(Photos Courtesy of the Museum of Science and Nature)

It’s not often that landlocked Dallas sees a shark.

However, at the Museum of Nature and Science newest exhibit, “Planet Shark: Predator or Prey,” people of all ages will get an extensive look into the different species and aspects that the underwater world of sharks has to offer.

Spanning a massive 12,000 square feet and covering five different galleries, “Planet Shark” is an interactive exhibit that tries to dispel the preconceived thoughts and fears that most people harness toward sharks.

Making only its second stop in the United States, the Museum of Nature and Science is expecting “Planet Shark” to be the biggest exhibition to run through the Fair Park staple since it’s explosively popular exhibit “Bodyworlds.”

The exhibit is an expansive effort, put together by Grande Exhbition of Australia and OceanZOO of New Zealand, features a plethora of shark fins, teeth and full-scale models that shows the viewer te intimacy of the species.

Greeting visitors is the exhibit’s full-scale replica of the prehistoric giant Megalodon shark’s jaw.

The mammoth structure acts as a gatekeeper to the exhibit, almost daring its guests to enter.

Upon entry, “Planet Shark” tries to educate its patrons by providing a detailed timeline of the shark’s existence.

Under spotlights and glass encasements, “Planet Shark” lays out an expansive and chronological spread of shark teeth, fins and even vertebrae to accurately demonstrate the development of the ocean’s most feared predator.

Peppered throughout this exhibit are a series of interactive touch screen monitors that allow the participant to get a hands-on shark experience.

With a depth of knowledge and user friendly interface, it is easy to see how one can spend the bulk of their time at one these stations, methodically scrolling through the shark species as they learn more about the animal.

From there, “Planet Shark” forks into different parts of the exhibit that showcase everything from an array of shark jaws (and how dangerous the shark may be) all the way to an actual shark, frozen in time next to another fish.

Perhaps the most edgy part of “Planet Shark” comes in the part of the exhibit titled, “Shark Attack, Fears and Fobias.”

This part of the museum features shark attacks and stories from their survivors along with media clippings and other memorabilia that can be attributed to the public’s fear of sharks.

Under cautioned red lights, the exhibit is marked with a warning for parents to judge whether or not their kid can handle the images.

However, with not nearly as much blood and gore as preconceived, any kid over the age of 8 should be brave enough to go in.

Also housed in that part of the exhibit is a small, but still interesting, collection of memorabilia from the movie that made sharks famous, “Jaws.”

Awaiting museum goers in the next room can find a rest area/interactive media station that houses gigantic television screens showing stunning video of great white sharks in action.

Since the screen is so large, the detail in the video is crisp and clean, combined with clever selection of action-packed vignettes, the rest area is more than just a few linear benches.

The following two parts of the exhibit relay the overall theme of “Planet Shark,” the hope that one day with the right education and exhibits like itself, people will begin to appreciate sharks for what they are and that this understanding of the species will stop the over-fishing and dwindling population of the shark species.

As a whole, “Planet Shark” is an interesting and entertaining exhibit that has the perfect mix of content for both the young and the old.

With its content, “Planet Shark” is able to tell some of the ocean’s most interesting stories while relaying a message of conservation and appreciation.

A message that even though is told a lot at exhibits like this, still needs to be heard.

Accompanying the exhibit is the IMAX film “Sharks,” presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau. Cousteau, a harbinger of French film, is certain to use a backdrop as interesting as the ocean to his advantage and deliver a stellar documentary in the Museum of Science and Nature’s impressive IMAX theater.

The Museum of Nature and Science is offering discounted tickets to both attractions under their “twin fin” deal.

For SMU’s Homecoming Weekend, the Museum of Science and Nature is offering a special discount for SMU alumni.

“Planet Shark” runs at the Museum of Nature and Science in Fair Park until Sept. 16, 2012.

(Photos Courtesy of the Museum of Science and Nature)

(Photos Courtesy of the Museum of Science and Nature)