Great white shark

What it is

This robust shark features a torpedo-shaped body with a grayish-blue back and a stark white belly. Its countershaded colouring provides camouflage in the water. The animal possesses a short, cone-shaped snout and a massive liver that can account for nearly thirty percent of its total weight. This organ aids buoyancy and stores energy. The species has approximately three hundred serrated, triangular teeth arranged in rows. These teeth are continuously replaced throughout the animal's life. Females grow larger than males, with adults often exceeding four metres in length.

Where it lives

Populations inhabit tropical and temperate seas across the globe. They are frequently observed near coastlines but also venture into the open ocean. Key concentrations exist in the Pacific and Atlantic waters of North America, as well as off the coasts of southern Africa and Oceania. The species is highly migratory, travelling between continents and moving between coastal zones and deeper waters. Genetic studies indicate distinct lineages in the North Atlantic, Indo-Pacific, and North Pacific regions.

How it lives

As an apex predator, the great white hunts marine mammals such as seals and dolphins, along with various fish and squid. It also scavenges on whale carcasses. The shark relies on sight and smell for hunting, supported by electroreception organs and a lateral line system. It is generally solitary but may gather at feeding sites. Juveniles occupy shallower waters and feed on smaller prey. Although rarely attacked, they can fall victim to orcas. The species maintains body heat through a network of blood vessels, allowing activity in colder environments.

Breeding and life cycle

Reproduction involves internal fertilization where pups develop inside eggs within the mother before hatching live. Young sharks typically reside in shallow coastal areas. They feed on smaller prey items compared to adults. Sexual maturity is reached at different sizes depending on sex, with females maturing at lengths around four to five metres. Populations show genetic divergence, suggesting historical separation during periods of lower sea levels.

Fish and people

The species holds a fearsome reputation in popular culture, notably featured in literature and film as a dangerous predator. In reality, attacks on humans are rare and often result from curiosity or mistaken identity. Tourism includes viewing aggregations from boats or cages. Conservation efforts include bans on catching and killing in several jurisdictions. Threats stem from commercial fisheries, recreational fishing, and entanglement in beach protection nets.

Status and threats

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as vulnerable globally. It faces critical endangerment in European and Mediterranean waters. Major threats include accidental capture by commercial and recreational fisheries, as well as entanglement in protective nets near beaches. Several governments have enacted legal protections to prevent hunting and killing of the species.

Relatives and look-alikes

It is the sole living member of the genus Carcharodon. Close relatives include mako sharks, porbeagles, and salmon sharks within the family Lamnidae. Fossil evidence links it to extinct species like Carcharodon hastalis and C. hubbelli. It is sometimes confused with other large sharks but is distinguished by its specific dental structure and body proportions.

Questions people ask about Great white shark

Good reading and sources

• 'Rolling and rolling and rolling': the first detailed account of great white shark sex | SharksThe Guardian, Article

• Great white shark on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data