Of all the animals in the sea, sharks are perhaps the most feared by humans. This is because some shark species can be large and aggressive.
But what are the most dangerous sharks to humans?
Today, we’ll take a look at some of the most dangerous sharks out there. So if you’re ever swimming in the ocean and come across one of these aptly-named predators, it’s best to steer clear!
What Are the Most Dangerous Sharks to Humans
Which shark is the most dangerous? This is a question that many people ask each other, especially after hearing about a shark attack. There are many different types of sharks out there, some more while others less dangerous to humans. So, without further ado, here are the top eight most dangerous sharks out there.
-
Great White Shark
source: www.wikipedia.org
This one is without a doubt the world’s deadliest shark, since it has attacked more humans than any other shark. We’re talking about more than 300 attacks in which more than 50 people have died. This shark species is an apex predator, meaning they’re at the top of the food chain. They have no natural predators, so they’re not afraid of anything except for bigger white sharks or killer whales.
With more than 300 teeth and a bite force of over 4,000 PSI, any human could bleed to death in minutes or die of shock before even reaching the shore. Great white sharks mostly eat marine mammals, such as dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions. But they will also eat fish, birds, squid, turtles, and even other smaller sharks. This shark species was the inspiration for the movie “Jaws.”
-
Tiger Shark
source: www.wikipedia.org
Tiger sharks grow as big as 14 feet and weigh over 2,000 pounds, with female sharks being larger in size than males. Their name comes from the dark stripes on their bodies, which fade as they age. They are one of the largest shark species, and their size alone makes them a force to be reckoned with.
Tiger sharks are known for being “opportunistic feeders,” meaning they will eat just about anything they come across, including humans. Lastly, tiger sharks have a very strong sense of smell and can easily track down their prey. This makes them particularly dangerous to swimmers and surfers, who may not even know that a shark is in the area.
-
Bull Shark
source: www.wikipedia.org
Bull sharks are considered to be some of the most dangerous shark species to humans for several reasons. They are known to be aggressive and often attack without warning. Secondly, they have a powerful bite that can cause serious injury or death. They also inhabit coastal waters where people often swim and surf, making them more likely to come into contact with humans.
While all shark attacks are potentially dangerous, those caused by bull sharks can be particularly horrific due to the size and power of these animals. Bull sharks have been responsible for some of the most notorious shark attacks in history. However, humans are not their natural prey, and attacks are often the result of mistaken identity or curiosity. These sharks can weigh up to 500 pounds, be as big as 11 feet, and live up to 16 years.
-
Blacktip Shark
source: www.wikipedia.org
Despite their natural fear of people, blacktip sharks have gained a fearsome reputation as swimmers’ predators. These attacks are not necessarily fatal, but they can cause serious injury (and even death) to unwary swimmers if the animal misidentifies a swimmer as their usual food.
Despite their preference for saltwater, blacktip reef sharks are frequently spotted close to the coast in river mouths, bays, mangrove swamps, and other wetlands. The unique black patterns on the ends of their fins give them their name. They typically eat tiny schooling fish such as herring and sardines, but they sometimes go for small sharks, stingrays, crabs, and squids as well.
-
Sand Tiger Shark
source: www.wikipedia.org
The term “sand tiger shark” comes from their migratory tendencies. Often seen by surfers, these sharks dwell in tropical seas all around the world and have unique hunting techniques. They collect air above the surface to become lighter, which gives them the ability to sit nearly totally still while approaching prey undetected.
Although sand tigers only attack humans when provoked or famished, they should always be avoided because of their size and wide mouth full of sharp teeth. In the last few centuries, there have been 36 recorded attacks by this species, but none have resulted in a human fatality.
-
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
source: www.wikipedia.or
Many of the troops onboard the Nova Scotia (which sank in World War II and lost more than 800 lives) are believed to have been eaten by oceanic whitetip sharks (brown sharks). These sharks are known for their violent hunting habits, and they have been involved in numerous attacks on humans.
Whitetips are found in all tropical and subtropical oceans. They are known to aggregate around areas with high food concentrations, such as shipwrecks, whale carcasses, birds, and other prey. These sharks are fast swimmers and have been known to attack boats, which can be a problem for fishermen and others who work on the water. Its huge pectoral and dorsal fins have white tips (hence the name). The species is frequently hunted for its flesh, fins, and oil.
-
Blue Shark
source: www.wikipedia.or
Although only 4 of the 13 attacks by blue sharks on humans have been fatal, this still indicates that these creatures can be dangerous. Fortunately, blue sharks typically live in deep waters where they don’t come into contact with people very often. They might investigate us if we enter their territory out of curiosity, but they rarely attack without being provoked.
These sharks can grow up to 12 feet long and hunt at depths of 1,150 feet or more for things like herring, sardines, squid, cuttlefish, and octopus. The speed of the shark is so great that only some animals are able to escape it.
Even though these sharks are dangerous, their main predator is no other than the human. Every year, people kill around 20 million blue sharks.
-
Shortfin Mako Shark
source: www.wikipedia.org
Mako sharks are considered to be some of the most dangerous and creepy-looking sharks that swim in the ocean. Their large size, pointy teeth, and beady eyes is what makes them appear scary. But it’s not just their appearance; they’re also one of the fastest sharks in the ocean, capable of swimming in bursts of 45 miles per hour.
The shortfin mako shark lives in an area with a lot of food. The main food for these sharks is cephalopods. However, they also eat bony fish, sea turtles, porpoises, seabirds, and other sharks. This shark species needs around 3% of its body weight in food each day to live. According to ISAF, shortfin makos have only 9 verified attacks on people, with only 1 fatality.
FAQs
What is the most dangerous shark in the world?
The great whites might be fierce, but we think that bull sharks are even more dangerous. They’re aggressive and tend to stay near areas with lots of people, like tropical shorelines. They can live in both salt and fresh water, but they also venture into rivers.
What shark kills most humans?
The great white shark is the largest predatory fish in the world and one with the most recorded fatal attacks on humans.
Bottom Line
So, what are the most dangerous sharks to humans?
While great whites and tiger sharks often get a lot of attention for their deadly bites, bull sharks take the cake with their aggressive behavior and propensity for inhabiting shallow waters near populated areas.
Remember these tips: avoid murky water, never swim alone, and heed all warning signs.
Sources:
