One of the reasons that sharks are such successful predators is that they have such super senses.

"Two-thirds of a shark's brain is dedicated to its keenest sense -- smell." (Martinez 67).

Some sharks have eyes similar to a cat. A mirror-like layer in their eyes allows them to see better in the water. This allows the shark to hunt in clear seas or murky water.

"To top it off, sharks have a few unusual senses. For instance, they are able to feel vibrations in the water using a line of canals that go from its head to its tail. Called a "lateral line", these canals are filled with water and contain sensory cells with hairs growing out of them. These hairs move when the water vibrates and alerts the shark to potential prey. " (Parker 68).

Sharks also have a sensory organ called the "ampullae of Lorenzini" which they use to "feel" the electrical field coming from its prey.


Shark Facts:

"Sharks have been around for about 400 million years - long before dinosaurs even existed."

"Sharks have the most powerful jaws on the planet."

"Sharks never run out of teeth - when one is lost another spins forward from the rows of backup teeth."

"A shark may use over 20,000 teeth during its life."

"The Great White Shark rarely partakes in feeding frenzies."

Works Cited

Klimley, A. Peter. The Secret Life of Sharks. N.p.: n.p., 2003. 

Parker, Steve, and Jane Parker. The Encyclopedia of Sharks. N.p.: n.p., 2002. 

Shark Information. 5 Mar. 2008 . 

Sharks. 27 Feb. 2008 .