Playing With Sharks

• Tails
Varying tail shapes have evolved in sharks adapted for different environments. Tail (caudal fins) vary considerably between species. The tail provides thrust, making speed and acceleration dependent on tail shape. Sharks possess a heterocercal caudal fin in which the dorsal portion is usually noticeably larger than the ventral portion. This is because the shark's vertebral column extends into that dorsal portion, providing a greater surface area for muscle attachment. This allows more efficient locomotion among these negatively buoyant cartilaginous fishes. By contrast, most bony fishes possess a homocercal caudal fin.
The tiger shark's tail has a large upper lobe which delivers maximum power for slow cruising or sudden bursts of speed. The tiger shark must be able to twist and turn in the water easily when hunting to support its varied diet, whereas the porbeagle, which hunts schooling fish such as mackerel and herring has a large lower lobe to help it keep pace with its fast-swimming prey. Some tail adaptations have other purposes. The thresher feeds on fish and squid, which it herds and stuns with its powerful and elongated upper lobe.