The Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), also known as the white shark, is a large mackerel shark found in coastal waters of all major oceans. It is the only surviving species of its genus and can grow up to 5.83 m (19.1 ft) in length and weigh around 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Most females average 4.6 to 4.9 m (15 to 16 ft) and males measure 3.4 to 4.0 m (11 to 13 ft).
Great white sharks can live for over 70 years, with males reaching sexual maturity at 26 years and females at 33 years. They can swim at speeds of 25 km/h (16 mph) and dive to depths of 1,200 m (3,900 ft). As apex predators, they primarily feed on marine mammals like seals and dolphins, and have only one known predator: the orca.
Listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, great whites are protected in several countries, including Australia. Due to their migratory nature and dietary needs, they cannot be kept in captivity in aquariums.
In popular culture, great white sharks are often depicted as man-eaters, largely because of the novel and film “Jaws.” While they are responsible for the most fatal unprovoked shark attacks on humans, such incidents are rare, occurring fewer than 10 times globally each year.
Great white sharks inhabit coastal and offshore waters with temperatures between 12 and 24 °C (54 and 75 °F), with notable populations in the U.S. (Northeast and California), South Africa, Japan, Oceania, Chile, and the Mediterranean. Juveniles prefer a narrower temperature range of 14 to 24 °C (57 to 75 °F) in shallow nurseries. Climate change appears to be shifting their range toward the poles, as seen with increased sightings in areas like Monterey Bay.
These sharks are primarily epipelagic, often found in areas with rich prey such as seals and large fish, and can dive to depths of 1,200 m (3,900 ft). Recent studies show California great whites migrate to the White Shark Café between Baja California and Hawaii, spending time before returning and challenging the idea that they are solely coastal predators.
In the Northwest Atlantic, great white shark populations have rebounded off New England, largely due to increasing seal numbers since the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Though not much is known about their hunting patterns, ongoing studies aim to better understand them, especially along Cape Cod. A 2018 study showed they prefer warm-water anticyclonic eddies in the North Atlantic, spending daytime at around 450 m (1,480 ft) deep.
The great white shark exhibits complex behavior and social structures. In South Africa, they establish a dominance hierarchy based primarily on size, with larger sharks dominating smaller ones, females dominating males, and residents establishing superiority over newcomers. They typically use rituals and displays to resolve conflicts without resorting to combat, although warning bites may occur when they approach too closely.
Research has shown that great whites may form associations to share information about prey locations, aiding our understanding of their social interactions through biologging. They’re known for “spy-hopping,” where they lift their heads above the water, possibly to enhance their sense of smell. At Seal Island, they are observed in stable “clans” of two to six individuals, displaying pack-like social structures with established ranks.
Additionally, studies in 2022 suggest great whites can change skin color due to hormonal influences, similar to known color-changing behaviors in other shark species. However, this hypothesis requires further validation due to limited test subjects.
Great white sharks are generalist carnivores that prey on various marine species, including fish (like tuna and rays), cetaceans (such as dolphins and whales), pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), squid, sea turtles, and seabirds. Juvenile great whites primarily eat smaller fish until they grow to about 3 meters (9.8 feet), at which point they can tackle larger prey like pinnipeds and cetaceans.
These sharks reach sexual maturity later than previously thought, with males maturing at around 26 years and females at 33 years. They can live upwards of 70 years, but their slow growth and low reproductive rates make them vulnerable to overfishing and environmental changes. Mating habits remain largely unknown, but it is theorized they mate in shallow waters away from feeding areas. Great whites are ovoviviparous, with an 11-month gestation period. The largest recorded litter is 14 pups.
