Sharks are large creatures that need numerous amount of food sources. They are known as apex predators in the ocean, but what exactly are they predators too? So, what do sharks eat?
Sharks are carnivores that hunt prey like dolphins, sea lions, small whales, clams, lobster, squid, fish, and crabs. Sharks are opportunistic eaters, meaning they generally eat what is available. When meat isn’t abundant, sharks may consume sea vegetation. Baby sharks will eat smaller portions of an adult shark’s meal.
If you want to learn more about a shark’s diet, keep reading. We’ll go into more detail about why they eat what they do and why.
Let’s dive in.
What do sharks eat?
Sharks are one of the most fascinating creatures in the ocean. They have been around for millions of years and evolved into incredibly efficient predators.
Sharks can be found across the globe; their diet will vary depending on their species and location.
While some sharks are known to feed on large prey, such as whales, others will feast on smaller fish and even sea turtles.
Most sharks feed on small prey such as squid, octopus, crabs, and other fish. They also like to snack on seals and larger animals when they come across them.
Some sharks also scavenge for meals, feasting off dead or dying creatures discarded by fishermen or washed up onto shorelines.
Other shark species have also been known to scavenge for carrion when food sources become scarce.
The types of food a shark eats largely depend upon its size; larger species generally hunt larger prey than smaller species.
Smaller species may also prey on planktonic organisms. Larger sharks, such as the tiger shark, will take other animals, including seals, turtles, and even smaller ones.
Filter feeders like the whale shark mostly consumes planktonic organisms like krill or shrimp-like creatures called amphipods.
1. Dolphins
Do sharks eat dolphins? It’s a question that marine biologists and ocean enthusiasts have asked for years.
While it may seem like an unlikely dinner combination, sharks and dolphins interact in the wild. Some species of shark are known to hunt and feed on dolphins.
Recent studies show that sharks are preying on dolphins more often than previously thought.
Researchers have discovered that coastal populations of white shark species are turning to dolphins as an alternative food source due to overfishing and climate change.
They analyzed the stomach contents of these sharks and found evidence that they were eating dolphin calves up to 20% of the time.
The researchers also observed predation events where adult white sharks chased down smaller juvenile dolphins—sometimes in groups—and killed them for food.
These predatory behaviors usually occur in shallow waters near shorelines where the visibility is better for predators and prey.
The interactions are generally brief – when the shark spots its intended target, it will quickly strike before retreating into deeper waters after a successful capture.
While this behavior is not uncommon among other species, it could be a sign of things to come if fishing practices don’t improve or ocean temperatures continue to rise due to climate change.
2. Sea lions
Sharks are apex predators, meaning they feed on anything they can catch.
However, since sharks generally prefer fishy prey such as tuna and mackerel, sea lions only become a food source if there is nothing else around them.
Some species of shark have adapted to take advantage of larger prey items like sea lions which can provide an easier meal for them.
For example, great white sharks have been known to target young and sickly sea lion pups near the shoreline due to their lack of agility.
Additionally, several studies have shown that sea lion blubber contains high omega-3 fatty acids, which may benefit a shark’s health and growth rate.
On the other hand, many sharks avoid eating sea lions altogether due to their tough skin and size.
Sharks typically use two methods to feed on sea lions: ambush or stalk-and-attack. In an ambush situation, the shark will wait in a place where its prey is likely to pass by.
When an unsuspecting sea lion gets close enough, the shark can launch forward and grab it with its powerful jaws.
For stalking and attack, sharks target lone or weaker individuals in a group of sea lions, patiently waiting until they get close enough to strike quickly and effectively.
In California, a recent surge in white shark populations has led to increased attacks on sea lions. Scientists believe that these predators may be actively targeting these marine mammals as part of their regular diet.
One possible explanation is that with the rapid decline in fish populations due to overfishing, some shark species are forced to turn toward sea lions as an alternate food source.
3. Fish
Sharks are one of the most feared animals in the ocean but play a vital role as top predators in marine ecosystems. Fish are a primary food source for many shark species.
The types of fish eaten by sharks vary depending on their size and environment. Smaller sharks, such as leopard and blacktip, will typically eat smaller schooling baitfish like sardines or anchovies.
Larger species like bull sharks have been known to consume larger fish such as tuna or mackerel. Some sharks even specialize in hunting stingrays or other bottom-dwelling species.
Sharks use various strategies to catch their prey, from ambush hunting to cooperative hunting with other shark species. They use a combination of acute senses and powerful swimming abilities to attack swiftly and effectively.
Sharks rely heavily on smell, sight, hearing, electroreception, and vibration detection to locate their meals. These often consist of fish species near the surface or at greater depths.
Its keen eyesight enables it to identify possible food sources up to several hundred yards away. At the same time, its acute sense of smell helps it track down the scent of injured or distressed animals in the water.
