This shark is looking for its next meal. Click on image for full size (33K JPG) Windows Original, adapted from Corel Photography

For some reason, sharks have the reputation of being the "bad boy" of the sea. Movies such as Jaws give the impression that sharks are killing machines, eating everything in their sights. But only a few species of sharks are actually dangerous to humans.

The great white shark is probably the most famous of all the species. The great white can grow over 25 feet long! Fortunately, humans aren't the great white's favorite meal. Instead, they enjoy sea lions and other sea life. There are not very many great white sharks alive today.

A more common shark is the blue shark. It is much smaller in length and not as fierce as the great white. Blue sharks can be found all over the world, and are often seen near the surface.

The nurse shark is a lesser known species. It is very lazy, and is usually found on the ocean floor. The nurse shark grows to about 8 feet in length, and preys on shellfish. The horn shark is similar to the nurse. It is very timid, and doesn't grow longer than 4 feet. It hides under rocks during the day and comes out at night to feed on fish and crustaceans.

Finally, the largest shark and fish in the world is the giant whale shark. The whale shark can grow over 40 feet long! But don't let its size scare you. The whale shark only eats plankton, which are small organisms floating in the water.

So you see, sharks aren't all that scary! There are several more species, hundreds to be exact! Many are harmless creatures that are more scared of humans than we are of them!

This shark is looking for its next meal. Click on image for full size (33K JPG) Windows Original, adapted from Corel Photography

When someone hears the word "shark", they usually think of a mean, scarry monster that eats everything it sees. The movie Jaws helped create this fear. But in real life, sharks aren't so mean. Actually, they are usually more scared of us than we are of them!

The great white shark is probably the most famous of all the species. The great white can grow over 25 feet long! It's a good thing humans aren't the great white's favorite meal. Instead, they enjoy sea lions and other sea life. There are not very many great white sharks alive today.

A more common shark is the blue shark. It is much smaller in length and not as fierce as the great white. Blue sharks can be found all over the world, and are often seen near the surface.

The nurse shark is a lesser known species. It is very lazy, and is usually found on the ocean floor. The nurse shark grows to about 8 feet in length, and preys on shellfish. The horn shark is similar to the nurse. It is very timid, and doesn't grow longer than 4 feet. It hides under rocks during the day and comes out at night to feed on fish and crustaceans.

Finally, the largest shark and fish in the world is the giant whale shark. The whale shark can grow over 40 feet long! But don't let its size scare you. The whale shark only eats plankton, which are small organisms floating in the water.

This shark is looking for its next meal. Click on image for full size (33K JPG) Windows Original, adapted from Corel Photography

Look out! It's a shark!

Don't worry! Sharks aren't as mean as they look. Sharks are more scared of you than you are of them. Most sharks eat fish or crustaceans. Humans aren't on their menu!

The great white shark is very famous. Movies like Jaws make it well known. Great whites can grow to over 25 feet long! There are not very many left today.

There are many other types of sharks, like the blue, nurse and horn shark. They are all smaller than the great white. The horn shark hides under rocks during the day.

The whale shark is the biggest one of them all! He can grow to 40 feet long! It feeds on plankton and is very slow and peaceful.