Random Fascinating Facts About Sharks That Most People Don't Know (15 items)

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  (#15) Latern Sharks Glow In The Dark

  The lantern sharks are a species that are rarely seen. In fact, they enjoy living in the furthest depths of the ocean’s dark waters. Lantern sharks have the amazing ability to glow in the dark and appear invisible to predators below them. When they light up, they let off a soft, luminous glow that is produced by organs called photophores. Researchers believe the sharks may be glowing to attract a mate and to ward off or hide from predators.  
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  (#12) Sharks Have No Bones

  Sharks are certainly not spineless creatures, though they are boneless. A shark's skeletal system is made up of cartilage, a strong and flexible material that is less dense than bone. Because sharks don't have a "swim bladder," meaning they don't have an internal system to maintain buoyancy, having a cartilage skeleton requires less energy to stay afloat and not sink to the bottom of the ocean.  

  If a shark were to die, the chances of finding its skeletal remains are slim because the salt in the water is likely to erode the cartilage at a rapid pace. 
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  (#10) Sharks Can Sense Blood In The Water Over Half A Mile Away

  You may have heard that sharks are attracted to blood in the ocean, but did you know they can smell a few drops of blood in the water from as far as half a mile away? Sharks have a keen sense of smell, thanks to their highly developed sensors known as olfactory receptors. When the scent of blood molecules passes over the shark's sensors, it immediately knows where to turn to follow the trail. 
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  (#3) Sharks Use Electric Fields To Detect The Heartbeat Of Prey

  Sharks have special sensory organs known as ampullae of Lorenzini, which are deep pores found around their snouts. The ampullae are sensitive electroreceptors that help with hunting. A shark uses this electroreception sensory system to detect electrical activity that fluctuates from its prey, such as a creature’s beating heart.
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  (#8) Shark Teeth Are Cleaner Than You Think

  After eating schools of fish and devouring oceanic carcasses, you would think that shark teeth were far from being pearly white. But in actuality, a shark’s teeth are cleaner than you would expect because shark teeth are covered in fluoride. This makes them cavity-resistant against bacteria.

  Add that to the fact that sharks replace their teeth consistently and the result is some major dental protection. 
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  (#6) Sharks Can Regrow Their Teeth

  Sharks are known for their powerful jaws and rows of razor sharp teeth. The great white has over 300 teeth in their mouths at one time, with some laying beneath the gum line waiting to push to the surface and replace any teeth that will fall out.

  Shark teeth are not attached to the gum line with a root, which allows them to grow and replace any lost teeth daily. In addition to their crazy dental disposition, sharks can also dislocate their upper jaws (and put them back in place) to widen their bite. 

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