Great white shark (lat. Carcharodon carcharias)

Big white shark known to many as the man-eating shark, or carcharodon. This animal belongs to the class cartilaginous fish and the herring shark family. Today, the population of this species slightly exceeds three thousand individuals, so the great white shark belongs to the category of predatory animals that are on the verge of extinction.

Description and characteristics of the white shark

The largest of all modern predatory sharks is eleven meters or a little more in length. The most common individuals are those with a body length of no more than six meters and a weight in the range of 650-3000 kg. The back and sides of the white shark have a characteristic gray coloration with slight brownish or black tones. The surface of the ventral part is dirty white.

This is interesting! It is known that relatively recently white sharks existed, whose body length could reach thirty meters. Eight adults could easily fit in the mouth of such an individual, living at the end of the Tertiary period.

Modern white sharks lead a predominantly solitary lifestyle. Adult individuals can be found not only in the waters of the open ocean, but also near coastline. As a rule, the shark tries to stay close to the surface and prefers warm or moderately warm ocean waters. The white shark destroys prey with the help of very large and wide, triangular teeth. All teeth have jagged edges. Very powerful jaws allow the aquatic predator to effortlessly bite through not only cartilaginous tissue, but also fairly large bones of its prey. Hungry white sharks are not particularly picky about their food choices.

Features of the morphology of the white shark:

the large cone-shaped head has a pair of eyes, a pair of nostrils and a fairly large mouth;
There are small grooves around the nostrils that increase the speed of water inflow and improve the predator’s sense of smell;
pressure power indicators of large jaws reach eighteen thousand newtons;
the teeth located in five rows change regularly, but their total number varies within three hundred;
behind the head of the predator there are five gill slits;
two large pectoral fins and an anterior dorsal fleshy type. They are supplemented by relatively small second dorsal, pelvic and anal fins;
the fin located in the tail is large;
The predator's circulatory system is well developed and is capable of quickly warming up muscle tissue, increasing the speed of movement and improving the mobility of a large body.

This is interesting! The great white shark does not have a swim bladder, so it has negative buoyancy, and to prevent sinking to the bottom, the fish must constantly make swimming movements.

A peculiarity of the species is the unusual structure of the eyes, which allows the predator to see prey even in the dark. A special organ of a shark is the lateral line, thanks to which the slightest disturbance in the water is detected even at a distance of a hundred meters or more.

Habitat and distribution in nature

The white shark's habitat includes many coastal waters World Ocean. This predator is found almost everywhere except the Northern Arctic Ocean and further along the southern coast of Australia and South Africa.

The largest number of individuals hunt in the coastal zone of California, as well as in close proximity to the island of Guadalupe in Mexico. Also, a small population of great white sharks lives near Italy and Croatia, and off the coastline of New Zealand. Here, small flocks are classified as protected species.

A significant number of white sharks have chosen the waters near Dyer Island, which has allowed scientists to successfully conduct numerous scientific studies. Also, fairly large populations of great white sharks have been found near the following areas:

Mauritius;
Madagascar;
Kenya;
Seychelles;
Australia;
New Zealand.

In general, the predator is relatively unpretentious in its habitat, so migration is focused on areas with the most a large number production and optimal conditions for reproduction. Epipelagic fish are able to choose coastal sea areas with a large number of seals, sea lions, whales and other species of small sharks or large bony fish. Only very large killer whales can resist this “mistress” of the ocean space.

Lifestyle and behavioral characteristics

The behavior and social structure of white sharks has not yet been sufficiently studied. It is known for certain that the population living in waters close to South Africa is characterized by hierarchical dominance in accordance with the sex, size and residence of individuals. The dominance of females over males, and the largest individuals over smaller sharks predominates. Conflict situations during the hunting process are resolved by rituals or demonstrative behavior. Fights between individuals of the same population are certainly possible, but they are quite rare. As a rule, sharks of this species in conflicts limit themselves to not too strong, warning bites.

A distinctive feature of the white shark is the ability to periodically raise its head above the water surface in the process of hunting and searching for prey. According to scientists, in this way the shark manages to capture odors well even at a considerable distance.

This is interesting! Into the water coastal zone predators are usually included in stable or long-formed groups, including from two to six individuals, which is similar to wolf pack. Each such group has a so-called alpha leader, and the remaining individuals within the “pack” have a clearly established status in accordance with the hierarchy.

Great white sharks are distinguished by fairly well-developed mental abilities and intelligence, which allows them to find food in almost any, even the most difficult, conditions.

Feeding of an aquatic predator

Young carcharadons use small bony fish, small marine animals and small mammals as their main diet. Sufficiently grown and fully formed great white sharks expand their diet to include larger prey, which can include seals, sea lions, as well as large fish. Adult carcharadons will not refuse such prey as smaller species of sharks, cephalopods and other most nutritious marine life.

