Storrs, CT — When most people think of sharks they might think of “Jaws,” “Baby Shark,” or even “Sharknado.” What they may not realize is the Great White that inspired these pop culture shark stories is only one of the over 1,300 species of sharks and stingrays found around the world.

The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History is celebrating Shark Week with a deep dive exploration of sharks and rays. Sharks and rays are members of the group of cartilaginous fish known as elasmobranchs. At “Shark Day: Beyond Jaws!”, discover the wild variety of sharks and their relatives, including species that are new to science. Learn about the world’s biggest and smallest sharks, and some of the world’s weirdest sharks. Original photographs of rarely seen sharks and rays from some of the most remote places on the planet will be on display.

A highlight of the afternoon will be an exhibition of real shark and ray jaws. See how the jaws of sharks and their relatives differ based on the types of prey they consume. There will be opportunities to touch real shark skin, compare large and small jaws, and learn how sharks hunt for prey using special grasping, crushing, and tearing teeth.

The CSMNH will also unveil the most complete evolutionary tree showing the relationships among all living elasmobranchs. This work is based on molecular data for hundreds of species of sharks and their relatives. It is the result of a decades-long research project exploring the diversity of sharks and stingrays around the globe. Visitors will learn what this research tells us about these ancient predators.

After a very successful collaboration at the “What Makes a Treehopper Family Day,” the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry in UConn’s School of Fine Arts is back to help resurrect a Megalodon jaw through a hands-on puppet-making activity. Workshop leaders from the Ballard will be on hand to help puppeteers of all ages construct a Megalodon “tooth.” Participants are challenged to inscribe their tooth with a shark fact from the exhibits and add it to our life size Megalodon jaw to win a fossil shark tooth of their own. For those wishing to enjoy a full day in Storrs, the Ballard is hosting a free performance of Judy Saves the Day by Sarah Nolen at 11am at their location in Downtown Storrs. Visit their website bimp.uconn.edu for more information!

Family Days are free and open to the public! “Shark Day: Beyond Jaws!” will be held on Saturday, July 27 from 1-5pm at UConn Storrs in the Gant Science Complex Light Court on N. Eagleville Rd. Parking is available in the North Parking Garage, next to the venue. There is also limited on-street parking on N. Eagleville Rd. Visit csmnh.uconn.edu/programs for additional information.

If you require any accommodations to participate in this event, please contact the CSMNH at 860-486-4460 or [email protected] by Monday July 15, 2024.

Family Days are interactive learning experiences for visitors of all ages. Natural history and biology are explored through hands-on activities assisted by researchers, students, and experts from different disciplines. The Museum would like to thank all of those who helped make this Family Day possible. In particular, the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB) and the research groups associated with Museum Director Dr. Janine Caira and UConn alum Dr. Kirsten Jensen ‘01 Ph.D. at the University of Kansas. A special thank you to the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry for developing the Megalodon Jaw activity and to our media sponsor Connecticut Public for their invaluable support.

The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History is a unit of the Institute of the Environment at the University of Connecticut.

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Contact: Elizabeth Barbeau

860-486-4460 | Web: csmnh.uconn.edu | Facebook: @CSMNH | Instagram: @ctnaturalhistory