Page 17 - Shark

One-year-old
leopard shark, 15 in
(38 cm) long

See how iT bendS
Leopard sharks (above) have flexible
bodies, so they can turn around in
small spaces. Like their close relatives,
the smooth-hounds, leopard sharks
spend much of their time cruising close to
the bottom and also rest on the seabed.

in flighT
The large pectoral fins of the starry smooth-hound (left)
are similar to an airplane’s wings because they provide lift to
keep the shark from sinking. When tilted, they can also act as brakes
like the flaps on the wings of an airplane that are raised on landing.
Submarines have horizontal fins, called hydrofoils, which lift them
upward like those of a shark. Just like hydrofoils, the leading (or front)
edge of a shark’s pectoral fins is rounded and the trailing (or rear) edge
is thin, so that water flows over them more easily. The pointed snout and
tapered body are streamlined to give less resistance to water.

full STeam ahead
A great white shark
(above) normally
cruises at about 2 mph
(3 km/h). Its bulky
body hardly moves at
all, while its tail beats
from side to side.
When closing in on
a kill, the great white
puts on an impressive
burst of speed of up
to 15 mph (25 km/h).

on The Turn
Great whites can bend
their bodies but are not
nearly as flexible as
smaller sharks. They
have to surprise their
prey rather than out-
maneuvering them.

15 Continued on next page