Sharks are amazing fish that have been around for millions of years. Sharks can be found in every ocean and even in some rivers and lakes. There are many different species of sharks that range in size from 7 inches long, the spined pygmy shark, up to 50 feet long, the whale shark.

Here in the Puget Sound area some of the sharks you may see are the sixgill shark, salmon shark, brown cat shark and spiny dogfish shark.

Of the sharks found in the Puget Sound, one of the most elusive is the sixgill shark. Most of the 200-plus shark species have five gill slits on the side of their head. The sixgill shark has six slits and is considered more primitive. Sixgill sharks (Hexanchus griseus) are a common species in deep waters all over the world. They can be found in temperate and tropical waters and typically below depths of 200 feet. (They have been found at depths as great as 8,000 feet.)

They generally avoid light or shallow waters, but in the Puget Sound and British Columbia there have been sixgill sightings in water as shallow as 20 feet. The average length of the sixgill shark is approximately 16 feet. Sixgills feed on dogfish, skates, fish, marine mammals, snails, crabs, shrimp and squid.

MAKE A SIXGILL SHARK

What you will need: Clothespin, paper, glue and scissors.

To begin, go to www.pdza.org and click on the Animals & Exhibits section. Then go to the Marine Discovery Center page. Click on the sixgill craft to print the sixgill shark image.

WHAT TO DO

1. Cut out the image of the sixgill shark body and lower jaw.

2. Put glue or tape on the end of the clothespin that opens and closes.

3. Affix the lower jaw to the bottom of the clothespin.

4. Affix the body of the shark to the upper part of the clothespin.

5. Line the lower jaw and body of the shark up so that when you open and close the clothespin, the shark’s mouth will open and close.

MAKE A CONNECTION

Every day, zoo visitors come face to face with sharks from Puget Sound to the South Pacific Ocean at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Through Saturday, visitors will get the chance to touch shark skin, create a fun shark craft and watch as aquarium staff dive among the sharks. The activities are all a part of Shark Week.

With sharks up to 9 feet long and a 240,000-gallon Outer Reef Ocean Tank, the aquarium will offers visitors spectacular views of fish and sharks. Remember to visit a sixgill shark presentation at the Marine Discovery Center, too.

Test your Puget Sound Shark IQ

Circle the correct answer to the questions below. Here’s a hint: There may be more than one right answer to each question.

1. Circle the sharks that call Puget Sound home:

a. white shark b. sixgill shark

c. salmon shark d. spiny dogfish shark e. whale shark f. brown cat

g. blue shark h. basking shark

2. Which of these would the sixgill shark eat?

a. crabs b. fish

c. divers d. marine mammals

3. Which of the following Puget Sound animals are related to sharks?

a. big skate b. wolf eel

c. giant Pacific Octopus

d. ratfish

Answers

1. b, c, d, f

2. a, b, d

3. a, d

This month’s column was written by the staff at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. For information, call 253-591-5337.