The greatest myths of modern times, Sharks
The shark is a collective name. There is a white shark, blue, tiger, cat, soup, mackerel, shark-Fox, nurse shark, hammerhead shark. Scientists consider 350 species of these fish. And only 27 of them are accused of attacks on humans. And a few that occur only once.
Thanks to the joint efforts of marine biologists and divers-enthusiasts have managed to debunk some common misconceptions about sharks.
Myth: Most sharks eat people.
Fact: Of the approximately 400 species of sharks in attacks on people were seen a total of about 11. Most sharks are simply too small to pose a threat to humans. But a large white shark people are not too taste, although sometimes they mistakenly attack people, mistaking them for sea lions or seals, which are their favorite prey. Besides, they live at a depth where meeting people is unlikely. Although annually reported approximately one hundred cases of shark attacks on humans, actually elephants are being killed every year twice as many people (about 200) . Dogs kill thousands of people every year!
Myth: Sharks are stupid animals with small, primitive brain.
Fact: the sharks (as the rays) the size of the brain and body comparable to birds and mammals.The research was conducted, which demonstrated that the yellow shark learning is quicker and lasts longer than a cat or a rabbit. This, of course does not mean that sharks are as smart as birds and mammals, but still…
Myth: shark Behavior is unpredictable.
Fact: In some cases the sharks ‘ behavior is quite predictable, most of the shark action and a logical constant (which is not always possible to say about human actions) .
Myth: a Shark before attack, must roll over belly up.
Fact: Since both jaws, sharks moving, as on hinges, they can push them forward to seize the prey, without performing special maneuvers. Sharks of most species do not chew their food – they just swallow the whole prey.
Myth: Sharks are constantly eating.
Fact: Sharks eat periodically. How often do you eat shark, in each particular case depends on the peculiarities of metabolism, food availability and energy expenditure necessary to capture prey. Weight of food eaten daily by young yellow shark is less than 2% of the weight of their body. There are known cases, when the shark could not eat the whole year!
Myth: Most sharks eat everything.
Fact: some of the sharks, is omnivorous, and eat everything that comes their way. However, most species stick to a fairly stable diet; some species feed only on plankton and small fish, others prefer shellfish and octopus, and still others prey on large fish and even other sharks.
Myth: Most sharks swim very fast.
Fact: Although pelagic sharks (such as Mako or white) . can reach speeds up to 20 mph (= 8.9408 m / s) . most sharks, especially those that live on the bottom, swim very slowly, with a cruising speed of just over 5 miles per hour (= 2.2352 m / s) .
Myth: Sharks don’t see in the dark.
Fact: sharks and vision are very different, depending on habitat and prey. Sharks are color blind, and in some species the eye perceives light at 10 times lower intensity than it can see.
Myth: Sharks are hard to kill.
Fact: unfortunately, to destroy the shark quite easily; if it enters the network or on the hook, the shark quickly weakened and made an easy prey, and often die even before their pull out of the water.
Myth: sharks are useless fish.
Fact: Sharks occupy the top of the food chain and regulate the dynamics of populations of marine organisms. The existence of sharks is vital for the health of oceanic systems.
Employees of the University of Miami Pew Institute for Ocean Science has estimated that worldwide each year are caught from 26 million to 73 million sharks.
Accurate data on the size of the shark catch is unknown because rabeprozole for various reasons, prefer to “mask” under other shark fisheries, informs Washington ProFile. Received the University of Miami data 3-4 times higher than previously published estimates of the UN Food Programme.
Now 20% of shark species listed in the International Red Book, as they are on the verge of destruction. Information about this published the journal Ecology Letters.
According to the research center International Shark Attack File, in 2005, there was noted the 105 incidents in which water interacted people and the shark. Including, 58 cases were considered unprovoked attacks of sharks. As a result, killed only 4 people.
For comparison, according to the University of Texas, in road traffic accidents in the world annually kills about 1 million people, and as a result of an allergic reaction to eating peanuts – about 90 people. In recent years, the number of shark attacks has been steadily declining, partly explain the decrease in livestock sharks.