For successful hunting, great white sharks use a unique body color. A. The light coloring makes the shark almost invisible among underwater rocky places, which allows it to track its prey very easily. Particularly interesting is the moment of the great white shark attack. Thanks to its high body temperature, the predator is able to develop quite decent speed, and good strategic abilities allow carcharadons to use win-win tactics when hunting aquatic inhabitants.

Important! Possessing a massive body, very powerful jaws and sharp teeth, the great white shark has almost no competitors among aquatic predators and is capable of hunting almost any prey.

The main food preferences of the great white shark are seals and other marine animals, including dolphins and small species of whales. Eating a significant amount of fatty foods allows this predator to maintain optimal energy balance. Heating muscle mass the circulatory system requires a diet consisting of high-calorie foods.

Of particular interest is Carcharodon's hunt for seals. Sliding horizontally in the water column, the white shark pretends not to notice the animal swimming on the surface, but as soon as the seal loses its vigilance, the shark attacks the prey, jumping out of the water sharply and almost with lightning speed. When hunting, a great white shark ambushes and attacks from behind, which does not allow the dolphin to use its unique ability– echo location.

Fear and curiosity - these are the feelings the creators of the blockbuster “Jaws” hoped to evoke in viewers, but the effect exceeded all expectations. And we're not talking about Oscars and record box office receipts. The great white shark, presented in the film as a monster greedy for human flesh, began to be caught and exterminated without hesitation.

However, ichthyologists will say that in most cases, attacks by white sharks on humans are the result of incorrect identification of a swimming object. When viewed from the depths, a diver or surfer can easily pass for a pinniped or a turtle, and in general, great white sharks, due to their curiosity, try everything by the skin of their teeth.

Today, about 3.5 thousand individuals of this ancient predator live in the world’s oceans, which is undoubtedly dangerous and therefore not well studied. But like any animal with a sinister reputation, the great white shark will always be of interest, especially to thrill-seekers.

Origin of the white shark

It was previously believed that white sharks descended from megalodon - giant fish, up to 30 m long and weighing almost 50 tons, extinct 3 million years ago. But modern research The remains of the superpredator made it possible to establish that megalodons belong to the family Otodontidae, and white sharks belong to the family of herring sharks, so the number of supporters of this version has greatly decreased.

Today, scientists consider Isurus hastalis, one of the extinct species of mako shark, to be the recognized ancestor of the white shark. Both predators have almost the same tooth structure, only in the white shark, during evolution, serrations have formed along the edges of the teeth.

Taxonomy of the white shark

The white shark belongs to the class of cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), which means that its skeleton has no bones, but consists entirely of cartilage tissue. In addition to sharks, stingrays and chimeras have this feature.

The white shark is part of the order Lamniformes, which unites large species of sharks with a torpedo-shaped body.

The dense build, pointed snout and 5 gill slits made it possible to classify the white shark as a member of the family of herring or lamn sharks (Lamnidae). Its closest relatives are the mako shark, salmon shark and lamna.

The genus of white sharks (Carcharodon) includes 2 extinct and one modern look- great white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias), also called carcharodon or, due to its sad fame, man-eating shark.

Appearance of a great white shark

This is a stocky fish with a dense body, elongated in the shape of a torpedo. The head of the predator is very large, conical, with a pointed muzzle and mouth, curved into a parabola. On the sides of the head, closer to the pectoral fin, there are 5 huge gill slits that provide water respiration.

The pectoral fins are large, elongated in the shape of a sickle. The first dorsal fin is high, triangular in shape, growing slightly further than the base of the pectoral fins. Sometimes its top is rounded. The second dorsal fin is very small, as is the anal fin. On the pelvic fin of males there is an elongated element - a copulatory outgrowth.

The tail fin blades of the white shark are of the same width, which is typical of other herring sharks, which are capable of developing decent speed before attacking.

The name “white” shark does not quite accurately convey the coloration of the predator. Her upper part and the sides are often gray, sometimes brownish or with a blue tint. There are dark, almost black specimens. But the belly of a white shark is dirty white.

Newborn sharks and adult individuals are completely identical in appearance, but differ only in size.

How much does a white shark weigh?

Maximum possible sizes and the weight of Carcharodon still cause heated debate in scientific circles. In the authoritative encyclopedia of past years, “Animal Life,” 1971, the greatest height of a measured white shark is called 11 m, without indicating weight. However, the opinion of modern scientists on this matter is less optimistic. Ichthyologists believe that, given an ideal habitat, a white shark can grow to a maximum of 6.8 m in length.

A number of scientific sources claim that the largest white shark was caught off the coast of Cuba in 1945. Its length was 6.4 m and its estimated weight was 3,324 kg. The measurements were based on a photo of a white shark, so some experts believe that the real size of the fish is overestimated by at least 1 meter.

In 1988, a white shark was caught off the Canadian coast, which was measured and weighed. It was a female, 6.1 m long with a body weight of about 1,900 kg. This specimen is considered so far the only one whose dimensions and weight have been reliably confirmed.

