Although they are fish, sharks and their close cousins, rays, have skeletons composed of cartilage instead of bone like other fishes. Sharks and rays are also distinguished by their multiple layers of teeth, toothlike scales, rigid fins, and five to seven pairs of gill slits. While they inspire fear in many people, most sharks are harmless, and all sharks play an important role as predators in the ocean. Unfortunately, sharks are overfished in many areas leading to predator-prey imbalances in their ecosystem. In this edition of Land, Sea & Air, find out more about sharks and discover how SeaWorld is helping save shark populations.

Kindergarten through third grade students can use their measuring skills and learn why shark fishing is regulated in the United States in the following activity.

Sharks are important predators in their ocean ecosystems. Fourth through eighth grade students can discover how a shark's tooth shape is related to its diet and where various types sharks live in the activity below.

Some sharks are larger than a school bus. Others are about the size of the palm of your hand. Explore the following InfoBook and Animal Bytes about a variety of sharks and rays.

Even though the whale shark is the largest fish on earth, little is known about the natural history of the species. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund provided a grant to a study in which the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute collaborated with other organizations to tag whale sharks with satellite transmitters to get a better idea of migration and habitat use patterns. Find out more about this project at the following links.

Discover what it's like to study wild whale sharks in the following blog.

Like many other animals, global shark populations are declining leading to an increasing number of species listed as endangered or threatened. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that about 32% of shark and rays are endangered or threatened with extinction. Sharks share this problem of decreasing biodiversity with plant and animal species throughout the world. Have your class visit the following website and search for others to explore the diversity of sharks and help understand why sharks are at risk. What are things your class can do to help protect sharks in the wild?

Unless you're scuba diving in the ocean, it can be tricky to see sharks up close in the wild. SeaWorld sleepovers are a great way to get close to sharks without getting your feet wet. Your class will discover more about these important ocean predators and other animals that share their watery habitat. Visit the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Adventure Camp website (see link immediately below) to find out dates and venues for sleepovers at SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld San Antonio, and SeaWorld Orlando.