A Shiver of Sharks Challenge Duration: One year from start
Rules: ◈ All book formats are acceptable. ◈ Books must be at least 150 pages. ◈ You may post a list in advance, or post as you go. Changes can be made to your list at any time. ◈ Please provide the book title/author link for each book read, as well as the date finished. ◈ After you have completed the challenge, please re-post your list as a new message.
Part I - Anatomy 1. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago. Since that time, sharks have diversified into over 400 species. Read a book with over 400 Goodreads ratings OR a book with over 400 pages.
2. Sharks come in all sizes. The small dwarf lantern shark, a deep sea species of only 6.7 inches in length. Sort your TBR and read the smallest book you can get your hands on OR read a book with a 6 or 7 in the publication year.
3. The largest fish in the world, the whale shark, reaches approximately 39 feet. Despite its size, the whale shark feeds only on plankton, squid, and small fish by filter feeding. Read a book with a whale or shark on the cover (suggestions), OR sort your TBR and read the largest book (you can ignore omnibus editions).
4. Well-known species such as the great white shark, tiger shark, blue shark, mako shark, and the hammerhead shark are apex predators — organisms at the top of their underwater food chain. Their predatory skill fascinates and frightens humans, even though their survival is threatened by human-related activities. Read a book with an alpha character, a book with an underwater scene on the cover OR a horror book.
5. Sharks are found in all seas and are common down to depths of 6,600 feet. They generally do not live in freshwater although there are a few known exceptions, such as the bull shark and the river shark that can survive in both seawater and freshwater. Read a book with a body of water on the cover, a book that is #6 in a series OR a book with "sea" or "fresh" in the title.
6. Sharks are a group of fish the have skeletons made of cartilage and connective tissue. Cartilage is flexible and durable, yet is about half the normal density of bone. Read a book with a skeleton on the cover OR a book with a flexible character (use your imagination).
7. Shark teeth are embedded in the gums rather than directly affixed to the jaw and are constantly replaced throughout life. The rate of tooth replacement varies from once every 8 to 10 days to several months. Some sharks lose 30,000 or more teeth in their lifetime. Read a book with teeth (fangs) on the cover OR read book 8 or 10 on your TBR.
8. Most sharks have eight fins. Sharks can only drift away from objects directly in front of them because their fins do not allow them to move in the tail-first direction. Read a book with eight in the title, a paranormal book OR a book showing a tail on the cover.
9. Most sharks are carnivorous. The great white and other large predators either swallow small prey whole or take huge bites out of large animals. Read a book with a carnivore on the cover OR a book with "swallow" in the title.
10. Some sharks eat fish, squid, other sharks, and marine mammals. Others crush and eat shellfish from the ocean floor. And still others are filter feeders that sieve tiny bits of plankton and small animals from the water as they swim with open mouths. Read a book with the letters D-I-E-T in the title (any order) OR a book with fish on the cover.
Part II - Physiology 11. Bouyancy - Unlike bony fish, sharks do not have gas-filled swim bladders for buoyancy. Instead, sharks rely on a large liver filled with oil that contains squalene, and their cartilage, which is much lighter than bone. Their liver constitutes up to 30% of their total body mass. Read a book with "bone" in the title, a book with gas-powered vehicle on the cover OR a book with 3 or 0 in the total page count.
12. Respiration - Like other fish, sharks extract oxygen from seawater as it passes over their gills. Unlike other fish, shark gill slits are not covered, but lie in a row behind the head. Read a book with "oxygen" or "breathe" in the title OR a book with water on the cover.
13. The respiration and circulation process begins when deoxygenated blood travels to the shark's two-chambered heart. Read a book with a heart on the cover OR a book with blood in the title OR a book that is #2 in a series.
14. Thermoregulation - Most sharks are "cold-blooded" meaning that their internal body temperature matches that of their ambient environment. Read a book set in a cold location, a book with "internal" in the title OR a book with blood on the cover.
15. Certain sharks (the shortfin mako and great white) are homeothermic and maintain a higher body temperature than the surrounding water. In these sharks, a strip of aerobic red muscle located near the center of the body generates the heat. Read a book with a red cover, a book that takes place during a hot month OR a book with building on the cover.
