Great white shark
📖 Overview
Primarily a coastal and offshore inhabitant of continental and insular shelves, but may also occur off oceanic islands far from land . Often close inshore to the surf line and even penetrates shallow bays . Maximum depth of 700 fathoms (or 1280 m) reported by Bigelow & Schroeder, 1948 is erroneous (Francis et al., 2012 in Ref. 106604). Pelagic, capable of migration across oceanic regions . Usually solitary or in pairs but can be found in feeding aggregations of 10 or more; does not form schools . Feeds on bony fishes, sharks, rays, seals, dolphins and porpoises, sea birds, carrion, squid, octopi and crabs and whales . Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother . Number of young born per litter, 7 to 14 . Reported by some experts to attack humans which they mistake for their normal prey . Most attacks occur in estuaries. Caught by big-game anglers and line boats for its jaws . Reported to cause poisoning . Flesh is utilized fresh, dried-salted, and smoked for human consumption, the skin for leather, liver for oil, carcass for fishmeal, fins for shark-fin soup, and teeth and jaws for decorations . Maximum total length is leading to much speculation and some measurements are found to be doubtful. Possibly to 6.4 m or more in length , considered the world's largest predator with a broad prey spectrum. The record of 10.98 m is incorrect . Maximum total length for male from Ref. 91029. Sometimes considered the most dangerous shark in the world . Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 86942.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A huge, spindle-shaped shark with conspicuous black eyes, a blunt, conical snout and large, triangular, saw-edged teeth . First dorsal-fin origin usually over the pectoral-fin inner margins . Caudal fin crescentic . Lead-grey to brown or black above, lighter on sides, and abruptly white below . Black spot at rear pectoral fin base .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Great white sharks are solitary hunters that use stealth and ambush tactics, particularly when hunting seals. They are capable of breaching completely out of the water when attacking prey from below. They exhibit complex social hierarchies around prey aggregations. Long-distance migrations of over 20,000 km have been recorded.
🦐 Diet
Great white sharks feed primarily on marine mammals (seals, sea lions, dolphins) and large fish as adults. Juveniles focus on fish and rays. They use electroreception and an acute sense of smell to locate prey.
🥚 Reproduction
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding on other ova produced by the mother (oophagy) after the yolk sac is absorbed . Up to 10, possibly 14 young born at 120-150 cm . Distinct pairing with embrace . Male and female may swim in parallel while copulating .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 1280 m , usually 0 - 250 m . Subtropical; 61°N - 58°S, 180°W - 180°E
🌿 Ecology
bony fishes, sharks, rays, seals, dolphins and porpoises, sea birds, carrion, squid, octopi and crab
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🏆 World Records
| Record Type | Value | Angler | Location | Date | Line Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1208.38 kg | Alfred Dean | Ceduna, South Australia | 21 Apr 1959 | ALL |
Source: IGFA All-Tackle World Records database
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Great White · Great White Shark · Grey Death · Grey Pointer · Man Eater · Man-eater · Man-eater Shark · Maneater · Mango-taniwha · Mango-ururoa · Shark · Tommy · White Death · White Pointer · White Shark · anchovy-eater · blue pointer · cowshark · death shark · demon shark · great white death · jumping shark · mudshark · tuna shark · uptail · white death shark |