Fish are abundant in oceans and provide essential nutrients like protein and fatty acids. Sharks need the energy to survive long migrations or hunt for bigger prey, such as seals or sea lions.
4. Lobster
Sharks feed on lobster using their sharp teeth to break through their shells and suck out the flesh.
Lobsters are an important source of food for sharks as they provide the nutrition and calories needed for survival. The tough exoskeleton of a lobster provides an energy-rich meal for a shark and its high-fat content.
Additionally, the lobster’s soft flesh can be easily consumed by a shark without much effort expended on its part. Eating a lobster also helps sharpen the teeth of these predators.
In addition to feeding on lobster, sharks eat other invertebrates that might be close to them, such as crabs or sea urchins.
Some studies suggest that sharks have been known to consume lobsters from time to time, but this appears to be more of an opportunistic behavior than regular hunting.
In most cases, mature adult lobsters are too big for most shark species to swallow whole. So how do sharks catch and eat such a hard shell creature?
The first step sharks take when trying to eat a lobster is to flip it onto its back. This helps the shark access the soft underside of the lobster.
Sharks also use their powerful tails as a weapon, smashing lobsters against rocks or coral until they can easily bite into them.
Furthermore, some sharks have adapted razor-like teeth, which help them crack open more rigid shells like those found on lobsters and crabs.
5. Squid
Squid is a high-energy food source for sharks, providing them with an abundant source of nutrition. The nutrients contained in squid help boost shark populations by increasing their reproductive success and survivability rates.
Research has found many benefits associated with sharks eating squid, and understanding these can help us better appreciate the importance of their role in our ecosystems.
Additionally, eating large amounts of squid helps keep their bodies healthy and fit by providing essential fatty acids and proteins. Squids have soft bodies and can quickly source nutrients for some shark species.
Furthermore, consuming squid helps control prey populations that could otherwise become overpopulated if left unchecked. Squids can be abundant throughout the ocean, making them easily accessible to hungry sharks.
Even though some sharks are bottom-dwellers, meaning they primarily feed from the seafloor, others are more active hunters that often target cephalopods like squid.
The most common type of shark to consume squids is the shortfin mako shark. This species is particularly well-adapted to pursue high-speed prey in open-water habitats due to its streamlined body shape and powerful muscles.
In addition to this species, thresher, and bullhead sharks also frequently hunt and consume squid as part of their natural hunting behavior.
They have an impressive set of teeth and a streamlined body that allows them to quickly and efficiently catch their prey.
To begin consuming their prey, sharks will open their jaws wide, creating suction that draws the squid into its mouth. Once inside the shark’s mouth, it will use its sharp teeth to bite off pieces of the squid.
Some sharks may use a rolling technique to crush their prey with powerful jaw motions before swallowing it whole.
What do baby sharks eat?
The diet of baby sharks varies depending on the species, but most eat small fish, crabs, and other invertebrates. Some species also enjoy scavenging for carrion or eating plankton and other tiny ocean organisms.
The type of food a baby shark eats depends on the species and size of the shark and its habitat.
Generally, most baby sharks feed on smaller fish, such as sardines or anchovies. They also consume invertebrates like mollusks and crustaceans in their early months.
As baby sharks age, their diets become more varied; some even develop a taste for larger prey, such as seabirds or sea turtles. Once they grow, they will become more successful hunters and eat larger prey items like adult fish.
Not only do different species of shark eat different things, but they also vary in how they hunt. Some use their sharp teeth to capture prey, while others rely on suction to quickly engulf smaller animals.
As they don’t have strong jaws yet and their teeth aren’t fully developed, some species may require soft foods such as squid or small fish eggs at first. Baby sharks typically hunt alone but could form small groups when hunting for food together.
What do different sharks eat?
Sharks have a varied diet, depending on where they live and what’s available. This table shows what the different sharks eat:
| Shark | Diet | Main foods |
| Basking | Filter feeders | Shrimp, larvae, zooplankton, copepods |
| Bull | Carnivores | Fish, dolphins, seals, stingrays |
| Great white | Carnivores | Pinnipeds, cetaceans, fish, seabirds |
| Hammerhead | Carnivores | Fish, squid, stingrays, eels |
| Lemon | Piscivores | Fish, shrimp, squid, crab |
| Tiger | Carnivores | Stingrays, sea turtles, fish, squid |
| Whale | Specialists | Plankton, krill, shrimp, algae |
In conclusion
Sharks are complex and diverse apex predators that play an essential role in a marine ecosystem.
They eat many types of prey, ranging from small fish to large mammals and everything in between.
The larger species hunt fish and other sea animals, such as squid, crabs, and sea turtles. The smaller species often feed on plankton and small fish.
Sharks have evolved various feeding strategies to capture and consume their food, including suction feeding, ram-feeding, filter-feeding, and scavenging.
