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Photograph by Brian Skerry
Sharks, like these Caribbean reef sharks in the Bahamas, are important predators. Without them, the population of smaller fish would grow too big, which would throw the ocean's food chain out of whack. -
Photograph by Brian Skerry
Great hammerhead sharks may look strange, but scientists think they're one of the world's most advanced sharks. Their wide-set eyes give them better vision than most other sharks, and their broad head means more room for special sensors that help them find prey. -
Photograph by Brian Skerry
Blue sharks, like this one near Rhode Island, are some of the fastest sharks in the ocean. They can make superfast turns and have quick bursts of speed to capture prey, sometimes even jumping out of the water. -
Photograph by Brian Skerry
Whale sharks, like this one off Western Australia, are the world's largest fish, growing up to the size of a school bus! They are gentle giants, though, eating mainly plankton and small fish. -
Photograph by Brian Skerry
Tiger sharks are one of the most dangerous sharks. They will eat just about anything, from shells to metal to fish. They will even attack humans. This one was photographed in the Bahamas. -
Photograph by Paul Nicklen
The blacktip reef shark's fins create problems for the species. The sharks are often killed for the fins, which are used to make shark-fin soup, an expensive delicacy. This shark was photographed around Phoenix Island in Kiribati, Micronesia. -
Photograph by Brian Skerry
Bull sharks get their name from their short snout and their tendency to head-butt their prey. They love shallow water and sometimes even leave the ocean and swim up rivers. This one was photographed in the Bahamas. -
Photograph by David Doubilet
A great white shark in Gansbaai, South Africa, flashes the scariest mouth in the animal kingdom. Great whites have some of the strongest jaws on Earth, and their mouths can contain up to 3,000 teeth! -
Photograph by Brian Skerry
A huge whale shark moves through the waters off Western Australia as smaller fish swim nearby. The fish are safe, though. This shark's favorite meal is plankton. -
Photograph by Wolcott Henry
Nurse sharks are usually harmless to humans. They can be really big, though—up to 14 feet (4.3 meters) long—and they will bite if they are stepped on or bothered.
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