Spotlight on Nature: Shark

Spotlight on Nature: Shark — page 1 — MEET THE FAMILY SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD SHARKS of Santa Cruz Island The Galápagos Islands lie about 620 miles 998 km off the coast of Ecuador Santa Cruz Island is in the middle of Galápagos Marine reserve reserve This is a protected area where fishing is limited and other human human interference is not allowed The waters of the reserve are rich with sea life that includes manta rays moray eels green sea turtles and as many as 32 different shark species species Off the western coast of Santa Cruz a female scalloped hammerhead hammerhead shark cruises over a colorful coral landscape toward a shallow lagoon The lagoon is near a mangrove forest where the underwater tangle of roots provides shelter for young sea creatures The shark reaches the lagoon’s sandy seabed She feels the warm summer sun on her back For nearly 10 months baby sharks have been growing inside inside her body The hammerhead is about to give birth

Spotlight on Nature: Shark — page 2

Spotlight on Nature: Shark — page 3 — CLOSE-UP Gills Fish breathe using gills These tissues carry oxygen from water into the fish’s blood stream Most sharks must swim continuously to breathe Some bottom dwelling species are able to pump water through their gills

Spotlight on Nature: Shark — page 4 — 01 CHAPTER ONE life begins Sharks and their relatives rays skates and chimaeras are unique among fish Their skeletons are made of cartilage instead of bone Around 500 different shark species have been discovered and named Some large sharks such as tiger mako great white bull and blue sharks are apex predators This means they are at the top of their food chains They hunt other sea creatures and have no natural predators The largest shark species whale and basking sharks are not hunters hunters at all They roam with their mouths open filtering tiny organisms called plankton from the water About 80 percent of all shark species grow to lengths of no more than five feet 1 5 m SANTA CRUZ SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD SHARK MILESTONES DAY 1 Born Length 15 5 inches 39 4 cm Weight 18 ounces 510 g 7

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