* Many shark species inhabit the vast expanse of the open oceans, including both pelagic (living in the upper water column) and mesopelagic (living in the middle depths) species.
* Pelagic sharks, like the great white shark, mako shark, and blue shark, are often found far from the coast in deep, open waters.
Coastal Waters:
* Coastal sharks live near the shores and are adapted to habitats such as coral reefs, mangrove swamps, estuaries, and shallow coastal bays.
* Examples include the nurse shark, blacktip shark, and lemon shark.
Coral Reefs:
* Coral reef ecosystems provide diverse habitats for various shark species, including reef sharks, like the whitetip reef shark and the blacktip reef shark.
Shallow Flats:
* Some shark species, such as the bonnethead shark and the shovelnose guitarfish, are adapted to live in shallow flats, sandbars, and lagoons near the coast.
Estuaries:
* Estuaries, where rivers meet the sea, are important habitats for many shark species, especially during specific life stages.
* Bull sharks, for instance, are known for their ability to tolerate changes in salinity and can enter estuaries and rivers.
Mangrove Forests:
* Mangroves provide important nurseries for young sharks, as the complex root systems offer shelter and an abundance of food sources.
* Species like the blacktip shark and the lemon shark utilize mangroves during their early life stages.
Deep Sea:
* Deep-sea sharks are adapted to the extreme conditions of the abyss, including high pressure, darkness, and cold temperatures.
* Examples include the Portuguese dogfish, the Greenland shark, and the frilled shark.
It's worth noting that the distribution of shark species can be influenced by factors like water temperature, food availability, and migrations, so the specific habitats of sharks can vary widely across different regions and oceans.