Sharks, ancient and mysterious creatures of the ocean, have captivated human imagination for centuries. While adult sharks are widely recognized, less is known about their offspring and how they come into the world. Understanding the early life stages of these animals begins with knowing what their young are called.
The Name for Baby Sharks
Baby sharks are universally referred to as “pups”. This term is used across most shark species, regardless of their size, habitat, or specific birthing method. The use of “pup” for young sharks mirrors its application to the offspring of other animals like dogs, seals, and foxes.
This consistent naming convention simplifies how we refer to the juvenile stage of these diverse marine predators. This shared terminology highlights the early life stage before reaching adulthood.
How Shark Pups are Born
Unlike many mammals that follow a single reproductive pattern, sharks exhibit several different ways of giving birth to their pups. These varied strategies allow sharks to adapt to diverse marine environments and help ensure the survival of their young. The three main reproductive categories are oviparous, ovoviviparous, and viviparous.
Oviparous sharks are egg-laying species, making up about 40% of all shark species. The female lays fertilized eggs, often encased in a tough, leathery protective shell known as a “mermaid’s purse”. These egg cases are typically deposited in safe locations, sometimes with tendrils that attach them to the seabed, reefs, or seaweed. The pup develops inside this egg, absorbing nutrients from a yolk sac, and eventually hatches as a miniature version of the adult.
Ovoviviparous sharks represent another common reproductive strategy, where eggs hatch inside the mother’s body. The pups continue to develop internally, deriving nourishment primarily from a yolk sac within their egg membrane. There is no placental connection to the mother in this method. These pups are then born live and fully formed.
Viviparous sharks give birth to live young, similar to mammals. In these species, the developing pups receive nutrients and oxygen directly from the mother through a placental connection, much like an umbilical cord. Examples include bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, and lemon sharks. Regardless of the birth method, shark pups are born fully independent and capable of fending for themselves. They are ready to swim, hunt, and grow without parental care.