The Tail End
Not all sharks' tails look alike. The most outstanding tail belongs to the thresher because it is as long as its body. The tail, or caudal fin, helps the shark to swim. The porbeagle, mako, and the great white sharks move more swiftly than other sharks. They have tails that are the same size on top as they are on the bottom. As you learn more about sharks, you may be able to tell what food a shark eats, how fast it can swim, and where it lives just by looking at the shape of its tail.
Have you ever thought about how your legs and feet resemble a shark's tail? Next time you go to the swimming pool, find something to help your upper body float, like a raft or your swim fins, and let your feet move in the water like a shark's tail. Can you get around just by using your "tail"?
Words to Know
pectoral fins:
The pectoral fins are located towards the front and sides of a shark or fish. They can usually be found under or right behind their gills.
caudal fin:
The caudal fin of a shark is the fin located at the end of the tail. Another name used quite often for this fin is the tail fin. The caudal or tail fin on most sharks is larger on the top than the bottom.
