With over 400 species, sharks are fascinating creatures that are often dubbed as highly dangerous, which is why we decided to compile a list of the 11 most aggressive sharks in the world.
These carnivores have been the center of some of the most gruesome attacks in history, the greatest example being the crew of the United States naval ship, Indianapolis. In July 1945, The Smithsonian reports, at the height of the enmity between America and Japan, the Indianapolis was quietly sailing from Guam to the Philippines when a Japanese torpedo hit, causing the destruction and sinking of the ship in mere minutes. While much of the crew drowned, hundreds still remained as sharks flocked around them feeding on the already dead and then moving on to those who were alive. Only 317 people remained in the end after floating around in the water for four days: an incident worthy of being called the worst shark attack that this world has ever seen.
The famous Jersey Shore attacks of 1916 that caused the death of four young individuals also validate how deadly sharks can be for humans. But the question arises: are all sharks dangerous? The answer is definitely no. There are hundreds of types of sharks and only about a dozen can be classified as a danger to humans. With the tarnished reputation that sharks have, it may be a surprise that there are animals much deadlier than them, as evident from our piece on the 11 Most Dangerous Animals in the World. In fact, some experts suggest that sharks are not even fond of the taste that human flesh offers, which is why most shark attacks do not result in a fatality.
Martin Prochazkacz/Shutterstock.com
Humans, on the other hand, are actually a huge problem for sharks as a hundred million of them are killed by our kind on an annual basis. Their fins are sold to be used in soups while their skin is sometimes utilized for leather. It’s no wonder that 2.4 percent of shark species are categorized as ‘Critically Endangered’, 3.2 percent as ‘Endangered‘, 10.3 percent as ‘Vulnerable‘ while 14.4 percent as ‘Near Threatened‘. So if we add these numbers up, 30.3 percent of shark species are currently under some sort of threat, but if fishing continues, this figure may multiply soon. In addition to the fishing, the facts that sharks mature over a very long period of time and do not actively reproduce can also be seen as an endangering habit. Even when reproduction does take place, not many young ones are given birth to, decreasing the chances for sharks to remain in the safe zone for very long.
Nevertheless, sharks cannot be disregarded as completely harmless as they do tend to attack humans even when they are not provoked. So to compile a list of the most aggressive sharks in the world, we referred to the International Shark Attack File maintained by the Florida Museum of National History and ranked them in order of the total attacks instigated by them. However, the museum has warned us that the figures are estimates and it’s often almost impossible to identify the species of the attacker. Understandably so, since the victim will hardly be concentrating on whether the attacking shark has a slender body or a pointed snout. Therefore, readers should be reasonably cautious with the list of most aggressive sharks in the world below.
11. Blue Shark
Species: Prionace glauca
Total number of attacks: 13
Identified with its elongated snout, brilliant blue sides and large prominent eyes, the blue shark kicks off our list of most aggressive sharks in the world with 13 of its attacks on record. Out of this figure, four resulted in the death of the victim, which is surprising for a shark that is not usually considered a highly dangerous one.
Chris Vyvyan-Robinson/Shutterstock.com
10. Bronze Whaler Shark
Species: Carcharhinus brachyurus
Total number of attacks: 15
With a beautiful bronze shade to its lightly arched body, the bronze whaler shark has been classified as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as no region appears to have a copious population of this species.
9. Spinner Shark
Species: Carcharhinus brevipinna
Total number of attacks: 16
The spinner shark has quite a prolonged and pointed snout, while its teeth make it much more comfortable for it to enjoy small creatures, rather than large ones like humans. Though the assailant of innocent humans on 16 instances, the shark does not seem to be quite so lethal as none of its attacks proved to be fatal for its victims.
8. Hammerhead Shark
Species: Sphyrna spp.
Total number of attacks: 17
We are continuing our list of most aggressive sharks in the world with Hammerhead sharks that are perhaps the easiest to recognize by a layman because of the unique shape of their head. It extends into a flattened structure that resembles a hammer, making it different from any other species of sharks. One would think that the shark with a hammer for a head would succeed in killing every human it gets its fins on, but surprisingly, like the spinner shark, none of its attacks were fatal.
