Sharks do not have any bones at all. Their skeletons are made entirely of cartilage, a soft and flexible tissue similar to what human ears and noses are made of
. This cartilaginous skeleton includes structures like the jaws and spinal column, which are sometimes strengthened by calcium deposits, making them harder and stronger over time, but these are not bones
. Because sharks lack bones, they have no bone count like bony fish or humans. Instead, they have about 200 to 400 cartilaginous structures depending on the species
. The only hard parts sharks have that are not cartilage are their teeth, which are made of a different mineralized tissue
. The cartilaginous skeleton gives sharks advantages such as being lighter and more flexible than bone, which helps them swim faster and remain buoyant without swim bladders. This evolutionary trait has helped sharks remain effective apex predators for hundreds of millions of years
. In summary, sharks have zero bones; their entire skeleton is made of cartilage, which varies in number and density by species but does not constitute bone
