As Shark Week winds down on the small screen, everyone is ramping up for their favorite foursome of superheroes to take over the big screen! The fantastic abilities showcased in comics, movies and more are often inspired — in one way or another — by the natural world. Let’s compare some of our favorite otherworldly powers with wild adaptations found in sharks!
The One Born To Break the Mold
The Superpower: A Body That Stretches To Incredible Lengths and Shapes
The Adaptation: Intelligent Inhalation to Silently Stalk Prey
Search for sand tigers by spotting their slow, still swimming through the water!Some superheroes have the ability to bend their bodies in incredible ways. While it’s true sharks lack elastic exteriors, one species has a special way of keeping even-keel all day! Sand tiger sharks are the only known species that gulp air at the water’s surface, allowing their stomachs to stretch with air and maintain buoyancy. This allows them to conserve energy while hunting… smart!
The One Sensing a New Wave of Science
The Superpower: Manipulation of Wavelengths To Stun the Senses
The Adaptation: Ampullae of Lorenzini
See those pores on this shark's snout? That's ampullae of Lorenzini!Did you know sharks use electromagnetic waves to sense when it’s time to swim into action? Look closely at a shark’s snout and you’ll notice what looks to be a lot of dots. These pores are actually part of an adaptation called ampullae of Lorenzini! Sharks have unique jelly-filled canals that act as electroreceptors, sending signals to nerve endings and alerting them of nearby marine life. While they may not be able to instantly disappear to stalk their prey, sharks’ super senses make them one of the most powerful apex predators around!
The One That’s Always in the Spotlight
The Superpower: Flame and Flight
The Adaptation: Biofluorescence
Meet — and gently touch — chain dogfish at our Boneyard Beach Touch Tank Experience!Everyone knows the type: Flashy, draws attention and goes the extra mile to shine… much like the chain dogfish! These little sharks — which you can touch at the Boneyard Beach Touch Tank Experience — have their own luminescent superpower. Chain dogfish are biofluorescent, meaning they can absorb blue light waves through their skin and re-emit it as green light! Though most frequently visible in darker, deeper waters, scientists theorize this adaptation aids in communication.
The One Known for Crushing It
The Superpower: A Rocky Exoskeleton With Incredible Strength
The Adaptation: Dermal Denticles
Look for the amber hue of nurse sharks, created from their mosaic of dermal denticles!Many marvelous teams have one member that stands out from the rest because of their size and durability. Sharks have their own type of durable exterior comprising dermal denticles, tooth-like scales that reduce drag and provide protection. Nurse sharks — the largest species in the Great Ocean Tank — have large, thick dermal denticles that add to their imposing presence. Keep an eye out for their distinctive amber hue gliding by — a body some may mistake for “clobberin'”.
Take your summer from fantastic to FINtastic at the South Carolina Aquarium!
Published July 25, 2025