Sharks have been diversified into more than 500 species. It
ranges in size from small dwarf Etmopterus perryi (dwarf lanternshark), a deep
sea species of 6.7 inches (17 centimeters) in length, to the Rhincodon typus
(whale shark), a largest fish in the world reaching 40 ft (12 metres) in
length. They are found in all seas and common to depths of 6,600 ft (2,000
metres). Generally, they do not live in freshwater though there are few known
exceptions such as river shark and bull shark that can survive or could be
found in both freshwater and seawater. It has dermal denticles which protects
skin from damage or parasites including the improvement in fluid dynamics. It
has various sets of replaceable teeth. The teeth are embedded in gums than
affixed to jaw and are replaced constantly throughout life. The replacement of
tooth varies from every 8 to 10 days to several months. The shape of tooth
depends on the diet: those feeding on crustaceans and mollusks have flattened
and dense teeth used to crush and those feeding on fish has needle like teeth
to grip and those who fed on larger prey such as mammals has pointed lower
teeth required for gripping and triangular upper teeth having serrated edges
for cutting. Basking shark which are plankton feeders have small and
non-functional teeth.The species well known are tiger shark, great white shark,
thresher shark, mako shark, blue shark and hammerhead shark are apex predators
at top of underwater food chain.
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General anatomical features of sharks.
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Its meat has strong odor of ammonia which comes from
chemical known as urea. This odor is hided with the use of seasoning and
preparation methods but there is no way to eliminate urea from the flesh. It is
a natural waste byproduct from the consumption of protein which is processed through
kidneys. As sharks are carnivorous, they have high content of urea. Ammonia
odor and urea content could be lowered by marinating meat in liquids such as
vinegar, lemon juice, saltwater.
Not all sharks are edible. Most commonly consumed shark
varieties are dogfishes, catsharks, sand sharks, makos, and smoothhounds. Mako
fish is a delicacy for their meat is salmon-coloured having a very fine
quality. Mako liver is used to prepare oil that is rich in vitamins. The skin
of the shark is made into leather and the fins are added to shark fin soup
Health Benefits
Eating shark is believed to boost sexual potency and
beautify the skin quality.
Nutritional Facts
( 100g)
| Name | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 60.09 | g |
| Energy | 228 | kcal |
| Energy | 954 | kJ |
| Protein | 18.62 | g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 13.82 | g |
| Ash | 1.25 | g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 6.39 | g |
| Calcium, Ca | 50 | mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.11 | mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 43 | mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 194 | mg |
| Potassium, K | 155 | mg |
| Sodium, Na | 122 | mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.48 | mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.042 | mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.05 | mg |
| Selenium, Se | 34 | µg |
| Thiamin | 0.072 | mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.097 | mg |
| Niacin | 2.783 | mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.62 | mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.3 | mg |
| Folate, total | 15 | µg |
| Folic acid | 10 | µg |
| Folate, food | 5 | µg |
| Folate, DFE | 22 | µg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 1.21 | µg |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 54 | µg |
| Retinol | 54 | µg |
| Vitamin A, IU | 180 | IU |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 3.205 | g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 5.935 | g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 3.701 | g |
| Cholesterol | 59 | mg |
| Tryptophan | 0.212 | g |
| Threonine | 0.843 | g |
| Isoleucine | 0.867 | g |
| Leucine | 1.515 | g |
| Lysine | 1.634 | g |
| Methionine | 0.541 | g |
| Cystine | 0.212 | g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.75 | g |
| Tyrosine | 0.633 | g |
| Valine | 0.965 | g |
| Arginine | 1.094 | g |
| Histidine | 0.538 | g |
| Alanine | 1.097 | g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.85 | g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.97 | g |
| Glycine | 0.872 | g |
| Proline | 0.744 | g |
| Serine | 0.789 | g |
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