The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), is a large, torpedo-shaped predatory mammal that is native to temperate waters in oceans throughout the world.Berkeley: The Great White Shark They are currently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.MarineBio: Carcharodon carcharias, Great White Shark IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Carcharodon carcharias
In January 2009, three non-fatal great white shark attacks occurred on Australia's coasts within 48 hours. Several stretches of coastline were then closed and open beaches were placed on high alert.Guardian: Sharks attack three Australians in 24 hours (January 12, 2009)
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- SubPhylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Chondrichthyes
- Subclass: Elasmobranchii
- Order: LamniformesEnchanted Learning: Great White Shark
Habitat
Great whites are generally found near coasts in the temperate zones around the world, including North and South America, South Africa, all of Australia except the northern coast, eastern China and Russia, within the Mediterranean Sea, and along the European coast to Scandinavia.Enchanted Learning: Great White Shark
Long thought to be strictly coastal creatures, recent satellite tracking has proven that sharks migrate long distances, some crossing ocean basins during their migration patterns.MarineBio: Carcharodon carcharias, Great White Shark
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References
Fast Facts
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Also known as
white shark, man-eating shark, white pointer, blue pointer and manila sharkMarineBio: Carcharodon carcharias, Great White Shark
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Habitat
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Diet
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Prey
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Major threats
Low reproductive potential, high vulnerability to fisheries, human consumption as a specialty foodIUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Carcharodon carcharias
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Size
12-16 ft long normally; record is 23 ft, 7,000 lbsEnchanted Learning: Great White Shark
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Fact:
Uses sense of smell and the ability to identify electric charges to locate preyEnchanted Learning: Great White Shark
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Fact:
Has 3,000 teeth in several rowsEnchanted Learning: Great White Shark
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Fact:
Accounts for about one-half to one-third of all reported shark attacksEnchanted Learning: Great White Shark
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Fact:
Out of 30-50 great white shark attacks each year, about 10-15 people are killedEnchanted Learning: Great White Shark
