Shortfin Mako Shark

Chris And Monique Fallows/Npl/Minden Pictures

STANDARDS

CCSS: 4.NF.C.7, 5.NBT.A.3.B

TEKS: 4.1G, 4.2F

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Superior Sharks

April 2018
By Marissa Shieh

Sharks are not only extreme predators, they’re also extreme record breakers

Fastest Shark

The shortfin mako is the fastest fish in the sea. Its top speed is 35 miles per hour. The average speed for the shortfin mako is 4.2 miles per hour. The top speed of a great white shark is 30 miles per hour. Its average speed is 5 miles per hour.

Justify why a great white shark moving at average speed could travel farther than a mako in one hour.

Ancient Giant

The largest shark that ever lived was the megalodon. This species died out 2.6 million years ago. Scientists think they were roughly 50 feet long. The largest living sharks, whale sharks, can be 42 feet long.

How much shorter is the longest whale shark than the average megalodon?

Super-Small Sharks

Jeff Rotman/Alamy Stock Photo

An adult and a newborn spined pygmy shark

Some sharks are pint-size swimmers that can fit in the palm of a hand! The chart below lists three of the smallest shark species and their average lengths. 

A student concludes that the dwarf lantern shark is longer than the pygmy ribbontail catshark. Is the student correct? Order the shark lengths from greatest to least.

Words to Know

JUSTIFY: To explain your thoughts to try to prove that they are right

CONCLUDE: To make a decision or realization based on the facts you have

SPEED: The distance traveled in a unit of time. Example: 12 miles per hour means that you travel 12 miles in 1 hour.

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