Those Terrifying Shark Myths and the Truth Behind Them, Part I
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It's Shark Week at Mythbusters, folks, and we've got several kooky shark myths to share with you. And just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...
Of course, if you're one of those people who prefers to stay scared for the thrill of it, don't read this article; otherwise, come on in and get the real skinny on those toothy monsters of the deep. We think the truth is a lot more interesting than the myths.
Myth 1: Sharks love the taste of human flesh.
This is one of the top shark myths, but the truth is that when a shark bites a human, they're much more likely to spit them out than go ahead and dig in. Apparently, sharks simply don't find people tasty. This isn't to say that shark attacks don't happen -- of course they do, and fairly regularly, too.
These attacks generally occur when sharks mistake humans for their natural prey, which often includes large marine mammals. This is especially common with surfers, because their boards result in a silhouette that resembles a seal or sea lion from below.
Myth 2: The Great White is obviously the shark most likely to become a maneater.
Statistically, this is actually a shark myth, for several reasons. First off, Great White sharks are more likely to hang out in deep water areas away from concentrations of humans, especially around rocky coastal islands where their preferred food source, those tasty seals, live in large colonies.
By actual count, bull sharks are more likely to attack humans, because they tend to come closer to the shore and are among the most aggressive of sharks. That said, the Tiger, the Great Hammerhead, and yes, the Great White do round out the top four shark species most likely to attack humans.
Myth 3: Sharks are found only in saltwater.
Unfortunately, this too is a shark myth. Sharks have been known to venture fairly far up rivers and streams that debouch into the ocean, including the Amazon. One of the most grisly shark attacks in modern times occurred in a brackish stream miles from the ocean in New Jersey, back in 1912.
Then there's Lake Nicaragua in Central America, which is home to a substantial population of freshwater bull sharks -- yes, the species most likely to snack on people. And amazingly, two Atlantic Sharp-Nosed sharks were caught in the waters of Medina Lake, Texas in 2005 -- hundreds of miles from the sea.
Myth 4: All sharks have to swim constantly to survive.
Shark myth alert! Now, it's true that some species do need to stay on the move to keep water flowing over their gills. And in the case of whale sharks, which can be dozens of feet long, it's a good idea to keep moving so they can get enough food. These largest of sharks are filter feeders, straining plankton from the water.
But remember -- there are more than 350 species of sharks known at this time, and we've surely not found them all. It's a mistake to paint all the members of this large and fascinating fish family with the same brush.
Many species of sharks are perfectly capable of sitting quietly on the ocean bottom and pumping water across their own gills, just like their cousins the skates and rays do. So the idea that all sharks have to constantly be on the move is just as much a part of various shark myths as the idea that they're all maneaters.