16. Digestion - Digestion can take a long time. The food moves from the mouth to a J-shaped stomach, where it is stored and digestion starts. Unwanted items don't get past the stomach, and instead the shark either vomits or turns its stomach inside out and ejects unwanted items from its mouth. (Yuk!) Read a book that starts with "J", a book titled "Inside Out" OR a book where someone pukes (I couldn't resist).
17. Smell - Sharks have keen olfactory senses, located in the short duct between the anterior and posterior nasal openings, with some species able to detect as little as one part per million of blood in seawater. Read a book with a prominent nose on the cover, a book by an "O" author OR a book that is first in a series by a new to you author.
18. Sight - Shark eyes are similar to the eyes of other vertebrates, including similar lenses, corneas and retinas, though their eyesight is well adapted to the marine environment with the help of a tissue called tapetum lucidum. This means that sharks can contract and dilate their pupils, like humans. Sharks have eyelids, but they do not blink because the surrounding water cleans their eyes. Read a book with "sight" in the title OR a book with one eye on the cover.
19. Hearing - Although it is hard to test sharks' hearing, they may have a sharp sense of hearing and can possibly hear prey many miles away. A small opening on each side of their heads leads directly into the inner ear through a thin channel. Read a book with a hearing impaired character, a book with an ear on the cover OR a book with "hear" or "hearing" in the title.
20. Electroreception - Sharks use electroreceptor organs to detect the electromagnetic fields that all living things produce. This helps sharks find prey. The shark has the greatest electrical sensitivity of any animal. Read a book with "magnetic" in the title, a book where an electrician makes an appearance OR a book with a water shifter (mermaid, selkie, etc).
Part III - Behavior 21. Speed - In general, sharks swim at an average speed of 5 mph but when feeding or attacking, the average shark can reach speeds upwards of 12 mph. Read a book with 1 or 2 in the publication year, a book that is #5 of a series OR a book with "speed" in the title.
22. Intelligence - Sharks possess brain-to-body mass ratios that are similar to mammals and birds, and have exhibited apparent curiosity and behavior resembling play in the wild. Read a book with an really smart character, a book with a bird on the cover OR a book with "play" in the title or series name.
23. Sleep - It is possible that sharks sleep in a manner similar to dolphins, one cerebral hemisphere at a time, thus maintaining some consciousness and cerebral activity at all times. Some sharks can lie on the bottom while actively pumping water over their gills but their eyes remain open. Read a book with "eyes open" in the title, a book where someone is in a coma OR a book that is first in a series.
24. Lifespan - Shark lifespans vary by species. Most live 20 to 30 years. The spiny dogfish has the longest lifespan at more than 100 years. While the whale shark may also live to reach 100 years. Read a book with a character over 100, a book with "whale" in the title OR sort your TBR and read either book 20 or 30.
25. Reproduction - Unlike most bony fish, sharks produce a small number of well-developed young as opposed to a large number of poorly developed young. Sharks mature much slower than many other fish. Read a book with a character who is under 10 (doesn't have to be the main character), a book where you can watch the development (maturity) of a character OR a young adult book.
26. Sharks practice internal fertilization. The posterior part of a male shark's pelvic fins are modified into a pair of intromittent organs called claspers, of which one is used to deliver sperm into the female. Read a book with a pregnant heroine, read an erotic book OR a book where the characters use a fertility clinic (or work at one).
27. Brooding - Most sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning that the eggs hatch within the mother's body. The young are born alive and fully functional. Most give birth in sheltered areas, including bays, river mouths and shallow reefs. Read a book where the heroine gives birth, a book where a baby (or young child) is in danger OR a book with an egg on the cover.
28. Attacks on Humans - Contrary to popular belief, only a few sharks are dangerous to humans. Out of the 400 species, only four have been involved in a significant number of fatal, unprovoked attacks on humans: the great white, oceanic whitetip, tiger, and bull sharks. These sharks are large, powerful predators, and may sometimes attack and kill people. Read a book where a shark attack happens, a book with four words in the title OR a book with a serial killer.
29. Hawaii Mythology - Sharks figure prominently in Hawaiian mythology. Stories tell of men with shark jaws on their back who could change between shark and human form. Read a book about a shape-shifter, a book tied to mythology OR a book set in Hawaii.
30. Kamohoali'i is the best known and revered of the shark gods, he was the older and favored brother of Pele, and journeyed with her to Hawaii. He was able to assume all human and fish forms. A summit cliff on the crater of Kilauea is one of his most sacred spots. Read a book where a god plays a role, a book that starts with "K" OR a book with "summit" or "cliff" in the title.
