Shark quiz: How much do you know about these iconic ocean superstars?

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Sharks are formidable fish, having survived multiple mass extinction over hundreds of millions of years. But how much do you know about these misunderstood creatures? Take our science quiz to find out.

Mexico, Great White Shark (Carcharodon Carcharias); Guadalupe Island.
A great white shark (Carcharodon Carcharias) — the biggest predatory fish on Earth — swimming off Guadalupe Island. (Image credit: Dave Fleetham/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Sharks are some of Earth's ultimate survivors. They are among the oldest creatures on the planet, predating dinosaurs and trees and surviving multiple mass extinctions. They're also hugely diverse, with more than 500 modern species swimming the world's oceans, from little fish the size of your hand up to 60 foot (18 meters) giants.

Sharks play a critical role in ocean ecosystems, and they're found in all of Earth's oceans. But many species are now under threat from climate change, overfishing, pollution and the shark fin trade.

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Lydia Smith
Lydia Smith
Science Writer

Lydia Smith is a health and science journalist who works for U.K. and U.S. publications. She is studying for an MSc in psychology at the University of Glasgow and has an MA in English literature from King's College London.