Interesting fact: if you compare the weight of a great white shark with large representatives of other families, then its mass with the same length will be almost 2 times greater!

On average, adult individuals weigh from 680 to 1,100 kg. Females are heavier and larger than males, their length is 4.6-4.9 m, males grow from 3.4 to 4 m.

Nevertheless, what excites minds is not so much the impressive dimensions of the great white shark, but its deadly mouth. After all, in sea depths There are larger predators, for example, representatives of the family of giant sharks, and the teeth of the white shark are unique in their own way.

How many teeth does a white shark have?

This predator has the largest teeth of all fish existing today, their length is about 5 cm. Triangular-shaped teeth with rough jagged edges are arranged in several rows and are constantly renewed. The number of rows depends on the age of the fish, there are from 3 to 7. The upper jaws bear larger teeth, on the lower jaw the teeth are smaller but sharper.

Each row can contain from 30 to 40 teeth, i.e. total number There are more than 300 teeth in the mouth of a great white shark.

The teeth of the first, working row quickly wear out and, to replace the lost ones, fully formed new teeth rise from the gums and move forward. This “conveyor” is ensured by mobility in the gums and short tooth roots.

Today, thrill-seekers don't have to watch thrillers about sharks. Is extremely popular extreme view ecotourism - cage diving, when a person, protected only by metal bars, sees at arm's length the deadly jaws of the famous predator. Entertainment costs everyone 50-150 euros. Dangerous attractions await their customers in places with the largest concentrations of representatives of the species.

Where are white sharks found?

Despite the obvious trend towards reduction in the species, white sharks continue to inhabit all oceans except the Arctic. The most numerous populations are found off the coast of South Africa, the American state of California, the Mexican state of Baja California, Australia and New Zealand. This is where the best photos of the white shark come from, chillingly realistic with their realism.

Most Carcharodon prefer coastal waters temperate zone from 12 to 24°C and remain almost below the surface of the water. However, large specimens feel great in tropical waters, cold seas, in open ocean, and also at considerable depth. According to documented data, a great white shark was once caught at a depth of 1,280 m using industrial bottom tools.

Before the invention of radio beacons, it was believed that long journeys were characteristic only of male white sharks, while females stuck to their native shores all their lives. However, the ability to track the movements of fish using modern equipment has proven the fact of long migrations by individuals of both sexes.

For what purpose great white sharks travel enormous distances remains a mystery. For example, it took one individual 9 months to travel 20 thousand km from the coast of South Africa to Australia and back. Perhaps long migrations are associated with reproduction or seasonal fluctuations in the food supply in different parts of the range.

What do white sharks eat?

Their diet is extremely varied, but despite their reputation for eating everything, white sharks feed primarily on fish, crabs, small marine animals, cephalopods and bivalves. Among the fish found in the stomachs of caught specimens are herring, sardines, stingrays and tuna. Dolphins, porpoises, sea beavers, sea lions and seals are often the prey of predators.

The undigested remains in the stomachs of white sharks once again confirm how aggressive these predators are towards other marine life. Their victims include beaked whales, sharp-snouted crocodiles, northern elephant seals, sunfish and various types sharks: dusky dog shark, Australian nurse shark, great blue shark, sea foxes and katrans. However, such a menu is not typical for most white sharks and is rather the exception.

White sharks will not refuse carrion and happily eat the carcasses of dead cetaceans. Various inedible objects are often found in the stomachs of predators, for example, pieces of plastic, wood and whole glass bottles.

Sometimes great white sharks practice uncharacteristic cannibalism. For example, in the waters of Australia, before the eyes of observers, a 6-meter white shark bit its 3-meter relative in half.

If the hunt is successful, predators eat for future use. Thanks to its slow metabolism, a white shark weighing about a ton only needs 30 kg of whale blubber for 1.5 months. However, these are purely theoretical calculations, and in practice, predators eat much more, while demonstrating hunting skills honed over millions of years of evolution.

White shark hunting methods

Carcharodons live and hunt alone, but sometimes exhibit social behavior. For example, in the coastal waters of Cape Town, a group of 2-6 individuals is regularly spotted, which behave quite peacefully in the flock.

Observations carried out in South African waters have proven that within such groups there is various kinds hierarchy. Females dominate over males, large individuals over smaller ones. When meeting, representatives of different groups and individuals quickly determine social status each other and the alpha leader. Conflicts are usually resolved with warning bites and in most cases end there. However, white sharks always separate before hunting.

Unlike their relatives, white sharks often stick their heads out of the water, catching odors wafting through the air. This usually happens when patrolling archipelagos, where pinnipeds set up rookeries.

When the animals are in the water, the white shark begins the hunt. It swims towards the victim just under the surface of the water and makes a sharp throw, sometimes jumping half or completely out of the water. Seals or fur seals are grabbed from below across the body, large individuals are dragged to the depths and drowned, then torn into pieces and eaten. Small ones are swallowed whole.