7. Wobbegong Shark
Species: Orectolobus spp.
Total number of attacks: 28
Also known as carpet sharks, these species do not look even remotely like the traditional shark. They spend most of their time spread out on the floor of the sea as the peculiar patterns on their bodies help to camouflage them. Another distinctive feature of these odd creatures is a number of whiskers that surround their jaws, offering them a rather horrifying look.
frantisekhojdysz/Shutterstock.com
5. Sand Tiger Shark
Species: Carcharias taurus
Total number of attacks: 29
The sand tiger shark has tied with the blacktip shark at the number 5 spot on our list of the 11 most aggressive sharks in the world. The Carcharius Taurus is one of the species that has been classified as ‘vulnerable,’ as its meat is often used for human consumption. Furthermore, it is a favorite for aquariums as it has a rather fierce look that is complemented by its huge size, which can extend to ten feet long.
Valeri Potapova/Shutterstock.com
5. Blacktip Shark
Species: Carcharhinus limbatus
Total number of attacks: 29
Named after its fins, all of which have dark tips, the blacktip shark comes in contact with humans quite often due to its habit of remaining in shallow waters. However, they mostly make do with a single bite that leaves their victim seriously wounded, but luckily not dead. Only one of this shark’s unprovoked attacks have resulted in a casualty, while the consequence of the rest has been an injury.
4. Requiem Shark
Species: Carcharhinus spp.
Total number of attacks: 51
Requiem sharks belonging to the genus of Carcharhinus are very hard to distinguish from other species, which is why the Florida Museum is the most uncertain about the number of attacks originating from these specific sharks. They are of the view that the actual number may be much bigger than the one currently recorded because some attacks go unreported, owing to the fact that the attacker could not be readily identified. Taking that into consideration, the requiem shark may be more aggressive that it is given credit for.
3. Bull Shark
Species: Carcharhinus leucas
Total number of attacks: 100
With the bull shark, we make a huge jump from 51 to 100 and start with the top three most aggressive sharks in the world that are undoubtedly the “Big Three,” as our source names them. The large dorsal fin of this shark is a source of great fear for anyone who sees it protruding from the water. Bull sharks have an especially fearsome look and tend to feed on other sharks of relatively smaller size. Considering that these sharks are fond of residing in shallow waters, they often bump into humans, which is another reason for a large number of attacks credited to them.
Stefan Pircher/Shutterstock.com
2. Tiger Shark
Species: Galeocerdo cuvier
Total number of attacks: 111
Next in line on our list of most aggressive sharks in the world is this shark that is easily recognizable with stripes that greatly resemble that of a tiger. These stripes are more prominent when the shark is in a growing age but fade in a few years. The tiger shark is not at all selective when it comes to its prey, making it a dangerous predator not only for creatures in the sea but also for humans. According to the Florida Museum, this shark will eat almost anything available, even human junk it finds floating in the ocean.
Shane Gross/Shutterstock.com
1. White Shark
Species: Carcharodon carcharias
Total number of attacks: 314
The White Shark, made famous by the movie “Jaws,” is undoubtedly the deadliest shark in the ocean, considering that its nickname is white death. Its huge size, which can reach to a maximum of 680 cm, and incredible weight of around 5,000 pounds makes it a perfect predator. Its senses are also extremely sharp as it can smell blood that is about three miles away, even if it is just a minuscule drop.
Out of the total of 314 attacks, 234 proved to be non-fatal. This is because the white shark is a curious creature and tends to “sample bite” the victim to identify what it is, releasing it after its inquisitiveness is satisfied. However, this leaves the target injured, increasing the number of unprovoked attacks under the white shark’s name, and leaving it on number one in our list of the 11 most aggressive sharks in the world. Despite their dangerous reputation, white sharks are often captured by humans as their teeth are quite valuable while their liver is used for oil and skin for leather.
