Sand Tiger Sharks
“Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.” [Genesis 4:8]
Sand tiger sharks, also known as ragged-tooth sharks, have a deceivingly ferocious look. They are large-bodied sharks up to 10 feet long that display a menacing mouthful of razor-sharp teeth that protrude in all directions, even when their mouth is shut. Despite their fierce appearance they are a docile, non-aggressive species, only attacking humans in self-defense.
Sand tiger sharks have another unique feature. We have all seen the ominous picture of a shark dorsal fin cutting the surface when on the prowl. Sand tiger sharks actually have a second large dorsal fin on their backs. From a distance, some who thought they spotted two sharks really saw one sand tiger shark. They also possess another highly unusual feature in sharks – a rudimentary swim bladder. This enables them to have exquisite control over their buoyancy compared with other sharks. When hunting they will swim to the surface, gulping and burping air that they store in their stomachs until they achieve neutral buoyancy. This behavior allows the sand tiger shark to hover nearly motionless in the water as they hunt for prey.
The most bizarre feature of these ragged-tooth sharks is how they are born. Although a dozen eggs might develop after mating, during the 9- to 12-month gestation period the two strongest pups will kill and feed on their remaining siblings, while still within the mother! This grisly process is called “intrauterine cannibalism.” At birth, the surviving pups are already more than three feet long, and you could accurately say they are born killers!
Did you know the Bible talks about a breed of professed Christians who bite and devour their own siblings? “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” (Galatians 5:14,15). Jealousy and anger led Cain to destroy his own brother. Murder truly is the end result of all selfishness and sin.