In fog and at dawn, the chances of a white shark attacking the first time are 50/50. At unsuccessful attempt the predator pursues its prey, reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h.

Northern elephant seals, which are found in abundance off the coast of California, are bitten from behind by white sharks, immobilizing them. Then they wait patiently for the victim to bleed out and stop resisting.

Dolphins are never approached from the front, excluding the possibility of detecting danger using echolocation.

If you don't try, you won't know. According to this principle, great white sharks determine the edibility of any object, be it a buoy or a person. According to statistics, between 1990 and 2011 there were 139 white shark attacks on humans, of which only 29 were fatal.

Even after an attack, carcharodons do not intentionally pursue people; the victims are single swimmers who die from painful shock. When there is a partner, the wounded man can be saved by driving away the predator and leaving the danger zone together.

Only newly born sharks hunt on their own and do not pose a danger to humans or large animals.

Reproduction of white sharks

Reproductive maturity of white sharks occurs late, when the fish reach their maximum dimensions. Females mature at the age of 33 years, males are ready to breed at 26 years.

These predators do not survive in captivity, so research on them mating behavior and reproduction contain extremely scanty information.

Great white sharks are ovoviviparous fish. This means that fertilized eggs remain in the mother's oviducts. They hatch into embryos that feed on the eggs produced by the ovaries. A pregnant female carries on average 5-10 embryos, but theoretically a litter can contain from 2 to 14 cubs. During the early and intermediate stages, the hatchlings' abdomen is very distended and filled with yolk, and when egg production ceases, the fetus digests the nutrient reserves.

The exact timing of gestation in white sharks is unknown, but scientists believe that pregnancy lasts more than 12 months. Baby sharks are born fully developed, 1.2 to 1.5 m long, and ready to live independently.

How long does a white shark live?

The average lifespan of a great white shark is estimated at 70 years. Studies based on the study of vertebral growth have made it possible to determine the age of the oldest white shark. It turned out to be a 73-year-old male. However, not everyone manages to live to an old age.

Previously, scientists believed that the predator at the head of the food chain had no natural enemies. But at the end of the last century, reports appeared of attacks on white sharks by killer whales, even larger and more bloodthirsty predators.

Another enemy of the white shark is the saltwater crocodile, which can turn over big fish and easily rip out her throat or belly.

Water pollution, accidental capture and poaching also reduce the already low numbers of the species. The price of a tooth on the black market is $600-800, and the cost of great white shark jaws reaches $20-50 thousand.

Today, predators are protected by law in many countries, for example, Australia, South Africa, American states Florida and California. By the way, Peter Benchley, the author of the famous novel Jaws, clearly did not expect negative consequences sensational film adaptation. Therefore, the writer devoted the last 10 years of his life to studying the ocean ecosystem and actively advocated for great white sharks.

This oceanic predator is one of the largest and most aggressive fish. The color of the back and sides of a great white shark can be black, brown or gray, but the belly is always white, which is the reason for its name.

The average length of these marine inhabitants is about 5-6 meters, while the weight can reach from 600 to 3200 kilograms.

But there are also real giants: for example, once it was possible to record a white shark whose length was 11 meters, and according to scientists, this is far from the limit. Those individuals whose length is less than four meters are considered adolescents and have not yet reached sexual maturity.

Scientists have established fun fact: Great white sharks existed back in the Tertiary period, and their length at that time reached thirty meters. The mouth of this monster was so huge that if this species had survived to the present day, eight people could easily fit in it. But such a neighborhood could hardly promise anything good for a person.

The big shark is a real fossil animal.

The great white shark is a loner by nature. It lives in almost all corners of the world's oceans, both in open waters and in coastal ones. Typically, the white shark prefers the upper layers of water, but if necessary, it can go down to the depths without feeling any discomfort. There was a case when this predator was caught at a kilometer depth. These marine inhabitants prefer warm waters, but also swim in temperate latitudes. The female, after giving birth to cubs, leaves no more than two alive; she simply eats the rest.

The white shark has huge teeth, triangular in shape and reaching five centimeters. Moreover, their edges have jagged edges. The jaws of this fish are so powerful that it can easily bite through the bones and cartilage of its prey, so there is practically no chance of salvation for anyone who gets into the teeth of this predator. It is noteworthy that the teeth of a great white shark are arranged in several rows, so if the teeth of the front row are damaged, teeth from the back rows move out in their place.

It takes only a few seconds for a great white shark to swallow a prey that crosses its path. She cannot be called any special gourmet; she eats almost everything, including even representatives of her own species. Almost intact bodies of victims, the length of which reached two meters, were found in the stomachs of caught white sharks. If the potential prey is larger than this size, the shark tears it into pieces and then eats it. This fish does not refuse smaller food. Their prey could be sea bass, mackerel, tuna, seals, sea otters, . She does not disdain garbage and even carrion.

This type of shark is the most dangerous to humans. They very often

It is the largest marine mammal in the world. Many species of sharks also live in the oceans. Among these species are the "Whale Shark" - biggest shark in the world.

