Ninmetrix

• Behaviour
• Ecology

At full maturity, a great white can weigh up to 1,905 kilograms, or 4,200 pounds; A 2014 study revealed that the lifespan of a great white shark is estimated at 70 years or longer; Great white sharks can swim at speeds of over 56km/h or 35mph; And they can swim to depths of 1,200m, or 3,900 feet.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

White shark, (Carcharodon carcharias), also called great white shark or white pointer, any member of the largest living species of the mackerel sharks (Lamnidae) and one of the most powerful and dangerous predatory sharks in the world. Starring as the villain of movies such as Jaws (1975), the white shark is much maligned and publicly feared. However, surprisingly little is understood of its life and behaviour.

Distribution

White shark populations are frequently centred in highly productive temperate coastal waters (that is, waters characterized by an abundance of fishes and marine mammals), such as off the coasts of the northeastern and western United States, Chile, northern Japan, southern Australia, New Zealand, southern Africa, and the Mediterranean. Some individual white sharks may travel far out to sea or into tropical waters, but field studies show that most return to these temperate feeding areas each year.

Body structure

White sharks are large bulky fishes with a body shaped like a blunt torpedo. They have a sharply pointed conical snout, large pectoral and dorsal fins, and a strong crescent-shaped tail. Only the belly of white sharks is whitish. They have a contrasting pattern of dark blue, gray, or brown on their back and sides. They are amazing hunters armed with strong muscles, good eyesight, and a keen sense of smell. In addition, their massive jaws are armed with large sharply pointed, coarsely serrated teeth. Each tooth is designed to cut flesh and can easily puncture and shatter bone. The largest fully grown white sharks do not exceed 6.4 metres (21 feet) in length. Most weigh between 680 and 1,800 kg (1,500 and 4,000 pounds), but some weighing more than 2,270 kg (about 5,000 pounds) have been documented.

Most fish are ectothermic, or cold-blooded, but white sharks have a complex circulatory system that conserves heat generated through the contraction of swimming muscles. This heat is distributed throughout the body to warm its critical regions, giving the white shark a body temperature higher than the temperature of the surrounding water. This adaptation, called regional endothermy (which is a type of warm-bloodedness), allows the animal to be active in water that may be too cold for other species of predatory sharks.

Behaviour

Feed Fish Grow

Feeding habits

Newborn white sharks feed on fishes and other sharks. As they reach adulthood, their prey includes sea turtles, seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins, and small whales. Prey is usually hunted by ambush, where the shark will attempt to rush the animal by surprise and inflict a sudden and massive fatal bite. Often this initial rush is so strong that the intense impact may send the prey out of the water or will send the shark into the air if it misses the target. The sharks will retire and wait for the prey to quickly die, giving rise to the terms bite and spit or bite and wait for this method of attack. White sharks are also opportunistic scavengers and will feed on the carcasses of whales and basking sharks; however, they are not indiscriminate.

Attacks on humans

In the areas where they are most common, white sharks are responsible for numerous unprovoked, and sometimes fatal, attacks on swimmers, divers, surfers, kayakers, and even small boats. A white shark tends to inflict a single bite on its human victim and then retreat. In many instances, however, the shark does not return for a second bite. If the victim suffers a moderate bite, he or she may have time to seek safety. In situations where a large bite occurs, however, serious tissue and organ damage may result in death. A review of white shark attacks off the western United States showed that about 7 percent of attacks were fatal, but data from other localities, such as South Africa, show fatality rates of more than 20 percent. Fatality rates as high as 60 percent have been recorded from attacks in the waters off Australia.

Many researchers maintain that attacks on humans stem from the shark’s curiosity. In contrast, other authorities contend that these attacks may be the result of the shark mistaking humans for its natural prey, such as seals and sea lions. It is also possible that white sharks intend to attack humans where their normal prey may be scarce.

Social behaviour

Little is known about the social behaviour and natural history of the white shark. There appears to be no apparent social structure; however, there is evidence that some sharks may be territorial and assume dominance hierarchies around feeding areas. White sharks are largely solitary, but some pairs have been seen to travel together and associate for long periods of time. Some individuals may reside within feeding areas throughout the year, whereas other individuals may leave the feeding area and migrate widely. For example, some white sharks off California have been tracked to Hawaii, and some South African white sharks have been tracked to southern Australia and back.

The great white shark is a fish to be reckoned with. This apex predator dominates the ocean floor and doesn’t appear to have other fish that can challenge its power. These sharks have slate-grey upper bodies in order to help them blend into their environment. They are extremely efficient and quick swimmers, traveling at speeds up to 15 miles per hour. These predators of the sea have several rows of serrated, triangular teeth that are extremely vicious and brutal to their prey. They also have the ability to sense the tiny electromagnetic fields emitted from their prey, which is attributed to specific organs found in their bodies.

With shark attacks happening along the coasts of many countries, people believe that these sharks will feed on humans if given the chance. It doesn’t help that most Hollywood movies out there depict sharks as giant human-killing beasts. However, humans are not part of the great white shark diet. While they are carnivores, great white sharks feed on other fish and mammals commonly found in our planet’s oceans. They may seem like a creature from outer space, but if these fish disappeared from our waters, our whole aquatic ecosystem falls apart.

They Aren’t Picky Eaters

The great white shark diet seems to be as diverse as they come. These carnivorous creatures prey upon fish, such as tuna, rays, and other sharks, as well as cetaceans, which are dolphins, porpoises, and whales. They are also known to attack pinnipeds such as seals, fur seals, and sea lions, as well as sea turtles, sea otters, and seabirds. Great white shark pups will predominantly feed on fish since their jaws are not wrong enough to withstand the forces required to attack large animals such as seals and whales. Once they grow to about three meters in length, their jaw cartilage begins to strengthen, and can begin to withstand the forces mentioned before. Once they grow to about four meters in length, the great white shark diet begins to expand. They will begin to target marine mammals for food since they prefer prey will high contents of fat.

Hunting Methods

Free Feed And Grow Fish

Great white sharks are equipped with incredible noses, ears, and eyes in order to find its prey. These fish are extremely curious creatures, and may examine solitary, vulnerable, and unfamiliar objects to determine whether or not they are edible. This explains why humans have been attacked in the past. If the shark wants to examine potential prey, it will perform one of three methods. The first is the underwater approach, which is used the most often. The shark will swim under the surface until it’s just a few feet away from the prey. From there, it attacks quickly; moving its head to the surface to grab the victim. The second method is the surface charge, where the shark will swim partly our of the water until it makes its move of the prey. Lastly, the rarest method of hunting is the inverted method, where the shark swims on its back towards its prey.

Feed And Grow Fish Free Download

Visit Our Shark Website For All The Shark Information You’ll Need

Feed And Grow Fish App

As we can see, the great white shark diet is as diverse as it comes. They aren’t picky eaters! However, the shark’s ability to attack many groups of animals in the ocean has helped to maintain the aquatic ecosystem. When humans hunt these creatures for various body parts and accidentally catch them in their nets, we are harming the stability that is found in the world’s food chain. We can do more in order to help these sharks. By visiting our website, you can learn more about the great white shark diet, and learn about other endangered sharks.