The Shark…

…has a reputation us as a killer, an underwater murder machine. He found his role in a pseudoreal scenario on the big screen as a mythical creature and monster. Here he was presented to us as the monster that was to become synonymous with an entire animal breed – the “Great White Shark”. Many primitive tribes – in contrast to us industrial nations – have never perceived him like this and lived with him. They have accepted him, arranged themselves, even worshipped him.

Today we know that he does not deserve the reputation of being a man-eater. On the contrary, we know his position in the animal kingdom, his function and role.

Sharks are cartilaginous fish, unlike the fish we know, they have neither a swim bladder nor bones … they are about 400 – 350 million years old. The most famous original shark, the Megalodon, was 16 metres long, and myths want us to believe that it still lives in the deep sea today. Some shark species give birth to their offspring alive, others lay eggs. There are vegetarians and meat lovers. About 500 different species are known: Large ones grow to be 12 metres long and small ones with a total length of only 25 centimetres.

…and we from the marine conservation organisation DEEPWAVE would like to introduce these animals to you by presenting a selection of these expressive photos. And show the situation in which the shark lives today.