| 🌍AFR | Blouhaai · Witdoodhaai · sarda · springhaai · witdoodshaai · withaai |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Kalb · Kalb bahr · Wahsh · قرش أبيض كبير |
| 🌍AZE | Böyük ağ köpəkbalığı · İri ağ köpək balığı |
| 🌍BEN | সাদা হাঙ্গর |
| 🌍BOS | Velika bijela ajkula · Velika bijela psina |
| 🌍BRE | Rinkin gwenn |
| 🌍BUL | Голяма бяла акула |
| 🌍CES | Žralok bílý · Žralok bílý veliký · žralok lidožravý |
| 🌍CYM | Morgi mawr gwyn |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Blå haj · Hvid Haj · Stor hvid haj |
| 🇩🇪German | Menschenhai · Merviel Fras · Weisshai · Weißer Hai |
| 🌍DIV | ފެމުނު މިޔަރު |
| 🌍ELL | Sbrillias · Skylopsaro sbrillios · Smprilios · karcharias · Λάμια · Λευκός καρχαρίας · Μεγάλος λευκός καρχαρίας · Σκυλόψαρο · Σμπρίλιος |
| 🌍EPO | Blanka ŝarko |
| 🌍EST | Mõrtsukhai · Valgehai |
| 🌍EUS | Marrazo zuri |
| 🌍FAS | کوسه بزرگ سفید · کوسه سفید بزرگ |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Valkohai |
| 🇫🇷French | Grand requin blanc · Mangeur d'hommes · requin blanc |
| 🌍FRY | Wite haai |
| 🌍GLE | Siorc bán mór |
| 🌍GLG | Quenlla branca · Tiburón branco |
| 🌍GRN | Piraroto morotĩ |
| 🌍HEB | עמלץ לבן · עמלציים · קרחה לבנה |
| 🇭🇷Croatian | Pas ljudožder |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Fehér cápa |
| 🌍HYE | Սպիտակ շնաձուկ |
| 🌍IND | Hiu putih. |
| 🌍ISL | Hvíthákarl |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Canesca · Canusu · Grande squalo bianco · Mangia alici · Manzo de mar · Pescecane · Pesse can · Pisci bistinu · Squalo bianco · cagnesca grande · cagnia · can grossu · caniscu · carcarodonte · carcarodonte di rondelet · carcarodonte lamia · damiano · imbestinu · lamia · mangia alice · mastinu feru · pesca can · pesce can grande · pesce cane · pesciu can · pici bistinu · pisci cani · pisci mastinu · tunnu palamitu di funnu |
| 🌍JAV | Hiu putih |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Hohojirozame · hitokiuzame · oshirozame · ホホジロザメ |
| 🌍KAT | თეთრი ზვიგენი |
| 🌍KAZ | Үлкен ақ акула |
| 🌍KIR | Кархародон |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 백상아리 |
| 🌍LAV | Lielā baltā haizivs |
| 🌍LIT | Didysis baltasis ryklys · baltasis ryklys |
| 🌍MAL | വെള്ളസ്രാവ് |
| 🌍MKD | Голема бела ајкула |
| 🌍MLG | Antsantsa fotsy · Farao · Masiake |
| 🌍MLT | Huta tax-Xmara · Kelb Abjad · Kelb il - Bahar Abjad · Kelb il-bahar · Kelb il-bahar abjad · Silfjun · gab doll · kelb-il-bahar abjad |
| 🌍MON | Аварга цагаан загас · Аврага цагаан загас |
| 🌍MRI | Mangō taniwha · Mangō ururoa · Ururoa · hare hongi · mango-tuatini · mangō-taniwha · taniwha |
| 🌍NAV | Łóóʼ hashkéhétsoh |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Mensen haai · Mensenhaai · Wittehaai · witte haai |
| 🌍NNO | kvithai |
| 🌍NOB | hvithai |
| 🇳🇴Norwegian | Hvithai · haa skieding |
| 🌍OCI | Granda làmia blanca |
| 🌍PAN | ਮਹਾਨ ਚਿੱਟੀ ਸ਼ਾਰਕ |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Zarlacz ludojad · żarłacz biały |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Alequim · Anequim · Anequin · Cação-anequim · Cação-anequin · Iperu · Tubarao de Sao Tomé · Tubarão branco · Tubarão-anequim · Tubarão-branco · Tubarão-come-homens · Tubarão-de-São-Tomé · tabarao |
| 🌍PUS | لوي سپين شارک |
| 🌍RON | Rechin alb · Rechin mancator de oameni |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Geldevaja akula · Акула-людоед · Белая акула · Белые акулы · Большая белая акула · кархародон мегалодон · мегалодон |
| 🌍SLK | Žralok modrý · Žralok modrý (Carcharodon carcharias) |
| 🌍SLV | Beli morski volk · veliki beli morski pes |
| 🌍SMO | tanifa |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Africano · Devorador de hombres · Gran tiburón blanco · Jaquentón blanco · Jaqueton blanco · Jaquetón · Marrajo · Tiburón antropófago · ca mari · jaquetón de ley · marraco · salproig · salproix · salroig · sarda · taburo · tauró blanc · tiburo · tiburón blanco |
