Quick Take
- The shark strikes at the perfect moment, so why does it leave empty-handed? See the failed strike →
- Seals look slow and clumsy on land, but their speed in water is the real reason sharks can't afford to rush. Watch the seal escape →
- Most people can name a handful of shark species, but the actual count will catch you off guard. Discover the species count →
- A shark's weekly appetite reveals just how badly it needed this seal and why one miss isn't really an option. See what sharks eat →
There is just something about watching nature’s apex predators hunt for their food that gives us a sense of excitement. Sharks can easily be labeled apex predators, along with other animals such as lions, wolves, tigers, polar bears, and jaguars. Don’t miss the exciting hunt from this shark above!
Shark Stalks a Seal
At the start of this short YouTube clip above, we see a hungry shark surprising a seal from behind. The BBC Earth YouTube page filmed and shared this video on their channel. This page is dedicated to providing authentic videos of how animals survive in the wild.
Hungry Shark Goes for a Seal
Sharks can weigh up to 40,000 pounds.
©iStock.com/USO
When the video starts, we see a massive shark swimming to the sound of music that could be from the movie Jaws. We quickly get the sense that this shark can attack at any moment.
The seal in front doesn’t know that it is being hunted by one of the most intense predators in the waters. This shark will bide its time until it is ready to strike. The shark knows that seals can swim incredibly fast, so it must be patient. According to the Smithsonian National Zoo, “Sea lions can reach speeds of 25-30 mph! Gray seals clock in at about 14-23 mph.”
If you’re not careful, you’ll miss the action. The shark makes its move and attacks the seal. But not before the seal feels the waters move and quickly dives to get away.
How Many Species of Shark Are There?
According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, there are estimated to be more than 500 species of sharks in our oceans today. The number of shark species will change based on whose research you look at. However, the authoritative sources agree that there are 500 species.
And while there are 500 species of shark, there are ones that are most common to us. Of course, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the great white shark first. There are other common sharks, such as the tiger, white, bull, and hammerhead species. Then, of course, we have the famous whale shark, the largest fish in the ocean, weighing in at 40 tons!
As carnivores, sharks will eat prey such as fish, invertebrates, sea lions, and seals. Sharks can eat up to 10% of their body weight in one week. So, the seal in the video above would have made for a nice meal and probably would have made some lovely leftovers, too.
