What is the scientific name of sharks? The shark scientific name is Selachimorpha.
Sharks are ancient, powerful, and deeply significant predators of the ocean. They come in many shapes and sizes, from the great white to the hammerhead, each holding its scientific designation. In this article, we will explore the shark’s scientific name, genus, pronunciation, biological significance, classification, types of sharks, noises, and diet.
Table of Contents
What is the Shark Scientific Name?
There is no scientific name for “shark” because the word refers to a diverse assemblage of species. However, all species are classified together under the superorder Selachimorpha in the class Chondrichthyes.
- Shark Scientific Name (Superorder): Selachimorpha
- Pronunciation: /sə-ˈla-kə-ˌmȯr-fə/
Meaning: From Greek selachos (cartilaginous fish) + morpha (form); that is, “shark-shaped cartilaginous fish.”
Biological Classification Of Shark
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) |
| Subclass | Elasmobranchii |
| Superorder | Selachimorpha |
| Order | Varies by species (e.g., Lamniformes, Carcharhiniformes) |
| Genus | Depends on shark type (see below) |
| Species | Over 500 known shark species |
Meaning and Pronunciation of Shark Scientific Name
How to Pronounce Selachimorpha
Phonetic: /suh-LAK-uh-mor-fuh/
Splitting the syllables:
- suh: soft beginning
- LAK: a stressed syllable
- uh-mor-fuh: flowing ending
Try to pronounce it: suh-LAK-uh-mor-fuh-the very name given to the superorder that contains all sharks.
Meaning of the Scientific Name Shark
Selachimorpha is derived from:
- selachos: meaning cartilaginous fish (like sharks and rays)
- Morpha: meaning form or shape
So, this scientific name quite literally means “fish with shark-like form and cartilage skeleton.”
Scientific Names of Popular Shark Species
Here are a few species of sharks and their respective scientific names and genera.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Pronunciation (English) |
|---|---|---|
| Great White Shark | Carcharodon carcharias | kar-KA-ro-don kar-KA-ree-us |
| Tiger Shark | Galeocerdo cuvier | GAL-ee-oh-SIR-doh KOO-vee-ay |
| Whale Shark | Rhincodon typus | RIN-koh-don TIE-pus |
| Goblin Shark | Mitsukurina owstoni | MIT-soo-koo-REE-nah OW-stoh-nye |
| Hammerhead Shark | Sphyrna lewini | SFIR-nah LOO-ee-nee |
| Bull Shark | Carcharhinus leucas | kar-ka-RYE-nus LOO-kas |
| Basking Shark | Cetorhinus maximus | set-oh-RYE-nus MAK-sih-mus |
| Blue Shark | Prionace glauca | PRY-oh-nay-see GLAW-ka |
Sharks Habitats, Diet and Sound
What Do Sharks Eat?
Sharks are strictly carnivorous predators, with the diet being species-typical:
- Great White Sharks eat seals, sea lions, fish, and whales
- Tiger Sharks eat fish, sea turtles, birds, and anything else that washes down (which gives rise to their second nickname, garbage eater)
- Whale Sharks eat plankton, krill, and small fish (being a filter feeder)
- Hammerhead Sharks eat stingrays and crabs and have a taste for squid
Where Do Sharks Live?
Sharks inhabit nearly every ocean and occupy a wide range of varied habitats.
- Coastal waters
- Deep-sea
- Open ocean (pelagic zone)
- Coral reefs
- Artic to tropical waters
Each species adapts to its environment with different hunting methods and movement patterns.
Do Sharks Make Sounds?
Sharks do not make vocal sounds as dolphins or whales do. Instead, they
- Communicate through body language, such as arching or rushing from one spot to another.
- Detect electric signals of their prey through their sensory organs (ampullae of Lorenzini).
- Usually rely on sight, smell, and vibration more than sound.
Hence, while sharks may not “talk,” they are very much aware of their surroundings.
Shark Size and Weight
| Shark Type | Length Range | Average Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Whale Shark | 30–40 feet (9–12 m) | 15–20 tons |
| Great White Shark | 15–20 feet (4–6 m) | 2,000–5,000 pounds |
| Tiger Shark | 10–14 feet (3–4.3 m) | 850–1,400 pounds |
| Hammerhead Shark | 8–13 feet (2.5–4 m) | 500–1,000 pounds |
| Goblin Shark | 10–13 feet (3–4 m) | 400–500 pounds |
Types Of Sharks Details
Sharks come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and behavioral patterns. They have different definitions, mostly based on their habitat, behavior, feeding habits, and special appearances, among other factors. Below are the most famous and essential types of sharks.
