Book excerpt: This book is an up-to-date account of the world's most primitive and feared predators. It covers their evolution, their powerful bodies and amazing senses, and how they swim, hunt, feed, breed, hibernate, migrate and survive in the aquatic environment. It is fully illustrated with stunning images made possible by the latest advances in underwater photography, as well as cutaway diagrams, maps and charts. There are also detailed profiles of a wide range of shark species, including the great white, tiger shark, thresher, megamouth, and the greatest fish on the planet, the whale shark.