ANIMALWOOD

Shark

Medium to carve

The apex predator whose design has barely changed for 450 million years.

All of Earth's oceans from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea

Carve it in today's puzzle

Fun facts about the Shark

Sharks have electroreceptors called the ampullae of Lorenzini that detect the tiny electric fields generated by muscle contractions — they can sense a heartbeat from metres away. They shed and replace thousands of teeth over a lifetime, with new rows continuously moving forward like a conveyor belt. Whale sharks, the largest fish alive, are filter feeders that eat only plankton. Unlike bony fish, sharks have no swim bladder and must keep swimming or sink.

Carving the Shark

The Shark offers a moderate challenge: it has both broad areas to clear quickly and fine details that reward a careful hand. Start with the gouge on large negative-space areas.

Switch to the chisel for the mid-range details, and finish any thin protrusions with the knife. Use a Peek if you lose track of the proportions.

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