1. Great White Shark
The great white shark is considered an apex predator and is one of the most famous and feared predators found in the oceans. It is primarily known for its powerful bite and large size and is found in coastal waters worldwide.
- Scientific Name: Carcharodon carcharias
- Genus: Carcharodon
- Length: Up to 20 feet
- Weight: 2,000-5,000 pounds
- Diet: Seals, sea lions, fish, carrion
- Habitat: Temperate coastal waters
- Interesting fact: It can detect a drop of blood in 25 gallons of water.
2. Tiger Shark
The tiger shark has a black-striped body, hence its name. It is one of the most aggressive of all sharks and is known to eat almost anything.
- Biological Name: Galeocerdo cuvier
- Genus: Galeocerdo
- Length: 10-14 feet
- Weight: Up to 1,400 pounds
- Diet: Fish, sea turtles, birds, garbage
- Habitat: Tropical and subtropical oceans
- Fun fact: It is sometimes called the “garbage man of the sea.”
3. Whale Shark
Interestingly, while referred to as a whale shark, the whale shark is not part of the whale family—it is the largest fish in the world, a gentle giant that feeds on small plankton.
- Zoological Name: Rhincodon typus
- Genus: Rhincodon
- Length: Up to 40 feet
- Weight: 15-20 tons
- Diet: Plankton, krill, small fish (Filter feeder)
- Habitat: Warm tropical waters
- Interesting Fact: Its mouth can open as wide as 5 feet.
4. Goblin Shark
This evolutionarily unique shark of the deep sea is sometimes referred to as a “living fossil” because of its long-snouted, prehistoric appearance.
- Scientific Name: Mitsukurina owstoni
- Genus: Mitsukurina
- Length: Up to 13 feet
- Weight: ~400-500lb
- Diet: Squid, fish, and crustaceans
- Habitat: Deep ocean trenches and slopes
- Interesting Fact: Its jaw will extend forward to seize prey.
5. Hammerhead Shark
Their heads are uniquely shark-shaped, so hammerhead sharks can use the wide “hammer” to find prey that burrows into the sand.
- Biological Name: Sphyrnidae
- Genus: Sphyrna
- Length: 8-13 ft. (dependent on species)
- Weight: Up to 1,000 lbs
- Diet: Stingrays, squid, fish
- Habitat: Coastal warm waters, continental shelf.
- Interesting Fact: Their eyes are on the outer sides of the hammer, giving them a full circle vision of about 360°.
6. Basking Shark
The basking shark is the second-largest shark, swimming with its mouth open for filter feeding.
- Zoological Name: Cetorhinus maximus
- Genus: Cetorhinus
- Length: Up to 10 meters
- Weight: About 4500 kilograms
- Diet: Planktonic, small crustaceans
- Habitat: Cold and temperate seas
- Interesting fact: Despite its large size, it is harmless to humans.
7. Shark bull
Sharks are capable of surviving in both freshwater and saltwater and moving through rivers by swimming.
- Scientific Name: Carcharhinus leucas
- Genus: Carcharhinus
- Length: 7and 11.5 feet
- Weight: Up to 500 pounds
- Diet: fish, dolphins, other sharks
- Habitat: Warm coastal waters, rivers, estuaries
- Interesting Fact: The bull shark lives in the Amazon, Mississippi, and even Lake Nicaragua.
8. Blue Shark
A fast swimmer, the blue shark is synonymous with the beautiful blue color, common in deep and open ocean waters.
- Biological Name: Prionace glauca
- Genus: Prionace
- Length: Up to 3 meters
- Weight: Up to 200 kilograms
- Diet: Fish, squid
- Habitat: Deep waters of temperate and tropical seas
- Interesting fact: Migrates thousands of miles across the oceans.
These sharks are just a few of the more than 500 species of sharks that swim in the oceans. Each one is perfectly adapted to the environment in which it lives with specific characteristics for that adaptation, whether it’s filter feeding, like in the whale shark or the goblin shark with its jaws.