For many years, sharks have fascinated people with their deadly power and menacing appearance. Humanity creates myths around these mammals, and then they write books or make films based on them.

From the very big shark modern world We have already introduced you briefly. But when compiling such ratings, many authors mistakenly add “Megalodon” - a huge shark that appeared on our planet about 23 million years ago and lived in the oceans until the late Pliocene (2.6 million years ago).

By the way, according to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest predatory shark ever living is Carcharodon Megalodon, which was about 16 meters long and possibly 2 meters wide.

Now let's move directly to the list of the most big sharks in the world that can be found in the waters of the world's oceans.

The largest sharks in the world

Great whale shark

The whale shark is the largest and heaviest existing shark, because its weight is more than 21 tons and its length is more than 12 meters. These mammals live in the open ocean and warm waters. These predators mainly feed on plankton, but sometimes they can be found while hunting for larger fish. Whale sharks are not in danger of extinction because their population is large enough.

The heaviest whale shark(which was discovered) weighed about 21,000 kg. But the longest one is 12.19 meters.

Giant shark

This shark is in second place in our ranking. They live in temperate and warm oceans of the world. These giants are quite friendly and never watch divers. Giant sharks feed on plankton and small fish. This species of mammal is the heaviest in British waters.

Average weight This shark of this species weighs 14,515 kg, and its length varies from 9 to 11.6 meters.

Great white shark

The great white shark is the largest predatory fish in the world, and they feed on other marine life. If you have seen the movie “Jaws”, then you are undoubtedly aware of the fact that these predators do not hesitate to eat “humans”. But in reality, this fish rarely attacks humans.

Very often, great white sharks can be found in coastal areas of all oceans. Their average weight is about 3300 kg. Yes, by the way, the white shark is also the fastest shark in the world.

Greenland shark

This huge shark lives in the cold waters of the oceans, and the largest population was found in the North Atlantic Ocean, near Greenland and Iceland. This deep-sea fish is not often seen, even while diving. Greenland shark meat is poisonous, so they are not used as food.

Its average weight is about 1020 kg. And she is in 4th place on the list of the largest sharks in the world.

Tiger shark

This is another type of dangerous and predatory shark that eats all types of marine animals. It is considered the most dangerous to humans because they often attack people. This shark was nicknamed “tiger” because of the stripes on its body, thanks to which its appearance resembles the color of tigers. It is found in all oceans and especially where there are warm waters. The average weight of tiger sharks is about 939 kilograms.

Hammerhead shark

Hammerhead sharks live off the coasts of all oceans and some big seas. Even though this dangerous predator, they very rarely attack people. Scientists say hammerhead sharks are on the verge of extinction.

This species of shark is famous for its beautiful fins and hammer-like head shape. Also, because of their appearance, many call hammerhead sharks the strangest sea creatures.

The average weight of these predators is about 844 kg.

Sixgill shark

The sixgill shark is also included in the list of the largest sharks in the world. These predators feed on various types of marine life. Sixgill sharks are found in almost all oceans, especially in Pacific Ocean. These predators reach a length of about 5.5 m, and their average weight is about 590 kg.

Gray sand shark

The gray sand shark is one of the few non-aggressive shark species. They live in different parts of our planet, which is why they have many names. But most often it is called the “common sand shark.” This species feeds on most marine life, as well as some other smaller sharks.

The gray sand shark poses its beautiful appearance, especially many people like to watch these predators swim in the waters of the oceans.

The average weight of sharks of this species is about 556 kg.

Mako shark

Moko sharks are number nine on our list of the largest sharks in the world. This is a very rare shark species and is endangered. Some researchers claim that moko is one of the most intelligent marine animals.

The average weight of mocha sharks is 544 kg.

fox shark

This is the last shark species in our ranking. Fox sharks are mainly found in temperate and warm oceans, especially in the Pacific. He doesn't attack people. This is a very important species of shark because humanity uses their liver to produce medical supplies. The average weight of these predators is about 500 kg.

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Family: Herring sharks(Lamnidae)

Genus: White sharks(Carcharodon)

(Carcharodon carcharias)

Great white shark (lat. Carcharodon carcharias) - also known as the white shark, white death, man-eating shark, carcharodon is an exceptionally large predatory fish found in the surface coastal waters of all oceans of the Earth, except the Arctic Ocean.
This predator owes its name to the white color of the abdominal part of the body, separated by a broken border on the sides from the dark back.
Reaching a length of over 7 meters and a mass of over 3,000 kg, the great white shark is the largest modern predatory fish (not counting the plankton-eating whale and basking sharks).

In addition to its very large size, the great white shark has also acquired the notorious reputation of a merciless cannibal due to numerous attacks on swimmers, divers and surfers. A person has much less chance of surviving an attack by a man-eating shark than under the wheels of a truck. A powerful moving body, a huge mouth armed with sharp teeth and a passion for satisfying the hunger of this predator will leave the victim no hope of salvation if the shark is determined to profit from human flesh.

