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!

Prefer to learn and watch? Check out this video from Blue World!

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.