Quck answer
Great white sharks are apex predators that can grow up to 20 feet in length and weigh over 5,000 pounds. They are found in oceans all over the world and are known for their sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Great white sharks have a highly developed sense of smell, which they use to detect prey from miles away. They also have excellent eyesight and can see in low light conditions. Great white sharks are known for their ability to breach the water’s surface and catch seals in midair. Despite their fearsome reputation, great white sharks are not man-eaters, and attacks on humans are rare. Overall, great white sharks are fascinating creatures that are vital to the health of our oceans.
Wild Animals
Great White Shark’s Prey
Time for lunch
Lionel Isy-Schwart/The Image Bank/Getty Images
The great white shark is known to have a preference for fatty meals over those with high protein content. Its main prey is the pinniped, an aquatic carnivore such as seals or sea lions. Humans are not usually on the menu for a typical shark meal, as they are too muscular and lean. A seal, on the other hand, can provide a very efficient meal for great whites as it can be up to 50% fat [source: Carey]. The great white shark also feeds on other fish and, on rare occasions, sea turtles. In a year, a great white shark consumes approximately 11 tons of food, while a 150-pound human being eats about half a ton [source: Parker].
The great white shark has impressive senses of smell and hearing that help it hunt prey. However, it relies heavily on its sense of vision. It scans the water’s surface for seals and approaches them from underwater. In a study, a scientist presented a great white shark with a plywood seal-shaped board and a square board. The scientist found that the great white made more passes at the seal-shaped board, as it was more familiar [source: Klimley].
Whenever an object is presented by itself, the great white shark goes to investigate. This is why swimmers are warned not to go into shark-infested waters alone [source: Martins, Knickle]. The great white shark is known for its curiosity and may inspect solitary and vulnerable objects to determine if they are edible.
Scientists have identified several different ways the great white shark moves towards its prey:
- The underwater approach is used most often. The shark swims under the surface until it is just a few feet away from its prey, then attacks quickly, moving its head up to the surface to grab the unlucky victim.
- In a surface-charge approach, the shark swims partly above the surface until it makes its move.
- The inverted method, when the shark swims on its back towards the prey, is used rarely.
[sources: Tricas and Martins, Knickle]
The first bite serves several important functions. The bite is designed to disable the prey, as seals are fast and won’t give up without a fight. Sometimes they bite and claw at the shark. That bite starts the process of exsanguination, or bleeding to death, so that the shark doesn’t suffer any injury in the course of hunting. Scientists have observed sharks taking that bite, waiting until the pinniped bleeds to death, and then returning to feast on the carcass.
The shark sometimes rejects the prey after the first bite. Scientists aren’t sure if the choice is based on taste or if the shark can tell how fatty the meal is and whether it’s worth the energy expenditure of the hunt.
On the next page, we’ll take a closer look at the great white shark’s bite and its fearsome jaws.
Is Dining Together an Option for Great White Sharks?
When it comes to sharing food, great white sharks have a complex way of asserting dominance. Researchers have witnessed sharks congregating around a single prey item and engaging in bouts of tail-slapping and water splashing. The shark that performs the most tail slaps typically wins the right to eat the food [source: Klimley]. Scientists believe that great whites communicate through these and about 20 other observed social interactions, but they are uncertain about the meaning of each gesture [source: Martin]. While most movements appear to be aimed at establishing hierarchy, some may be intended to alert other sharks to potential external threats [source: Klimley].
FAQ
1. What makes Great White Sharks unique?
Great White Sharks are one of the largest predatory fish in the ocean, with an average size of 15-20 feet and a weight of up to 5,000 pounds. They have a pointed snout and sharp teeth that are constantly replaced throughout their lifetime. Great White Sharks are also known for their incredible power and speed, capable of reaching up to 35 miles per hour.
2. How do Great White Sharks hunt?
Great White Sharks are apex predators and are known for their hunting abilities. They typically hunt by ambushing their prey from below. They will swim up from the depths of the ocean and surprise their prey from below, delivering a powerful bite that often kills instantly. Great White Sharks also have incredible senses, including a keen sense of smell and the ability to sense electromagnetic fields, which helps them locate prey.
3. What do Great White Sharks eat?
Great White Sharks are carnivores and primarily eat fish, seals, sea lions, and dolphins. They are also known to eat other sharks and even seabirds. Great White Sharks are opportunistic feeders and will eat whatever is available in their environment.
4. How long do Great White Sharks live?
Great White Sharks have a lifespan of approximately 70 years. However, their lifespan can vary depending on factors such as food availability, predation, and disease.
5. Where do Great White Sharks live?
Great White Sharks are found in all major oceans around the world, but they are most commonly found in coastal areas with cool water temperatures. They are known to frequent areas such as South Africa, Australia, California, and the eastern coast of the United States.
6. How do Great White Sharks reproduce?
Great White Sharks reproduce through internal fertilization. The male Great White Shark will use his claspers to insert sperm into the female’s reproductive tract. The female will then carry the fertilized eggs inside her body until they are ready to hatch. Great White Sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning the eggs hatch inside the female and the pups are born fully developed.
7. Are Great White Sharks endangered?
Great White Sharks are considered a vulnerable species, with populations declining due to overfishing and habitat loss. They are also often hunted for their fins and teeth. However, due to conservation efforts, populations in some areas have begun to rebound.
8. How do Great White Sharks breathe?
Great White Sharks have five to seven gills on each side of their body that they use to extract oxygen from the water. They must constantly swim to keep water flowing over their gills and provide oxygen to their bodies.
9. How fast can Great White Sharks swim?
Great White Sharks are incredibly fast swimmers, capable of reaching speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. They use their powerful tail to propel themselves through the water and are known for their agility and speed.
10. How do Great White Sharks communicate?
Great White Sharks communicate with each other through body language and chemical signals. They use their fins and body posture to convey aggression or submission, and they also release chemical signals called pheromones to communicate with other sharks.
11. Can Great White Sharks be kept in captivity?
Great White Sharks have not been successfully kept in captivity for long periods of time. They require a large amount of space to swim and prefer to roam the open ocean rather than being confined to a tank. Additionally, Great White Sharks have complex feeding and behavioral requirements that are difficult to replicate in captivity.
12. Are Great White Sharks dangerous to humans?
Great White Sharks have been known to attack humans, but these incidents are rare and usually occur when a shark mistakes a person for its natural prey. Most shark attacks on humans are not fatal, and many are the result of mistaken identity. However, it is important to exercise caution when swimming in areas known to be frequented by Great White Sharks.
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