Can Sharks Change Colors?

Sharks have adapted to blend into their habitats. They can also change their skin tones to match their environment, which helps them trick their prey when they’re on a hunting spree and even attract potential mates.

Being in the presence of a shark can be quite intimidating. A very conventional idea is that they can instill fear in their prey, and they often live up to that reputation. You’ll find that sharks can keep you at the edge of your seat when they star in the thriller genre of movies, but research on these creatures has shown that they have a much deeper level of subtlety to them.

Swimming with a shark might feel like being in a time capsule to the past, because these incredible organisms have been around for about 400 million years. Being the first ever vertebrate predators on Earth, this group of species has even outlived the dinosaurs! 

Aging Gracefully

One species of shark not only changes its color, but also its pattern, as it ages. Zebra sharks are zebra-striped as juveniles and leopard-spotted as adults. And until 1823, the two different stages were considered to be two separate species! The stripes help zebra sharks camouflage, as it resembles its reef habitat, as well as its main predator, the banded sea snake.

Hammerhead shark pups are born with shades of black with white-tipped fins, but as they grow, adding small fish and shellfish a part of their diet, their skin starts to darken on the bottom and remains light on top, which enables them to camouflage like a chameleon! What’s more, hammerheads can actually get a tan, and are one of the only fish known to get a sunburn.

Conclusion

Sharks are intelligent and tactical when it comes to predation and finding mates. Although shark attacks can be vicious, their manner of approaching prey has shown us that there is also a subtle and gentle side to these fierce giants. Research on sharks helps us understand how they always manage to stay atop their food chains and fit into ecosystems so seamlessly.

Now you know why there are hardly any survivors in Deep Blue Sea or The Meg. They just never saw the sharks coming!