White Shark
The great white shark is found in temperate and tropical seas around the world, but is most abundant in the cool temperate waters of North America, southern Africa and southern and western Australia. The great white shark cruises effortlessly through the seas in search of prey. The largest flesh eating shark, it eats mainly seals and sea lions, and spends most of its time in coastal areas and around reefs where prey is plentiful. Armed with ferocious teeth, it attacks with deadly speed, yet despite its reputation, it rarely attacks humans. The great white shark roams temperate and tropical seas and oceans around the world and has no enemy other than man.
Solo Patrol
The great white shark usually patrols the water alone, swimming slowly just above the sea floor or close to the surface. Some sharks seem to return to the same feeding grounds annually and show signs of aggressive behaviour around other sharks, as if defending their territory. It is now believed that some of their swimming behaviour is aimed at guarding their personal space, such as the cautiously timed turn aways between two sharks converging on the same point and when two sharks parellel swim, keeping a set distance between them.
Part of body
- huge, crescent-shaped tail – beat from side to side to propel the shark powerfully through the water.
- hyper-densitive hairs – down the side of the body can pick up vibrations from passing prey
- triangular dorsal fin – enables the shark to steer, dive and balance
- nostrils – used to sniff out prey can sense blood in the water. Small pores in the snout pick up electrical signals from the muscles of living creatures
- wing-like pectoral (side) fins – stop the shark from nose-diving and keep its body level as it swims
Statistics
- status - vulnerable
- lenght - up to 6.4 m
- weight – 2 tonnes
- sexual maturity – females: 12-15 years; males: 9-10 years
- breeding season – spring to late summer
- gestation period – estimated at 1 years
- number of young – 7-10
- diet - seals, sea lions, large fish, dolphins
- lifespan - estimated at 30-40 years
myth or fact
A 16th century French naturalist, Guillaume Rondalet, suggested that it was probably the great white, rather than a whale, that was responsible for swallowing jonah in the famous bible story. Although regarded as mindless killers attacks are rare and happen because sharks confuse humans with prey such as seal.
