Great White Shark

Great White Shark

The Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, used to be called the White Pointer in Australia, but the American name of Great White Shark has almost completely replaced the old Australian name. One Australian I know asked if there is a Lesser White Shark since there is a Great White Shark. I didn’t know the answer to this question, but there was a shark called the Giant White Shark. In case anyone asks if there are any other colours of pointers, the answer is yes, in Australia, the Mako shark Prionace glauca was often called the Blue Pointer.

Other names for the Great White Shark are the White Shark and the White Death. Similarly, one could ask if there are sharks called by any other colours. There are, including the Black Shark, Labeo chrysophekadion this is not a true shark, but still has the name.

Some scientists believe the Great White Shark is related to the prehistoric Giant White Shark, the Megalodon, and this huge predator was given the scientific name Carcharodon megalodon; the exact relationship is argued over.

Great White Sharks live in coastal waters with a sea water temperature of between 12̊ C and 24̊ C (53̊ F and 75̊ F) and places where they are found include California, Southern Australia, South Africa, Mexico, Hawaii and several other places. They are listed as vulnerable, with numbers decreasing.

Unlike most sharks, the Great White Shark has a nearly symmetrical tail. (The Blue Pointer does as well.) Although there are several reports of Great White Sharks 11 meters (35 feet) long, this is bigger than they usually get. Accurately measured Great White Sharks have been 6m (20 Feet) long, so it is a big fish.

The Great White Shark is not a warm-blooded animal, but it has an adaptation that allows it to maintain a warmer body temperature than the water it is swimming in. 

The natural prey of the Great White Shark includes marine mammals such as sea lions and dolphins. They also eat fish, including some big and fast fish.

They are probably the most dangerous shark in the world to Humans, but not as dangerous as driving to the beach to swim. There are a lot more people killed in traffic accidents than by Great White Sharks. There are also a lot more Humans killed by dogs than by Great White Sharks, but we share the same environment as dogs much more than the environment of the Great White Shark. Our own Shih Tzu, Bubbles, does not often kill Humans.

Predators of the Great White Shark include larger members of their own species. Pods of Dolphins will sometimes kill Great White Sharks by ramming them. Killer Whales may not frequently kill Great White Sharks but this has been recorded in several different places including off the west coast of Australia.

Great White Sharks are live bearers. There is evidence of cannibalism among the babies before they are born.

Great White Sharks have been kept in very large aquariums as a tourist attraction and for study but it’s not a fish I recommend for home aquariums.

Steve Challis