Duration: One year from start
Rules:
◈ All book formats are acceptable.
◈ Books must be at least 150 pages.
◈ You may post a list in advance, or post as you go. Changes can be made to your list at any time.
◈ Please provide the book title/author link for each book read, as well as the date finished.
◈ After you have completed the challenge, please re-post your list as a new message.
1. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago. Since that time, sharks have diversified into over 400 species. Read a book with over 400 Goodreads ratings OR a book with over 400 pages.
2. Sharks come in all sizes. The small dwarf lantern shark, a deep sea species of only 6.7 inches in length. Sort your TBR and read the smallest book you can get your hands on OR read a book with a 6 or 7 in the publication year.
3. The largest fish in the world, the whale shark, reaches approximately 39 feet. Despite its size, the whale shark feeds only on plankton, squid, and small fish by filter feeding. Read a book with a whale or shark on the cover (suggestions), OR sort your TBR and read the largest book (you can ignore omnibus editions).
4. Well-known species such as the great white shark, tiger shark, blue shark, mako shark, and the hammerhead shark are apex predators — organisms at the top of their underwater food chain. Their predatory skill fascinates and frightens humans, even though their survival is threatened by human-related activities. Read a book with an alpha character, a book with an underwater scene on the cover OR a horror book.
5. Sharks are found in all seas and are common down to depths of 6,600 feet. They generally do not live in freshwater although there are a few known exceptions, such as the bull shark and the river shark that can survive in both seawater and freshwater. Read a book with a body of water on the cover, a book that is #6 in a series OR a book with "sea" or "fresh" in the title.
6. Sharks are a group of fish the have skeletons made of cartilage and connective tissue. Cartilage is flexible and durable, yet is about half the normal density of bone. Read a book with a skeleton on the cover OR a book with a flexible character (use your imagination).
7. Shark teeth are embedded in the gums rather than directly affixed to the jaw and are constantly replaced throughout life. The rate of tooth replacement varies from once every 8 to 10 days to several months. Some sharks lose 30,000 or more teeth in their lifetime. Read a book with teeth (fangs) on the cover OR read book 8 or 10 on your TBR.
8. Most sharks have eight fins. Sharks can only drift away from objects directly in front of them because their fins do not allow them to move in the tail-first direction. Read a book with eight in the title, a paranormal book OR a book showing a tail on the cover.
9. Most sharks are carnivorous. The great white and other large predators either swallow small prey whole or take huge bites out of large animals. Read a book with a carnivore on the cover OR a book with "swallow" in the title.
10. Some sharks eat fish, squid, other sharks, and marine mammals. Others crush and eat shellfish from the ocean floor. And still others are filter feeders that sieve tiny bits of plankton and small animals from the water as they swim with open mouths. Read a book with the letters D-I-E-T in the title (any order) OR a book with fish on the cover.
11. Bouyancy - Unlike bony fish, sharks do not have gas-filled swim bladders for buoyancy. Instead, sharks rely on a large liver filled with oil that contains squalene, and their cartilage, which is much lighter than bone. Their liver constitutes up to 30% of their total body mass. Read a book with "bone" in the title, a book with gas-powered vehicle on the cover OR a book with 3 or 0 in the total page count.
12. Respiration - Like other fish, sharks extract oxygen from seawater as it passes over their gills. Unlike other fish, shark gill slits are not covered, but lie in a row behind the head. Read a book with "oxygen" or "breathe" in the title OR a book with water on the cover.
13. The respiration and circulation process begins when deoxygenated blood travels to the shark's two-chambered heart. Read a book with a heart on the cover OR a book with blood in the title OR a book that is #2 in a series.
14. Thermoregulation - Most sharks are "cold-blooded" meaning that their internal body temperature matches that of their ambient environment. Read a book set in a cold location, a book with "internal" in the title OR a book with blood on the cover.
15. Certain sharks (the shortfin mako and great white) are homeothermic and maintain a higher body temperature than the surrounding water. In these sharks, a strip of aerobic red muscle located near the center of the body generates the heat. Read a book with a red cover, a book that takes place during a hot month OR a book with building on the cover.
16. Digestion - Digestion can take a long time. The food moves from the mouth to a J-shaped stomach, where it is stored and digestion starts. Unwanted items don't get past the stomach, and instead the shark either vomits or turns its stomach inside out and ejects unwanted items from its mouth. (Yuk!) Read a book that starts with "J", a book titled "Inside Out" OR a book where someone pukes (I couldn't resist).
