White Shark

The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) also known as great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. Reaching lengths of more than 6 metres (20 ft) and weighing up to 2,240 kilograms (4,938 lb), reaching sexual maturity at around 15 years of age and having a lifespan of 30 to over 100 years. The great white shark is arguably the world’s largest known predatory fish, eating dolphins, porpoises, whale carcasses and pinnipeds such as seals, fur seals and sea lions. It is the only surviving species of its genus, Carcharodon.

The best selling novel Jaws and the subsequent film by Steven Spielberg provided the great white shark with the image of a “man eater” in the public mind even though humans are not appropriate prey for white sharks.

C.I.T.E.S. has listed the great white shark as a endangered species.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.