You’d think the fish you see in the sea have bones in their bodies. But apparently, that's not the case for some.
Sea creatures like whales and dolphins, right down to the tiniest fishes, have bony skeletons. As we all might expect.
But what if that isn’t the case for one of the biggest predators of the ocean?
Is it true that sharks don't have bones?
VERDICT:
TRUE
If you’ve seen shark fossils in museums or in the media, you’re more likely to see their huge teeth being displayed. However, there’s barely much to be seen about the rest of their bodies.
Why is that so? It’s because the rest of a shark’s body is made out of cartilage.
But what is cartilage, and how is it different from bones? It’s what we have on our noses and ears. It’s flexible, and way less dense than our bones. Whereas bones are more rigid and definitely not as flexible. Humans have 206 to 213 bones in our body, while most sharks have about 200 to 400 structures made of cartilage. Though, the number can differ depending on the type of shark.
Cartilage doesn’t fossilize like bones do, which is why we humans are only left with their teeth – because those are the only parts that aren't made out of cartilage.
So yes, not all sea creatures are built the same. Some are just... squishy. Or straight up boneless.
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