17. Smell - Sharks have keen olfactory senses, located in the short duct between the anterior and posterior nasal openings, with some species able to detect as little as one part per million of blood in seawater. Read a book with a prominent nose on the cover, a book by an "O" author OR a book that is first in a series by a new to you author.
18. Sight - Shark eyes are similar to the eyes of other vertebrates, including similar lenses, corneas and retinas, though their eyesight is well adapted to the marine environment with the help of a tissue called tapetum lucidum. This means that sharks can contract and dilate their pupils, like humans. Sharks have eyelids, but they do not blink because the surrounding water cleans their eyes. Read a book with "sight" in the title OR a book with one eye on the cover.
19. Hearing - Although it is hard to test sharks' hearing, they may have a sharp sense of hearing and can possibly hear prey many miles away. A small opening on each side of their heads leads directly into the inner ear through a thin channel. Read a book with a hearing impaired character, a book with an ear on the cover OR a book with "hear" or "hearing" in the title.
20. Electroreception - Sharks use electroreceptor organs to detect the electromagnetic fields that all living things produce. This helps sharks find prey. The shark has the greatest electrical sensitivity of any animal. Read a book with "magnetic" in the title, a book where an electrician makes an appearance OR a book with a water shifter (mermaid, selkie, etc).
21. Speed - In general, sharks swim at an average speed of 5 mph but when feeding or attacking, the average shark can reach speeds upwards of 12 mph. Read a book with 1 or 2 in the publication year, a book that is #5 of a series OR a book with "speed" in the title.
22. Intelligence - Sharks possess brain-to-body mass ratios that are similar to mammals and birds, and have exhibited apparent curiosity and behavior resembling play in the wild. Read a book with an really smart character, a book with a bird on the cover OR a book with "play" in the title or series name.
23. Sleep - It is possible that sharks sleep in a manner similar to dolphins, one cerebral hemisphere at a time, thus maintaining some consciousness and cerebral activity at all times. Some sharks can lie on the bottom while actively pumping water over their gills but their eyes remain open. Read a book with "eyes open" in the title, a book where someone is in a coma OR a book that is first in a series.
24. Lifespan - Shark lifespans vary by species. Most live 20 to 30 years. The spiny dogfish has the longest lifespan at more than 100 years. While the whale shark may also live to reach 100 years. Read a book with a character over 100, a book with "whale" in the title OR sort your TBR and read either book 20 or 30.
25. Reproduction - Unlike most bony fish, sharks produce a small number of well-developed young as opposed to a large number of poorly developed young. Sharks mature much slower than many other fish. Read a book with a character who is under 10 (doesn't have to be the main character), a book where you can watch the development (maturity) of a character OR a young adult book.
26. Sharks practice internal fertilization. The posterior part of a male shark's pelvic fins are modified into a pair of intromittent organs called claspers, of which one is used to deliver sperm into the female. Read a book with a pregnant heroine, read an erotic book OR a book where the characters use a fertility clinic (or work at one).
27. Brooding - Most sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning that the eggs hatch within the mother's body. The young are born alive and fully functional. Most give birth in sheltered areas, including bays, river mouths and shallow reefs. Read a book where the heroine gives birth, a book where a baby (or young child) is in danger OR a book with an egg on the cover.
28. Attacks on Humans - Contrary to popular belief, only a few sharks are dangerous to humans. Out of the 400 species, only four have been involved in a significant number of fatal, unprovoked attacks on humans: the great white, oceanic whitetip, tiger, and bull sharks. These sharks are large, powerful predators, and may sometimes attack and kill people. Read a book where a shark attack happens, a book with four words in the title OR a book with a serial killer.
29. Hawaii Mythology - Sharks figure prominently in Hawaiian mythology. Stories tell of men with shark jaws on their back who could change between shark and human form. Read a book about a shape-shifter, a book tied to mythology OR a book set in Hawaii.
30. Kamohoali'i is the best known and revered of the shark gods, he was the older and favored brother of Pele, and journeyed with her to Hawaii. He was able to assume all human and fish forms. A summit cliff on the crater of Kilauea is one of his most sacred spots. Read a book where a god plays a role, a book that starts with "K" OR a book with "summit" or "cliff" in the title.