The great white shark is the only surviving species of its genus Carcharodon.
It is on the verge of extinction - there are only about 3,500 specimens left on Earth.

The first scientific name, Squalus carcharias, was given to the great white shark by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
Zoologist E. Smith in 1833 assigned the generic name Carcharodon (Greek karcharos sharp + Greek odous - tooth). The final modern scientific name of the species came into being in 1873, when the Linnaean species name was combined with the genus name under one term, Carcharodon carcharias.

The great white belongs to the herring shark family (Lamnidae), which includes four other species of marine predators: the mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), the longfin mako shark (Longfin mako), the Pacific salmon shark (Lamna ditropis) and the Atlantic herring shark (Lamna nasus).

The similarity in the structure and shape of the teeth, as well as the large size of the great white shark and the prehistoric megalodon, is the reason that most scientists considered them to be closely related species. This assumption is reflected in the scientific name of the latter - Carcharodon megalodon.
Currently, some scientists have expressed doubts about the close relationship of Carcharadon and Megalodon, considering them to be distant relatives belonging to the family of herring sharks, but not so closely related. Recent research suggests that the white shark is closer to the mako shark than to the megalodon. According to the theory put forward, the true ancestor of the great white shark is Isurus hastalis, while megalodons are directly related to sharks of the species Carcharocle. According to the same theory, Otodus obliquus is considered a representative of the ancient extinct branch of Carcharocles megalodon olnius.

Distribution and habitats

The great white shark lives throughout the world in coastal waters of the continental shelf, the temperature of which ranges from 12 to 24 degrees Celsius. In colder waters, great white sharks are almost never found. They also do not live in desalinated and slightly salted seas. For example, they were not found in our Black Sea, which is too fresh for them. In addition, there is not enough food in the Black Sea for such a large predator as the great white shark.

Great white shark range

The habitat of the great white shark covers many coastal waters of the warm and temperate seas of the World Ocean. The above map shows that it can be found anywhere in the middle ocean belt of the planet, except, of course, the Arctic Ocean.
In the south they are not found further than the southern coast of Australia and the coast of South Africa. Great white sharks are most likely to be found off the coast of California, near the Mexican island of Guadalupe. Individual populations live in the central part of the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas (Italy, Croatia), off the coast of New Zealand, where they are protected species.
Great white sharks often swim in small schools.

One of the most significant populations has chosen Dyer Island (South Africa), which is the site of numerous scientific research this type of shark. Great white sharks are relatively common in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Mauritius, Madagascar, Kenya and around Seychelles. Large populations persist off the coasts of California, Australia and New Zealand.

Carcharodons are epipelagic fish, their appearance is usually observed and recorded in coastal seas, abundant in prey such as seals, sea lions, whales, where other sharks and large bony fish live.
The great white shark is nicknamed the mistress of the ocean, since no one can compare with it in the power of attacks among other fish and sea inhabitants. Only the large killer whale terrifies Carcharodon.
Great white sharks are capable of long-distance migrations and can descend to considerable depths: these sharks have been recorded at depths of almost 1300 m.

Recent research has shown that great white sharks migrate between Baja California, Mexico, and a spot near Hawaii known as the White Shark Cafe, where they spend at least 100 days a year before migrating back to Baja California. Along the way, they swim slowly and dive to a depth of approximately 900 m. After arriving at the coast, they change behavior. Dives are reduced to 300 m and last up to 10 minutes.

White shark tagged offshore South Africa, showed the migration routes to the southern coast of Australia and back, which it made every year. Researchers have found that a great white shark completes this route in less than 9 months. The entire length of the migration route is about 20 thousand km in both directions.
These studies refuted traditional theories, according to which the white shark was considered an exclusively coastal predator.
Interactions have been established between different populations of white sharks, which were previously considered separate from each other.
The purposes and reasons why the white shark migrates are still unknown. There are suggestions that migrations are caused by the seasonal nature of hunting or mating games.

Appearance and anatomy of Carcharodon

The body of the great white shark is spindle-shaped, streamlined, like most sharks - active predators. A large, conical head with medium-sized eyes located on it and a pair of nostrils, to which small grooves lead, increasing the flow of water to the shark’s olfactory receptors.
The mouth is very wide, armed with sharp, triangular-shaped teeth with serrations on the sides. With such teeth, like an ax, the shark easily cuts off pieces of flesh from its prey. The number of teeth in a great white shark, like in a tiger shark, is 280-300. They are located in several rows (usually 5). A complete change of the first row of teeth in young individuals of great white sharks occurs on average once every three months, in adults - once every eight months, i.e. The younger the sharks, the more often they change their teeth.
Behind the head there are gill slits - five on each side.

The body coloration of great white sharks is typical of fish that swim in the water column. The ventral side is lighter, usually off-white, the dorsal side is darker - gray, with shades of blue, brown or green. This color makes the predator unnoticeable in the water column and allows it to hunt for prey more efficiently.

