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Carcharodon (meaning "jagged/sharp tooth") is a genus of sharks within the family Lamnidae, colloquially called the "white sharks." The only extant member is the great white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias ).
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), also known as the white shark, white pointer, or simply great white, is a species of large mackerel shark which can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans.
- Overview
- Distribution
- Body structure
- Feeding habits
- Attacks on humans
- Social behaviour
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The largest fully grown white sharks do not exceed 6.4 meters (21 feet) in length, and most weigh between 680 and 1,800 kg (1,500 and 4,000 pounds). However, some weighing more than 2,270 kg (about 5,000 pounds) have been documented.
Are white sharks cold-blooded or warm-blooded?
White sharks have a complex circulatory system that conserves heat, and this heat is distributed throughout the body to warm its critical regions, giving the white shark a body temperature higher than the temperature of the surrounding water. This adaptation is called regional endothermy, which is a type of warm-bloodedness.
What do white sharks eat?
Newborn white sharks feed on fishes and other sharks. As they reach adulthood, their prey includes sea turtles, seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins, and small whales. White sharks are also opportunistic scavengers and will feed on the carcasses of whales and basking sharks.
Do white sharks attack humans?
White shark populations are frequently centred in highly productive temperate coastal waters (that is, waters characterized by an abundance of fishes and marine mammals), such as off the coasts of the northeastern and western United States, Chile, northern Japan, southern Australia, New Zealand, southern Africa, and the Mediterranean. Some individu...
White sharks are large bulky fishes with a body shaped like a blunt torpedo. They have a sharply pointed conical snout, large pectoral and dorsal fins, and a strong crescent-shaped tail. Only the belly of white sharks is whitish. They have a contrasting pattern of dark blue, gray, or brown on their back and sides. They are amazing hunters armed with strong muscles, good eyesight, and a keen sense of smell. In addition, their massive jaws are armed with large sharply pointed, coarsely serrated teeth. Each tooth is designed to cut flesh and can easily puncture and shatter bone. The largest fully grown white sharks do not exceed 6.4 metres (21 feet) in length. Most weigh between 680 and 1,800 kg (1,500 and 4,000 pounds), but some weighing more than 2,270 kg (about 5,000 pounds) have been documented.
Most fish are ectothermic, or cold-blooded, but white sharks have a complex circulatory system that conserves heat generated through the contraction of swimming muscles. This heat is distributed throughout the body to warm its critical regions, giving the white shark a body temperature higher than the temperature of the surrounding water. This adaptation, called regional endothermy (which is a type of warm-bloodedness), allows the animal to be active in water that may be too cold for other species of predatory sharks.
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Newborn white sharks feed on fishes and other sharks. As they reach adulthood, their prey includes sea turtles, seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins, and small whales. Prey is usually hunted by ambush, where the shark will attempt to rush the animal by surprise and inflict a sudden and massive fatal bite. Often this initial rush is so strong that ...
In the areas where they are most common, white sharks are responsible for numerous unprovoked, and sometimes fatal, attacks on swimmers, divers, surfers, kayakers, and even small boats. A white shark tends to inflict a single bite on its human victim and then retreat. In many instances, however, the shark does not return for a second bite. If the victim suffers a moderate bite, he or she may have time to seek safety. In situations where a large bite occurs, however, serious tissue and organ damage may result in death. A review of white shark attacks off the western United States showed that about 7 percent of attacks were fatal, but data from other localities, such as South Africa, show fatality rates of more than 20 percent. Fatality rates as high as 60 percent have been recorded from attacks in the waters off Australia.
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Many researchers maintain that attacks on humans stem from the shark’s curiosity. In contrast, other authorities contend that these attacks may be the result of the shark mistaking humans for its natural prey, such as seals and sea lions. It is also possible that white sharks intend to attack humans where their normal prey may be scarce.
Little is known about the social behaviour and natural history of the white shark. There appears to be no apparent social structure; however, there is evidence that some sharks may be territorial and assume dominance hierarchies around feeding areas. White sharks are largely solitary, but some pairs have been seen to travel together and associate f...
Learn about the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), also known as the great white shark or man-eater, one of the most powerful and dangerous predators in the world. Find out its size, diet, distribution, behaviour, and how it hunts and interacts with humans.
Aug 18, 2023 · Great white sharks are the only living members of the genus Carcharodon — inspired by the Greek words "karcharos," which means sharpen, and "odous," which means teeth.
- Patrick Pester
Learn about the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), a large mackerel shark that can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans. Discover its size, lifespan, diet, predators, conservation status, and more.
The great white shark is the world's largest known predatory fish. It has 300 teeth, yet does not chew its food. Sharks rip their prey into mouth-sized pieces which are swallowed whole.
Nov 24, 2020 · The great white shark is the only extant member of the genus Carcharodon and is a large, predatory species. Great white sharks are found in temperate oceans throughout the world and are known for their predatory prowess.
