By Courtney Cooper
What do the Different Shark Species Eat?
There are over 500 species of sharks that inhabit the world’s oceans. These species are categorised into eight different orders, each with its own unique characteristics and traits. Every creature has its own distinct behaviours. This article shares great insight into what the different shark species eat. We also discuss further shark facts that you might be interested in! Apex Shark Expeditions provides the best great white shark cage diving in Cape Town.
Different Shark Diets: What Do They Consume?
Sharks will eat just about everything. The dietary preferences of various shark species can vary significantly. Many sharks are carnivorous and highly skilled predators, while others have a diet that consists mainly of plankton.
A carnivorous shark’s diet typically consists of fish, molluscs, and crustaceans. Large species also prey on marine mammals like dolphins, seals, sea lions, and porpoises, along with larger fish species like tuna, mackerel, and even smaller sharks. Some even consume seabirds as part of their diet.
Certain sharks can be quite particular about their food choices, displaying specific preferences. Hammerhead sharks, family Sphyrnidae, for instance, have a strong affinity for rays. They exhibit a remarkable predatory nature, utilising their unique eye placement to enhance their visual acuity in the search for sustenance. They also consume smaller fish, octopuses, squid, and crustaceans.
Tiger sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier, are often referred to as the “garbage cans of the sea” due to their opportunistic feeding habits, consuming both live prey and carrion. The diet consists of bony fishes, other sharks, marine mammals, seabirds, and invertebrates. Tiger sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems by preying on sea turtles and snakes.
Great white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, have a diverse diet that includes fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals. Juvenile sharks consume small fish, smaller sharks, rays, squids, while adult sharks primarily prey on seals, sea lions, and occasionally scavenge on dead whales.
Sharks, being the apex predators of the ocean, possess remarkable hunting abilities and employ various tactics to capture their prey. Large species have the ability to consume whole animals or tear them apart with powerful bites, devouring large chunks. Thresher sharks, on the other hand, use their powerful tail to immobilise their prey, while Sawsharks employ a unique technique of manipulating their catch within the sandy environment.
A number of the sharks that reside on the ocean floor are skilled predators, employing ambush tactics or blending seamlessly into their surroundings. Some benthic sharks exclusively consume crustaceans, dispatching them by exerting pressure with their teeth. Conversely, several species frequently hunt in packs, working together to bring in larger hauls than they could if they went it alone.
Planktivore Sharks have a unique feeding behaviour, as they primarily consume plankton and don’t conform to the typical expectations we have of these creatures. Indeed, it is true that certain larger sharks have a preference for plankton over meat. Some of the fascinating creatures in this category are the whale shark, Rhincodon Typus; basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus; and megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios.
Their feeding strategy involves using a specialised method to extract food from the water by filtering it through long, hair-like structures. Sharks capture the plankton using their specialised filaments and consume them once they have gathered a sufficient amount. On average, the peregrine shark filters an impressive two million litres of water every hour, extracting a mere two kilogrammes of plankton. Their teeth are small, but they don’t play a role in their feeding process.
We also share insight into how to identify different shark species.
