Sharks

For 450 million years they’ve dominated our oceans but today sharks are now under threat. Hear from First Nations peoples, scientists and conservationist as they share their stories about these ancient survivors.

Sharks are ancient creatures that evolved long before dinosaurs lived on land. They have survived five global mass extinctions, each of which wiped out more than 75 per cent of animal species.

Sharks are fish that have skeletons made of cartilage rather than bone, making them lighter and more buoyant in water. Over millions of years, they have developed extraordinary senses to help navigate and detect prey.

Over millions of years, sharks have developed streamlined bodies and extraordinary senses to help navigate and detect prey while also providing protection against attack.

First Nations peoples of the sea in Australia and the Pacific have always respected sharks, revering them as ancestors and gods. However, sharks have often been portrayed as killing machines and monsters to be feared.

Apex predators such as big sharks play a crucial role in keeping the ocean’s delicate ecosystem in balance. Intense overfishing has not only had devastating effects on shark numbers but also placed huge stress on the entire marine food chain.

We can all take action to help save the world’s shark populations. Knowledge from the First Nations peoples, scientists and ecologists can guide our next steps.

Learn about different shark species from ancient shark ancestors to the largest and fastest sharks and discover 3D interactive models.

The Australian Museum would like to thank everyone involved in producing the Sharks exhibition and digital publication.