Is shark so dangerous as some claim? Just in case, it's better to keep it at a distance and simply admire its qualities. If the lion is the king of the jungle, the shark is the "master of the sea," that is for sure. Is there any another creature that has been the main character of so many stories, legends, thrillers and even songs?

There are some 350 species of sharks all over the oceans. Even in the frozen waters of the Arctic Ocean, at least the boreal shark (somniosus microcephalus) is found there. But in general, they usually swim in the temperate and warm waters thus it means that the Caribbean or Antilles Sea, as you prefer to call it, is for them an ideal place. Fresh water currents are not excluded either, some like to get occasionally into rivers and estuaries; however there are species that are from fresh waters which have been found at Nicaragua Lake, Ganges River, India, Zambeze River in the Amazon and in several points of tropical and subtropical geography. Besides being the most powerful and healthy machine of the seas, the shark is also the best assembled, the fittest creature in nature to face all sorts of adversities. The hydrodynamics lines of the shark, equipped with a non bony but cartilaginous skeleton, are the most convenient and closest conditions to perfection for swimming. They are the best for its resistance, elasticity and speed in the water. Another interesting fact is the size they may achieve. There is a wide range, from the smallest one of 20 cm at adulthood as (squaliolus laticaudus) to giants as the whale shark or damero (rhincodon typus) which sometime attains 20 m of length. Most of the members of this family are not so large, from almost 1 to 3 or 4 meters, the most frequent species are generally found in this group. Regarding the collection of sharks that can be found in the Caribbean Sea, let's just mention some of them. The shark of seven gills (heptranchias perlo) has the peculiarity of having seven gill clefts and its brother the cañabota or marrajo (Hexanchus griseus) has six gill clefts. These two species are interesting since sharks usually have only five gill clefts. The white shark (carcharodon carcharias) of oceanic waters is very strong and larger than the blue shark (isurus oxyrinchus). The latter shows an intense blue color on the back and lateral sides and has a size of some 3 meters. The well-known tiger shark (galeocerdo cuvieri) usually extends from 3 meters to 6. They are active predators and also, equipped with a sort of "functional" line of teeth and of several replacement teeth in case the first one are lost or fractured. We should not forget that the so-called docile are carnivorous and to survive they even have to devour their neighbors from tiny fishes to animals larger than them. Hammerheads (ginglymostoma cirratum) are also found in the Caribbean, their anatomy resembles its name and are close relatives of cornudas (sphyrna tiboro and sphyrna mokarran), both have a flattened head with lateral extensions; sarda shark (carcharhinus leucas) and many others because in the Caribbean area there are over 45 species. One of the most passionate topics on these animals was its aggressiveness and the attacks on man, a subject on which specialists have expressed different criteria and tried to put aside the exaggerated elements used by fiction. Sharks have the same instinct as that of felines; the stimuli raised by hunger make them to increase their aggressiveness as a natural instinct to ensure their survival. In any case, sharks account for the highest number of victims versus man. Though they all are not dangerous, it is difficult to determine potential danger on each one, especially if they are harassed. The white shark or jaquetón, the so-called tiger, cornudas, blue sharks and others are beyond doubt dangerous and in some latitudes they are regarded as devourers of man, a term rather dramatic, but illustrative of the caution that should be taken. If sharks offer men the disadvantage of their bad reputation, however the benefits from its catch are many as an economic resource. Everything is literally used. From the skin, a formidable hide is obtainedthe liver oil is abundant in vitamin A and in fat acidsits medicinal properties are highly regarded, fins are an exquisite dish among the Asian peoples and the meat is also edible or used in the elaboration of fish meal. If these large sharks have nothing to fear from the other inhabitants of the sea, they do have to fear man since the most serious threat is in the exaggerated catch is being done by man. However man is also concerned about them from the commercial and biological standpoints. The opportunity to know better these formidable creatures is feasible. We are not suggesting at all that you go to look for them, but enjoy seeing them in their natural habitat and with the necessary protection in aquariums along the Caribbean coastal line or in the wide chambers of a tourist submarine.