Large and fleshy anterior dorsal fin and two pectoral fins. The ventral, second dorsal and anal fins are smaller. The plumage ends with a large caudal fin, both blades of which, like all salmon sharks, are approximately the same size.

Among the features of the anatomical structure, it should be noted that great white sharks have a highly developed circulatory system, which allows them to warm up their muscles, thereby achieving high mobility of the shark in the water.
Like all sharks, great whites lack a swim bladder, meaning they must constantly move to avoid drowning. However, it should be noted that sharks do not feel any particular inconvenience from this. For millions of years they managed without a bubble and did not suffer from it at all.

Great White Shark Sizes

The usual size of an adult great white shark is 4-5.2 meters and weighs 700-1000 kg.
Females are usually larger than males. The maximum size of a white shark is about 8 m and weighs more than 3500 kg.
It should be noted that the maximum size of a white shark is a hotly debated topic. Some zoologists and shark specialists believe that the great white shark can reach significant sizes - more than 10 or even 12 meters in length.

Over the course of several decades, many scientific works According to ichthyology, as well as the Book of Records, two individuals were called the largest great white sharks ever caught: a great white shark, 10.9 m long, caught in southern Australian waters near Port Fairy in the 1870s, and a great white shark 11.3 m long, caught in a herring trap at a dam in New Brunswick (Canada) in 1930. Reports of the capture of specimens 6.5-7 meters long were common, but the above sizes remained a record for a long time.

Some researchers have questioned the reliability of the size measurements of these sharks in both cases. The reason for this doubt is big difference between the sizes of record specimens and all other sizes of large great white sharks obtained by precise measurements. The New Brunswick shark may have been a basking shark rather than a great white, as both sharks have a similar body shape. Since the fact of catching this shark and its measurement was recorded not by ichthyologists, but by fishermen, such an error could well have occurred. The question of the size of the Port Fairy shark was clarified in the 1970s when shark expert D. I. Reynolds studied the jaws of this great white shark.
Based on the size of the teeth and jaws, he determined that the Porta Fairy shark was no more than 6 meters in length. Apparently, an error in measuring the size of this shark was made in order to obtain a sensation.

Scientists determined the size of the largest specimen, the length of which was reliably measured, to be 6.4 meters. This great white shark was caught in Cuban waters in 1945, measured by experts and documented. However, in this case, there were experts who claim that the shark was actually several feet shorter. The unconfirmed weight of this Cuban shark was 3270 kg.

Diet of great white sharks

Young carcharadons feed on small bony fish, small marine animals and mammals. Grown-up great white sharks include larger prey in their diet - seals, sea lions, large fish, including smaller sharks, cephalopods and other more nutritious marine life. Whale carcasses are not ignored.
Their light coloration makes them less noticeable against the background of underwater rocks when they are stalking prey.
The high body temperature inherent in all herring sharks allows them to develop more high speed when attacking, and also stimulates brain activity, as a result of which great white sharks sometimes use cunning tactical moves during the hunt.
If we add to this a massive body, powerful jaws with strong and sharp teeth, then we can understand that great white sharks can handle any prey.

Great white sharks' food preferences include seals and other marine animals, including dolphins and small whales. These predators need fatty animal foods to maintain energy balance in the body. The system for heating muscle tissue with blood in great white sharks requires high-calorie food. And warm muscles provide high mobility to the shark’s body.

The tactics of hunting seals by the great white shark are curious. At first, it slides horizontally through the water, as if not noticing the tasty prey floating on the surface, then, approaching the victim closer, it abruptly changes the direction of movement upward and attacks it. Sometimes great white sharks even jump several meters out of the water at the moment of attack.
Often, carcharodon does not kill the seal immediately, but by hitting it from below with its head or slightly biting it, it throws it up above the water. Then it returns to the wounded victim and eats it.

If we take into account the passion of great white sharks for fatty food in the form of small marine mammals, then the reason for most shark attacks on people in the water becomes clear. Swimmers and, especially, surfers, when viewed from the depths, surprisingly resemble in their movements the prey familiar to great white sharks. This can explain the well-known fact that, often, a great white shark bites a swimmer and, realizing the mistake, leaves him, swimming away in disappointment. Human bones cannot be compared with seal fat.

You can watch a film about the great white shark and its hunting habits.

Reproduction of Carcharodon

There are still many questions and mysteries about the reproduction of great white sharks. No one got to watch them mate and the female give birth to her young. Great white sharks are ovoviviparous fish, like most sharks.
The female's pregnancy lasts about 11 months, after which one or two cubs are born. Great white sharks are characterized by so-called intrauterine cannibalism, when more developed and stronger sharks eat their weaker brothers and sisters while still in the womb.
Newborns are equipped with teeth and everything necessary to begin an active life as predators.
Young sharks grow quite slowly and reach sexual maturity at approximately 12-15 years of age. It was the low fertility of great white sharks and long puberty that served as the reason for the gradual decrease in the population of these predators in the World Ocean.

