Sharks conjure up imagery of Hollywood films like "Jaws" featuring terrifying sea creatures killing every innocent person in site--children, women you name it, those blood thirsty monsters don't discriminate. Yet in reality, there is a lot of falsehood surrounded to what sharks are actually like, somewhat perpetrated through Hollywood's glamorized image.
Discovery Channel, home to the popular "Shark Week" contacted Samuel Gruber, a professor of marine biology at University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science about some common myths about sharks.
Sharks seek out humans
Gruber mentioned that there was no evidence that sharks go after humans on purpose or prefer humans. He said that out of the 80 million people who enjoy sea activities yearly, only a handful out of those experience shark attacks. When sharks do attack humans Gruber stated that it is usually a case of mistaken identity. He said for example during World War II the USS Indianapolis sunk in shark infested waters and many of the men were killed or injured by sharks. "In massive air/sea accidents, there can be a lot of blood, noise and unprotected people in the water. To a shark, this strange abundance of food must appear like a bunch of damaged turtles."
Sharks like surfboards
Though sharks like the great white do look at silhouettes from underwater, Gruber believes that the shape of a surfboard fools sharks into believing it's something they normally eat such as a a seal or a sea lion. He also stated that the chances of drowning are much higher than getting attacked by a shark.
Sharks don't attack during midday
Fewer attacks do occur at midday but what usually is the case is that fewer people are out in the water at this time because they are out to lunch.
Sharks do not have enemies
Killer whales occasionally kill sharks as well as parasites. Sharks also eat other sharks at times. Humans however are by far sharks biggest enemies with people killing 73 million sharks a year, according a 2006 study in the journal Ecology Letters.
Sharks just live to kill and eat
Sharks actually have big brains and mental capacities are up to par with birds and mammals.
Here's a cool video of a shark from The Discovery Channel:
Check out this List of Locations for Shark Attacks in the United States.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
