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Table of Contents
Enchanted Learning
All About Sharks!

Geologic Time Chart
Introduction to Sharks Introduction to Rays Anatomy Shark and Ray Species Extreme Sharks Extinct Sharks Classification Shark Glossary Shark Index Printables, Worksheets, and Activities

SHARK ANATOMY
Tiger shark

SHARK LIFE SPAN

Sharks, like all fish, grow larger throughout their lives. Even after maturity (when they are able to reproduce), they continue to grow, but at a slower pace. Different species of shark grow at different rates. People can determine a shark's age by counting the growth rings of its vertebrae (the backbones); this is a lot like counting tree rings. This does not determine a shark's life span, only the age of an individual.

There are many different species of sharks whose life spans range widely. Very little is known about the life spans of most sharks. More is being discovered all the time.

SHARK LIFE SPAN
Great White Shark No one knows the life span of the great white shark. Some people estimate it to be about 100 years, but this has not been proven.
Tiger shark Perhaps 30 - 40 years.
Nurse shark Nurse sharks reach maturity at about 15 to 20 years old. Life span is about 25 years (in captivity)
Whitetip reef shark Unknown
Short-finned Mako shark Unknown
Great Hammerhead shark Unknown
Lemon shark Unknown
Bull shark Unknown
Galapagos shark Unknown
Megamouth shark Unknown
Spiny Dogfish shark Estimates of the dogfish's life span range from 25-100 years.
Tiger shark Unknown
Basking shark Unknown
Whale shark It has been estimated that whale sharks may live up to 100 - 150 years.
Spined pygmy shark Unknown




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