Learn About Sharks with Singapore Oceanarium

Visitors viewing the Shark Habitat at SEAA

Learn about Sharks with Singapore Oceanarium

Updated on7 April 2026

To quench the thirst for knowledge before your visit Singapore Oceanarium, here are 5 fin-tastic facts you may not have known about sharks.

1. There are over 400 species of sharks in the world today

The vast ocean is home to millions of marine life, and more than 450 types of sharks exist in the deep blue today. Over at Singapore Oceanarium, there are more than 12 species of sharks such as the blacktip reef shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, and sandbar shark swimming around our Shark Seas Habitat.

Scalloped hammerhead shark at S.E.A. Aquarium

Scalloped hammerhead shark at Singapore Oceanarium

2. Sharks can reproduce in 3 ways

Depending on the type of species, size, and environment, sharks can reproduce through viviparity (live birth), oviparity (egg-laying), and ovoviviparity (egg hatched within body of the parent).

Several examples of these species are the zebra sharks that reproduce through oviparity, whitetip reef sharks that reproduce through viviparity, and the sand tiger sharks that reproduce through ovoviviparity. These species can also be found in Singapore Oceanarium! Although rare, certain sharks can also reproduce asexually, known as parthenogenesis. At Singapore Oceanarium, we have two beautiful zebra sharks – ‘Vanda’ and ‘Hope’ – which are believed to have hatched in the absence of a male zebra shark.

Zebra shark at S.E.A. Aquarium

Zebra shark at Singapore Oceanarium

3. From 20cm to 20m long – here are the smallest and largest sharks in the world

Reaching a maximum known length of 20cm, the dwarf lantern shark is the smallest shark alive - it can fit in your hand! While on the larger end, there is the whale shark, which has been known to grow up to 20m in length.

4. The shark population is under serious threats

Due to their long gestation periods, sharks have low reproductive rates with only a few pups being born at a time. Some species may not even reproduce every year. This causes sharks to be particularly vulnerable to the threats posed by humans such as shark finning, overfishing, global warming, and marine pollution, just to name a few. These threats may eventually lead to the extinction of many shark species!

5. Sharks need human beings to be heroes of the sea

Shout out to all eco-warriors and marine life enthusiasts – sharks and all other marine animals will definitely benefit as more people commit to living sustainably and avoiding purchasing shark products. Some easy ways to do your part include: (a) consuming sustainable seafood, (b) saying no to shark-related products, and (c) saying no to single-use plastics.