Sharks are known as the most vicious and aggressive predators of the ocean.However, can all species of shark catch bigger prey like dolphins and porpoises? Well, the type of sea life consumed actually depends on the species of shark!Many species of shark are purely carnivorous in nature, and accurately fit the traditional idea of cold-blooded killers which we see on screen. However, there are gentle giants like the whale shark, which feeds exclusively on plankton. Other large species such as tiger sharks and bull sharks eat everything from fish and crustaceans to even other sharks, making them quite a force to reckon with! Though it seems that sharks eat a lot, they actually eat only a mere fraction of their body weight! Their unique digestive system ensures that when food passes to the stomach after being ingested, it is stored in a separate chamber where any bad food is thrown out of the system before it goes for digestion. Sounds incredible? We have more great facts for you, so keep reading!Do check out our pages on what do quail eat and what do squid eat if you enjoyed this article.What is a shark’s favorite food?Being sea creatures, sharks tend to eat whatever is naturally available in their surroundings. As they are carnivorous in nature, they prey on various species of marine mammals such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and mammals such as penguins, seals, and dolphins. Some sharks even eat sea birds, while others prefer turtles!Older sharks tend to go after bigger prey, and their favorite targets seem to be seals and sea lions. They are fond of eating porpoises and dolphins as well, though the social nature of dolphins may cause a lot of problems for them. When it comes to fish, they prefer large fish such as mackerel and tuna, and may even feed on smaller shark species if necessary!How much do sharks eat?Despite having sharp teeth and impressive jaws, sharks are actually very bad at chewing their food! They usually snap up their prey whole (in the case of fish), or in larger chunks. As these pieces are quite large, they take a longer time to digest properly, keeping the shark satiated for a long period of time. Due to this, they only consume 0.5-3.0% of their body weight in food daily, with some sharks taking mighty bites out of sea creatures and becoming full, and others swallowing larger animals in one go.Sharks are also cold-blooded in nature, which means that their metabolism runs at a much lower rate than ours. They burn energy very slowly, which means that it takes a long time until they work up an appetite. Their slow digestion is due to their inability to chew properly, as well as the added factor of a slow-paced metabolism. They are also adept at expelling any bad food they may have eaten, ejecting it through their mouth.Larger sharks can eat huge meals in one go, which keep them sustained for weeks. They also store up oil in their livers, which helps to sustain them in the periods that they are unable to find prey.What type of fish do sharks eat?Sharks seem to prefer larger fish such as tuna and mackerel. They are also fond of mollusks, with squid and octopus being on their list of favorite prey.However, the type of fish sharks eat depends from species to species, with size being an important factor. Smaller sharks go after smaller fish species, whereas larger ones go after big fish. Actually, the largest shark species does not eat meat at all, depending on krill to fill their bellies!Sharks have different types of teeth, which help them in cutting, grinding, and piercing their prey. They either come smooth, sharp, or serrated and help them to tear their prey into pieces, making it easier to swallow.Large sharks tend to go after the calves of dolphins and porpoises, though this may often land them in trouble! Dolphins travel in large groups and rush to defend their members if they see them in trouble. These large groups are quite good at roughing sharks up, and can even end up killing them if they are vicious enough!Different Types Of Sharks And Their DietThough it is assumed that all sharks eat whatever prey comes their way, different species actually have different preferences as to what they go after.Hammerhead sharks feed solely on string rays to survive, whereas blue sharks seem to have a hankering for squid.Though faster shark species such as great white sharks, mako sharks, and tiger sharks go after more difficult prey such as seals, sea lions, porpoises, and various seabirds, they still rely on tuna and mackerel to curb their appetite in case their hunting for the day is unsuccessful. They use skilled hunting techniques to catch their prey and fulfill their carnivorous eating habits. Tiger sharks eat turtles, crabs, and sea snakes as well, probably making them the least picky out of all shark species.The great white shark has a hunting technique in which it approaches its prey from below. They then use a sudden rush to swim upward, capturing the entire animal in their massive jaws. They use this technique to capture seals, penguins, and water birds. This technique is employed by other sharks like theWhale sharks, despite being among the largest species of sharks, feed exclusively on plankton! They have specialized jaws which help them to filter out seawater while taking in large mouthfuls of krill, which makes it much easier for them to fill their stomachs. Basking sharks and megamouth sharks employ similar tactics as well, and these three species are called planktivores. They are also called filter feeders, and their teeth have little function other than acting as grills.The hammerhead shark eats squids, octopus, and other sharks, seeming to be especially fond of soft-bodied cephalopods and stingrays.Spiny dogfish are fond of crustaceans, and they pick them up from the ocean floor before grinding them to pieces with their rows of teeth. Bull sharks are aggressive, unpredictable sharks that are known to snap up other sharks if they get in their way! Nurse sharks use their lips to suck out squid, octopus, shrimp, crabs, coral, and sea urchins from holes in the ocean floor.Bethnic sharks are sea floor-dwelling creatures and use their special jaws to grind up and swallow crustaceans, which make up their entire diet. Saw sharks hide inside the sand and drag their catch inside after catching them off guard, twisting them up in the process. On the other hand, thresher sharks use their sharp tails to sting their prey and stun them, making the feeding process easier.Though most sharks are meat-eaters, they don’t hunt people. They would rather eat fish and sea mammals, and most attacks on humans are provoked incidents or accidents.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what do sharks eat then why not take a look at what do oysters eat, or hammerhead shark facts.
Sharks are known as the most vicious and aggressive predators of the ocean.
