What do most sharks eat?

Setting the interfamilial variations aside for a moment, the average shark dines on fish, squid and crustaceans [source: Parker]. When it comes to more specific diet preference, here are some favorites of individual shark species:

[source: SeaWorld]

Interestingly, the largest shark species, the whale shark, does not hunt at all. Enormous whale sharks, megamouth sharks and basking shark filter feed on plankton. These species have specialized gills that sift through water to extract the microscopic algae and sea creatures that comprise plankton. Just by indiscriminately taking water into their mouths, basking sharks filter 528,000 gallons of water each hour, extracting 4.5 pounds (2 kg) of food [source: Parker].

Some larger, faster sharks extend their diet to include sea mammals, in addition to substantial fish such as tuna, mackerel and other sharks. Great white sharks, tiger sharks and mako sharks may also consume seals, sea lions, sea birds, dolphins and porpoises.

Tiger sharks are probably the least discriminating in their culinary tastes. Stomach contents from tiger sharks have included license plates, turtles, sea snakes and gasoline canisters [source: Discovery Channel].

If you aren't sure what type of food a certain shark species eats, check out its mouth. Different sharks have specialized teeth tailored to their preferred prey. Great whites have razor-sharp, triangular fangs to slice through the thicker, fattier flesh of larger fish and sea mammals. Since tiger sharks enjoy crustaceans, their teeth resemble steak knives with serrated edges and a rounded shape to break through the shells. Filter feeders like whale sharks have row upon row of short, blunt teeth since they don't have to rip through anything [source: Parker].

But despite sharks' reputation for voracious appetites, they may be the target of something else's mealtime cravings. Find out on the next page when sharks become prey.

In the food hierarchy of the sea, large sharks often swim at the top. However, even the fierce great white sharks have enemies in the water. Killer whales that weigh around 5 tons (4,535 kilograms) have eaten great whites before [source: Cawardine]. Crocodiles, seals and other sharks may also prey on younger sharks.

By far, sharks' most threatening predator is humans. Shark meat has become increasingly popular as food, and manufacturers also use shark cartilage in some medicines. In 2007, the United States exported 4,160 tons of shark and dogfish meat [source: National Marine Fisheries Service]. Although the United States imported 32 tons of shark fin in 2007, it, along with Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, has banned the fishing tactic of catching sharks, slicing off their fins and tossing them back in the water [source: National Marine Fisheries Service].

Because of the success of commercial shark fishing and the problems with catching sharks as a byproduct of other fishing ventures, certain species populations have dwindled recently. Some shark experts have estimated that the overall number of sharks in the water has dropped as much as 90 percent [source: Kelly]. They also fear the decline because sharks reproduce at a much slower rate than other fish because most species carry their pups like mammals. At the same time, commercial shark fishing advocates argue that the business profits fishermen and also protects people from deadly shark attacks.

In reality, the widespread concern about shark attacks is overblown in relation to the incidence rate. People die each year from gruesome shark-related injuries, but only 30 of the nearly 400 species have ever made contact with humans [source: Florida Museum of Natural History]. Of those 30 or so species, shark specialists consider around a dozen as potentially harmful to people. Because of the higher concentration of muscle in humans' bodies, sharks will sometimes take a bite and release a victim since they prefer fattier foods [source: Klimely].

For more information on sharks and other sea life, read the links on the next page.