Sharks

This passage is about different kinds of sharks.

Lexile Level: 640L

Categories: Animals & Nature

Sharks have been around for 450 million years. They used to be known as "sea dogs." People have always been fascinated by them but also terrified of them. Despite the movies, sharks rarely attack humans. Some sharks don't even eat meat! Sharks come in all different sizes and shapes. The pygmy shark is about the size of your hand. The whale shark can grow to be 41 feet long. It is the biggest fish in the world. Most sharks have replaceable teeth. Some lose 30,000 teeth in a lifetime! Their smooth skin and body shape help them move quickly through water. While most sharks swim at about 5 miles per hour, the shortfin mako can reach speeds of 31 miles per hour. They have adapted very well to underwater life. They have a great sense of smell. They can also hear their prey from many miles away. They can even see in the dark water. While they can be dangerous predators, they are more interested in other fish than they are in you. They are actually gentle, playful creatures until they get hungry!