Can You Tell the Real Shark From the Fake Shark?

Most people are familiar with great white sharks, the kind that terrorized Amity Island in 1975’s Jaws. (And in the hundreds of direct-to-streaming B-movies that followed.) But that fearsome predator is just one of many shark species dwelling in oceans. Scientists have identified over 500 different types. See if you can spot the real sharks from the phony ones in the quiz below.

Among all species of sharks, great whites do take the title of most dangerous to humans. Part of their reputation as killing machines relates not just to their size but to their teeth, which are serrated to inflict maximum damage. (Other species, like the tiger shark, are better known as the goats of the ocean: They’ve been known to chow down on tires and license plates, among other bizarre things.)

Sharks use their mouths to investigate what’s in their environment, and that can lead to bites. Regardless of species, however, it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever suffer a shark attack: In 2024, just 47 unprovoked attacks were documented worldwide. But if you should find yourself face-to-fin with a shark, experts recommend not to panic—that can activate a shark’s aggression—and try to maintain eye contact. When all else fails, fight back any way you can.

Take Our Latest Quizzes: