Review: The planet's most effective killing machine
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 5, 2013
During the twenty-five years that my wife and I scuba-dived, we saw a huge change in attitudes of both divers and the general public toward sharks. Fear and loathing gradually turned into endless fascination with sharks. In his book "Sharks," the author takes a look at some of the 450 species of sharks and their habits. A few facts that I learned:* Only about 25 of the more than 450 species of sharks are known to have attacked human beings.* Most sharks have to keep moving to breathe, but a few species can breathe while lying still on the seabed.* Some species of sharks migrate because of seasonal conditions, in search of food, or to reproduce.* About 40% of sharks lay eggs, and about 60% give birth to live babies. The gestation period for live births is 9-12 months for most sharks, although some species may carry their babies as long as 24 months.* Sharks have seven well developed senses.The photography was excellent, and the text gave a good overview of sharks and their behavior. Overall, the book is a very nice introduction to sharks.