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Great White Shark Facts
GREAT WHITE SHARK FACTS
Scientific name: Squalus Carcharias
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Lifespan: 40-50 years – some males live up to 70 years
Mass: 600-800 kg
Length: 4-5 m
Great White Sharks are one of the most feared by humans. Their large size and rows of sharp teeth are noticeably scary, however, Great White Shark attacks on humans are actually very rare.
More facts about Great White Sharks:
Great Whites have no known predators, other than the Orca (Killer) Whale. Their speed and coloring make them difficult to escape, and extremely effective in hunting. Great Whites are able to blend into the ocean floor, making them difficult to spot from above.
Great White Sharks can be found in temperate waters, very rarely venturing to colder climates. With their incredible speed, they can launch their strong bodies up to 10 feet in the air when breaching!
Great White Shark Facts & Tidbits
- Great Whites are carnivores and feed on other fish including tunas, rays, other sharks, dolphins, porpoises, whales, seals, turtles, otters and birds.
- Great White sharks have eggs that develop and hatch in the uterus. The pups develop until birth. Gestation of great white pups is 11 months.
- Great Whites have a dominance hierarchy – females dominate males, large sharks dominate smaller sharks, and residents dominate newcomers.
Distribution
Great Whites can be found in most coastal waters that have a temperature between 12 and 24 degrees Celcius. The United States, South Africa, Oceania, Mediterranean, Japan, and Chile are most commonly where one can find Great White Sharks.
Status of the Great White Shark
Great White Sharks are considered Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Read more about Shark threats.
