10 Most Dangerous Sharks in the World

10 Most Dangerous Sharks in the World
Great White Shark. The largest and most dangerous predatory fish, the great white can weigh up to 2,450 pounds. (Shutterstock)
9/7/2013
Updated:
9/8/2013

Ever wondered which sharks are the most dangerous, which have the most menacing personality? These sharks have created trouble all around the world. Lets go on a deep-sea journey with the most notorious underwater killers.

10. Lemon Shark

Lemon sharks chase other sharks as prey, along with large sea birds, squid, crustaceans, stingrays, and eagle rays. They are not generally aggressive toward humans. When threatened, however, this peaceful shark will not hesitate to inflict serious, and even deadly, injury.

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9. Blue Shark

Blue sharks are gluttonous eaters. They gorge on anchovies, to mackerel, and additionally to sardines, birds, seals, turtles, squid—they will eat almost anything that moves. They have been known to attack small fishing boats and divers.

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8. Shortfin Mako

These sharks have torpedo-like bodies and are the fastest of all sharks. Shortfin mako sharks are aggressive and attack quickly when provoked. Some fishermen have reported seeing these sharks free themselves from fishing lines then try to bite and batter the fishermen in the boat. When they have sensed traces of blood, they have even attacked ships.

7. Blacktip Shark

Blacktips have been responsible for 16 percent of shark attack in the state of Florida. Blacktips have also attacked people in other regions along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, and in the waters off South Africa and the Caribbean. They prefer a depth of around 10 feet. They average about 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length and just 40 pounds (18 kilograms) in weight. When they have bitten people, it has usually been a minor wound that is easily treated. 

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6. Sand Tiger Shark

Shallow waters are the sand tiger shark’s preferred domain, but the sharks will often dive to 656 feet.  They are found in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, eastern and western Atlantic Ocean, and Mediterranean and Adriatic seas. This shark arguably is the fiercest-looking fish in the world, because of the long teeth crowding its mouth. However, looks can be deceiving, because it is a fairly quiet and peaceful shark—until provoked. Then beware.

5. Grey Reef Shark

Grey reef sharks are mostly active during the day, however they feed at night on reef fish, squid, octopus, and various crustaceans. They are especially curious and sociable, drawing them to divers and other humans in the water. Scuba divers can usually remain peaceably in the water with the sharks if they interact with them to fulfill the sharks’ curiosity. When this likeable shark feels threatened, however, it hunches its back and bends its body in to an “S” shape as a warning of a possible attack. 

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4. Oceanic Whitetip Shark

 The oceanic whitetip usually inhabits warm, deep water. This shark tends to linger around the surface of the water, constantly hunting for food. When feeding with other sharks, aggressiveness is heightened, often resulting in a feeding frenzy. Oceanic whitetips are not the fastest sharks, but they are capable of bursts of speed.

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3. Tiger Shark

These sharks are particularly threatening to swimmers and divers, because of a combination of factors, including large size, hunting style (they stick close to the shore and the ocean’s surface), natural curiosity, and gargantuan appetite. This shark will eat just about anything that floats and moves.

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2.Bull Shark

These massive predators like to hang out in warm, shallow waters close to the shore (all sharks dangerous to humans prefer hunting close to shore). They are found all over the world and even have a tolerance for fresh water. Bull sharks have even been found as far up as Illinois in the Mississippi River. Bull sharks use a “bump-and-bite” technique, when they are attacking their prey. They bump into their meal to test it and see if it is good enough, then they instantly bite. 

 

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1. Great White Shark

The largest and most dangerous predatory fish, the great white can weigh up to 2,450 pounds. Great whites are found in oceans worldwide, but especially in the temperate coastal waters of North America, southern Africa, and southern and western Australia. Their extremely sharp, flat teeth are shaped like arrowheads. The serrated teeth are designed to slice through (and remove) big chunks of flesh from prey. Great whites account for about a half to a third of all annual reported shark attacks. About 100 attacks occur annually, with 30 to 50 of them involving great white sharks. About 10 to 15 people die every year by shark attack. 

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