| 🌍SQI | Peshkagen njeringrenes · Peshkaqen njeringrenes |
| 🌍SRP | Pas liudožder · Pas modrulj · bela ajkula · velika bela ajkula · Велика бела ајкула · Велика бијела ајкула |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Stor vit haj · Vithaj |
| 🌍TAM | வெள்ளைச் சுறா |
| 🌍TAT | Ак акула |
| 🌍TGL | Malaking puting pating · Pating |
| 🌍THA | ปลาฉลามขาว |
| 🌍TUR | Büyük beyaz · Canavar baligi · Harharias baligi · Karkarias · Karkarias baligi · buyuk beyaz kopekbaligi · büyük beyaz köpekbalığı |
| 🌍UKR | Акула біла · Акула велика біла · Біла акула · Велика біла акула |
| 🌍URD | عظیم سفید شارک |
| 🌍UZB | Yirik oq akula |
| 🌍VIE | Cá Mập trắng · Cá mập trắng lớn |
| 🌍WOL | Ndiagadar |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 大白鲨 · 食人鯊 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carcharias atwoodi | Storer | 1848 | Synonym |
| Carcharias carcharias | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Carcharias lamia | Rafinesque | 1810 | Synonym |
| Carcharias maso | Morris | 1898 | Synonym |
| Carcharias productus | Agassiz | 1838 | Synonym |
| Carcharias sulcidens | Agassiz | 1835 | Synonym |
| Carcharias verus | Cloquet | 1817 | Synonym |
| Carcharias vorax | Owen | 1853 | Heterotypic |
| Carcharias vulgaris | Richardson | 1836 | Synonym |
| Carcharodon albimors | Whitley | 1939 | Synonym |
| Carcharodon caifassi | Lawley | 1876 | Synonym |
| Carcharodon capensis | Smith | 1839 | Synonym |
| Carcharodon etruscus | Lawley | 1881 | Synonym |
| Carcharodon productus | Agassiz | 1838 | Synonym |
| Carcharodon rondeletii | Müller & Henle | 1839 | Synonym |
| Carcharodon smithi | Bonaparte | 1838 | Synonym |
| Carcharodon smithii | Agassiz | 1838 | Synonym |
| Carcharodon sulcidens | Agassiz | 1835 | Synonym |
| Carharodon carcharias | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Squalus caninus | Osbeck | 1765 | Synonym |
| Squalus carcharias | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Squalus lamia | Blainville | 1816 | Heterotypic |
| Squalus vulgaris | Richardson | 1836 | Synonym |
📚 Scientific References
13 publications cited
- Froese, R. and Pauly, D. (Editors) (2024). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. FishBase Consortium. Link ↗
- IUCN (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2024-1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Link ↗
- GBIF Secretariat (2024). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. DOI ↗
- USDA Agricultural Research Service (2024). FoodData Central. USDA National Nutrient Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Link ↗
- FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department (2024). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Link ↗
- Kaschner, K., Kesner-Reyes, K., Garilao, C., Segschneider, J., Rius-Barile, J., Rees, T., Froese, R. (2024). AquaMaps: Predicted range maps for aquatic species. AquaMaps. Link ↗
- Nelson, J.S., Grande, T.C., Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World. 5th edition. John Wiley & Sons.
- Helfman, G.S., Collette, B.B., Facey, D.E., Bowen, B.W. (2009). The Diversity of Fishes: Biology, Evolution, and Ecology. 2nd edition. Wiley-Blackwell.
- Froese, R. (2006). Cube law, condition factor and weight-length relationships: history, meta-analysis and recommendations. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 22(4), 241-253. DOI ↗
- Halstead, B.W., Auerbach, P.S., Campbell, D. (1988). A Colour Atlas of Dangerous Marine Animals. Wolfe Medical Publications. Wolfe Medical.
- Balon, E.K. (1975). Reproductive Guilds of Fishes: A Proposal and Definition. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 32(6), 821-864.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 16 records indexed .
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