Differences In The Sharks Life Cycle
The shark is classified as a fish. However, it differs from other fish in significant ways. Different species vary considerably from each other as well. A sharks life cycle is different from shark species to other shark species too.
Their skeletons are made of cartilage rather than hard bones. The cartilage does not support the internal organs as well as bones do. Death can occur if a shark is out of water for more than a few minutes. Thus, the life cycle varies greatly.
Sharks are found to be unintelligent compare to other animals. In spite of this, it has survived as a species for over 300 million years. One species of shark has a life span of 20 to 30 years. Others will vary.
One of those with longevity is the Piked Dogfish with a life span of 70 to 100 years. Different species also have different birthing processes. There are three ways. One is to lay eggs and swim away, another is to produce eggs but carry them till hatching time. The third way is carrying them internally as humans do. The shark fetus is nourished by an umbilical cord as with mammals.
The time required for gestation is from 9 to 22 months. The female produces from one to 100 eggs or pups at one time. Humans everywhere can envy one fact about sharks. They are able to replace their teeth as they wear out. New teeth come in throughout the entire life of the shark.
Young sharks are called pups. The lemon shark, because it is territorial, has been studied more thoroughly than any of the others. A shark is born and reaches sexual maturity in about fifteen years.
The pup swims only in a limited size territory for the first three years of its life. As the pup ages and grows, he expands his swimming and hunting for food territory. The lemon sharks inhabit the murky waters off Bimini.
Sexual maturity comes in 13 years for the male and 14 to 16 years for the female of the species. At full growth they swim and hunt for food in an area of about 36 miles. They are now seven feet long and need more food. The sharks life cycle is 25 years approximately. During the years between 15 and 25 a female can produce about five litters. The male and female live about the same number of years.
In his studies of sharks one aspect that has always fascinated Richard Williams is the sharks life cycle.
Tags: Animalia, animals, Animals and Plants, Biology, Cartilaginous, Chordata, Fish, Flora and Fauna, outdoors, recreation, Science, sharks, Zoology