Do sharks have to mate with another shark to have a baby?

Baby sharks are called pups. Just like there are many types of sharks, there are also different ways that sharks come into this world. There are three ways that sharks are born:

• eggs are laid (like birds)

• eggs hatch inside the mother and then are born

• pups sharks grow inside the mother (like humans)

Sharks can have from 1 to 100 babies at a time, depending on the type of shark. The ones with pups that grow inside the mother have fewer babies at a time than sharks that lay eggs outside the body.

Sharks do not care for their babies after they are born, but they do search for a safe place where they can lay their eggs or give birth.