Sharks

They shock and scare us, but no other creature captures our imagination quite like the shark. A visit to Kelly Tarlton's will get you eye to eye with these feared predators.

Sharks have existed for over 400 million years, which is more than 100 million years before the dinosaur. There are more than 350 species of shark in the world, of which only three inhabit Kelly Tarlton’s predator tank - Broadnose Sevengill, School and Wobbegong sharks.

The Predator Tank

The Predator Tank in Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World is designed to provide as few obstacles as possible for the sharks. This makes it more like the Shark’s natural environment, the open sea. Our Predator Tank alone contains more than a million litres of seawater pumped straight from Waitemata harbour.

Handfeeding our Sharks

This is our favourite job! Every Tuesday and Thursday our sharks are hand fed by two divers, each with a bucket of Mullet and Kahawai. The sharks eat up to 100 kilograms of food a week. Even if they’re not hungry, some of the sharks enjoy giving our divers a good 'nudge', just to remind them of their presence!

Shark Teeth

Sharks can have up to 3000 teeth in a lifetime. Because of wear and tear they shed their teeth regularly. If you look closely on the floor of the tank you're likely to see their old pearly whites! Most sharks have about five rows of teeth.

Shark Attacks
During the past 150 years in New Zealand, there has been an average of just 2.6 shark attacks per decade and only one fatal attack every 13 years! Worldwide, less than 30 shark attacks have been recorded annually for the past 50 years. Of those, just seven have been fatal.

There are more than 350 species of shark and very few are regarded as a threat to humans. Great White, Bull sharks and Tiger sharks have the worst reputation. 

Did you know?

• it is estimated that humans kill about 100 million Sharks per year!
• You have a far greater risk of; being killed on the road whilst driving to the beach, drowning at the beach, or being killed by Elephants, Bees, Crocodiles or lightning than you do of being attacked, let alone killed by a shark.

 

Sharks at Kelly Tarlton's...

 

Broadnose Sevengill

The Sevengill is one of New Zealand’s most common shark, and is at the top of the food chain, along with the White shark and Orca.

With a wiggly, lethargic swimming style and a small dorsal fin that looks like it’s slipped down its back; the Sevengill gives the impression that it’s clumsy and docile. Nothing could be further from the truth however, as it can have explosive bursts of speed.

Its toothless smile belies a top jaw full of razor sharp pointed teeth, which are designed to pin its prey. The bottom jaw has rows of rectangular teeth, each with many serrations - a very efficient and effective sawing tool.

 

Scientific Name:       Notorynchus cepidianus

Maximum Length:   3 meters

Colour:                       Grey or brown above with scattered black and white spots, creamy white underneath

Family:                        Hexanchidae

Captive Diet:              Mullet, Kahawai

Unique Traits:           Blunt snout and small dorsal fin

Habitat:                       Found around NZ most commonly in the North Island. Also found in Australia, India, South Africa and Japan 

 

Wobbegong Shark

'Wobby' the Australian Wobbegong is our resident Australian Carpet Shark.

'Wobby' has her own area where she likes to lie. She is known to swim very close to our divers during feeding times, and has on occasion sat on them! This can be a little scary when you see the size of her teeth and know the reputation of her bad temper!

During cold winter months 'Wobby' only occasionally hand feeds from our divers, however she more than makes up for it in summer.

Wobbegong sharks catch their prey by surprise, using camouflage and great patience, engulfing their prey in one mouthful using their long sharp pointed teeth.

 

Scientific Name:         Orectolobus ornatus

Maximum Length:     3.3 metres

Colour:                         Brown, yellow and grey - camouflage colours

Captive Diet:                Mullet, Kahawai

Unique Traits:             An ambush predator

Habitat:                         Indigenous to Australia and the coastal reefs of the Pacific 

 

School Sharks

School sharks are common around Auckland over summer and can be found in depths of around 200 hundred metres. They occasionally swim inshore and are generally regarded as safe to humans. 

At Kelly Tarlton's they are known to get quite frenzied during feeding times, gulping down their food and sneaking up on divers.   

 

Scientific Name:              Galeorhinus galeus

Maximum Length:           1.7 meters

Colour:                              Grey or bronze above, white underneath

Family:                               Triakidae

Captive Diet:                     Mullet, Kahawai

Unique Traits:                  Congregate in large groups hence the reference to the word 'school'

Habitat:                              Found all around New Zealand and in parts of Australia

 

Come and check them out, or swim with them if you dare!