White sharks in the Mediterranean Sea

The white shark, or Carcharodon carcharias, is the most large predator from modern sharks. The only surviving species from the Carcharodon genus is the “white death”, which alone deserves respect. This sharp-toothed monster leaves no chance of salvation for anyone. Carcharodon prefers the coastal waters of the continental plume, where the temperature is higher. However, for some populations one of the habitat regions is the Mediterranean Sea. Although, it would seem, this particular sea is considered one of the safest in terms of attacks on people by man-eating sharks. Should we be afraid of white sharks in the Mediterranean and how do predators behave in these warm waters?
Let's figure it out.

The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar. So, according to the latest information, the number of “indigenous” populations of white sharks has decreased threefold here. Unregulated smuggling of carcharodon, as a source of delicious products - fins, fat, liver, as well as an expensive souvenir - jaws, has led to the fact that white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea are on the verge of extinction. This can lead to catastrophic changes in the entire aquatic system, since it is this type plays the role of police officers in an underwater state.
But nature took care of its toothy crumbs. Right now, cases of migration of man-eating sharks from the Atlantic have become more frequent - albeit slowly, but they are restoring their numbers.

Should you be afraid of encountering great white sharks in the Mediterranean? It turns out that humans are not the most desirable prey for Carcharodon. Our body is too sinewy and too bony to attract the appetite of a great white shark, so instead of homo sapiens, white sharks prefer fatty tuna. Throughout history, only a few cases of attacks by bloodthirsty killers directly in the Mediterranean Sea have been recorded, and even those were provoked by people.

The most common victims of white sharks are sport fishermen and divers who dare to swim too close to the predator. It is interesting that it was in the Mediterranean that the “shark phenomenon” was registered - if Carcharodon attacked a person, it did not tear it apart, as happens in other oceans, but, having tried to bite and realizing that it was not very appetizing food, let go and swam away.
Perhaps this behavior of great white sharks is related to ecology, or perhaps the reason is the food richness of local waters - there are a lot of fish in the Mediterranean Sea, including 45 species of sharks, almost all of them are potential prey for Carcharodon. Therefore, having felt the unusual taste of human flesh, Carcharodon often refuses to eat it.
However, there is an opinion among experts that a great white shark can take the path of cannibalism, having tasted human flesh during periods of famine. However, the same can be said about other active predators from the shark community.

Interestingly, the last 3 years have been characterized by an increase in encounters between Carcharodon and humans in the coastal Mediterranean waters. Usually these fastidious sharks do not swim close to the coasts, preferring more clear waters, however, beaches are now increasingly being closed due to the appearance of white sharks. Thus, vacationers on the beaches of the Cote d'Azur and Levantine coasts, resorts in Spain, Turkey and Montenegro were evacuated. This does not mean that the beaches were attacked by white-bellied predators, no, the sharks simply swam closer to the shores than 100 meters. In some cases, great white sharks have simply been confused with dolphins.

Fears of the great white shark in the Mediterranean are stimulated by the mass of films about killer sharks, as well as isolated cases of attacks, which immediately become the subject of sensational hype in the media, often describing the events in unrealistic colors.
Thus, the whole world went around the shocking news about the death of the cult Italian director from the teeth of a carcharodon, which occurred off the coast of Cyprus. However, no one said that the man decided to try his hand at the now popular sport fishing. Trying to catch a great white shark with a fishing rod, he simply fell into the sea, where he was bitten in half by huge jaws. Not one more death There are no carcharodon attacks in this area.

The Mediterranean is not a fishing zone. There are not many fishermen here. However, this does not save the white shark from being hunted by people. Since the resort business is developed, all sacrifices are for the benefit of vacationers.
White-bellied beauties are killed for their fins, ribs, and teeth. Fins are a world famous delicacy; Often a fish is caught, the fins are cut off and the unfortunate predator is released to die. Usually such mutilated sharks die in the jaws of their fellow tribesmen, who take advantage of their helplessness.
Coastal restaurants use driftwood to make soups, one serving of which costs $100. The ribs are used to make souvenir combs, keychains, etc.
A separate income item is teeth and jaws. On the Italian coast, collectors pay up to $1,000 for a Carcharodon jaw.

White shark - mistress sea waters. The Mediterranean, as it turns out, is not the most popular habitat for Carhadon populations. However, these waters are also mastered by white-bellied beauties. Calm, low-aggressive white sharks Mediterranean Sea different from their brothers. By maintaining ecological balance, these ancient predators decorate the entire aqua system, and also for many years will patrol the waters of the Mediterranean.

And only man, with his greed and thoughtless cruelty, can stop the existence of this fish necessary for Mother Nature - the great white shark.
There are many facts confirming such fruits of human activity in relation to many species of living beings in history, all of them are reflected on the black sheets of the International Red Book.