Research finds that great whites, which are naturally curious, often "sample bite" then release their human target. Of the 100-plus annual shark attacks worldwide, a third to a half are attributed to great white sharks. The species has even been seen feeding on dead whales. Larger whtie sharks will also prey on sea lions, seals, and small toothed whales like orcas. Their prey includes other sharks, crustaceans, molluscs, and sea birds. They even have organs that can sense the tiny electromagnetic fields generated by animals. Highly adapted predators, their mouths are lined with up to 300 serrated, triangular teeth arranged in several rows, and they have an exceptional sense of smell to detect prey. They can even leave the water completely, breaching like whales when attacking prey from underneath. They're streamlined, torpedo-shaped swimmers with powerful tails that can propel them through the water at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. They have slate-gray upper bodies to blend in with the rocky coastal sea floor, but they get their name from their white underbellies.
They grow to an average of 15 feet in length, though specimens exceeding 20 feet and weighing up to 5,000 pounds have been recorded. As scientific research on these elusive predators increases, their image as mindless killing machines is beginning to fade.įound in cool, coastal waters around the world, great whites are the largest predatory fish on Earth. While the shark in Jaws was inspired by a great white shark in New Jersey, the legendary fish is far less fearsome in reality. Current Population Trend: Unknown About great white sharks
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