharks’ eyes are protected by a clear eyelid going over the eye when the Shark attacks its prey.
Diet and Hunting Habits
Tiger Sharks are apex predators, with a reputation for eating almost anything. And when we say anything, we mean everything from a mollusk to an alarm clock. Juvenile Tiger Sharks tend to eat smaller fish. By the time they reach adulthood, however, their diet expands dramatically.
A fully grown Tiger Shark will gladly feast on various sea mammals, as well as Sharks smaller than itself. There have been reports of giant Tiger Sharks devouring Hammerhead Sharks 6 feet long!
Sea Tigers swim out into deeper waters during the day, and come closer to shore at night when it’s time to feed.
As a nocturnal predator, a Tiger Shark hides well in darker waters, and can creep up to its victim fairly easily. These Sharks are slow swimmers most of the time, but when it’s time to hunt, they can turn into a sprinter. Once it decides to make its move, the Tiger Shark explodes with blazing speed.
Bull Shark
Arguably one of the most fear-inspiring fish in the sea, the Bull Shark has had a killer reputation for over a hundred years. Their notoriety is only amplified by the fact that this predator is one of the rare types of Sharks that inhabits saltwater and freshwater.
Where do Bull Sharks live?
Bull Sharks are remarkably widespread around the world. They inhabit oceans, as well as landlocked lakes, rivers, and deep streams. From Massachusetts to Brazil, and California to Peru, these predators are common throughout the Americas. They are also abundant on both shores of Africa, as well as Australia’s Gold Coast.
Bull Sharks are commonly found in major rivers such as the Amazon, Barhamputra, Potomac, Mississippi, and Brisbane River. They are also present in large lakes like Lake Nicaragua and Pontchartrain.
Physical Attributes
Let’s start with Bull Sharks’ major advantage – being able to survive in freshwater and saltwater. How is it possible for such a large predator shark to inhabit both types of water? In short, they have a unique ability to adapt their osmoregulation process to retain/disperse water when changing environments.
There are a few theories behind this, one being that a population bottleneck occurred during the last ice age, which allowed Bull Sharks to develop such an extraordinary ability.
In terms of size, Bull Sharks aren’t the biggest Sharks in the sea. But they make up for it with tremendous strength and aggression. They are common in the 100–300 lb range with larger individuals topping out around 600 pounds. The typical length of these Sharks is between 6 and 8 feet.
Bull Sharks boast advanced eyesight. They can successfully distinguish mesh nets in the water, especially if they are bright in color. Considering their size, these Sharks have a tremendously powerful bite – 1,350 pounds!
Diet and Hunting Habits
Bull Sharks are aggressive hunters with a diverse diet. They will eat anything from stingrays, turtles, and dolphins to birds and even smaller Bull Sharks. There have been reports of Bull Sharks eating cows and horses, too!
Like many other types of Sharks, these fearsome hunters prefer feeding in murky waters, where it’s easier to hide.
Bull Sharks’ preferred hunting method is the so-called “bump-and-bite” technique. When a Bull Shark sees a potential target, it will circle it to determine if it is indeed prey or not. If it decides to proceed with the hunt, the Bull Shark will take a small bite to taste its target, and to see its reaction. If it finds its target appetizing, the Shark will continue to circle and bite it until the victim is unable to flee.
Bull Sharks are normally solitary hunters, but will pair up with another Bull on occasion, to trick and confine bigger prey.
Kings of the Sea
With unmatched physical ability and numerous hunting weapons in their arsenal, it’s easy to see why Sharks are on top of the food chain. Since prehistoric days, these incredible animals have developed some remarkable abilities to help them catch prey.
Counting the deadliest types of Sharks could go on forever. What’s fascinating is that each type of Shark has its own set of unique features and abilities to make a predator like no other.
What do you think the deadliest types of Sharks are? Have you ever encountered a Shark? Did you ever catch one? Let us know in the comments below.
