Great White Shark
The great white shark is the largest predatory fish on Earth, found in temperate and subtropical coastal waters across the globe. Adults regularly reach five to six metres in length and can weigh well over a tonne, with females growing larger than males. Its body is built for speed, with a torpedo shape, powerful crescent tail and a set of senses that include the ability to detect electrical fields produced by other animals. Juveniles feed mainly on fish and rays, while adults shift toward marine mammals such as seals and sea lions. Great whites are warm blooded in part, allowing them to keep their muscles and brain warmer than the surrounding water and react faster than most fish. Despite their reputation as killers, unprovoked attacks on people are rare, and researchers believe most incidents result from the shark investigating an unfamiliar object rather than hunting a person.
Habitat and distribution
Great white sharks are found in temperate and subtropical coastal waters on nearly every ocean. They are particularly common off the coasts of South Africa, southern Australia, New Zealand, California, and in parts of the Mediterranean Sea. Rather than sticking to a single territory, individuals roam enormous distances. Researchers have tracked great whites crossing entire ocean basins, with one female recorded travelling from South Africa to Australia and back. They tend to favour areas where prey is plentiful, especially rocky coastlines and islands with large colonies of seals or sea lions. Juveniles often stay in shallower inshore waters, while larger adults venture into the open ocean and dive to depths of over 1,000 metres when moving between feeding grounds.
Diet
What a great white eats depends a great deal on its age and size. Juveniles focus mainly on fish, including rays and smaller sharks, as well as the occasional seabird. As they grow, their jaws and teeth become strong enough to handle much larger prey, and adults shift toward marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, dolphins, and even small whale carcasses. Great whites are opportunistic feeders and will also scavenge on whale carcasses when the chance arises, taking advantage of a rich source of fat and protein. Contrary to popular belief, they do not eat constantly. After a large meal, a great white can go weeks without feeding again, sustained by the energy stored from the previous meal.
Behavior
For most of their lives, great white sharks travel alone, though brief gatherings can form where food is especially abundant. When hunting seals, they rely on an approach from below, using the dark ocean floor as cover and accelerating toward the surface at high speed. This technique can send the shark launching completely out of the water, a spectacular leap known as breaching, most famously seen off Seal Island in South Africa. Great whites are also curious animals and will sometimes lift their heads above the surface to inspect floating objects, a behaviour called spy hopping. Their senses are extraordinarily sharp. They can detect a single drop of blood diluted across a large body of water and sense the weak electrical fields produced by the muscles of nearby animals.
Relation with humans
Few animals carry as fearsome a reputation as the great white shark, yet the reality of its relationship with people is far less dramatic than the headlines suggest. Unprovoked attacks on humans are genuinely rare. According to the International Shark Attack File, great whites are responsible for more recorded incidents than any other species, but fatal attacks remain uncommon globally. Researchers believe most encounters occur because the shark is exploring something unfamiliar rather than actively hunting a person. Surfers on boards seen from below may resemble the outline of a seal or sea lion. Beyond fear, humans pose a far greater threat to great whites than the other way around. Sharks are caught in fishing nets, targeted for their fins and jaws, and killed in beach protection programmes, all of which have contributed to their decline.
Conservation
Classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, the great white shark faces serious pressures across much of its range. Its biggest threats come from accidental capture in commercial fishing gear, targeted hunting for its fins, teeth and jaws, and the gradual decline of its prey species in some regions. Great whites reproduce slowly. Females do not reach maturity until around 33 years of age and give birth to small litters of between two and ten pups, which means populations recover very slowly from losses. A number of countries, including South Africa, Australia, and the United States, have introduced legal protections for the species. International trade in great white products is also regulated under CITES. Even so, consistent enforcement remains a challenge, and the global population is believed to be declining.
Technical factsheet
Where it is found
The Great White Shark can be found in places such as:
Frequently Asked Questions
How big do great white sharks get?
Adults typically reach between five and six metres in length and can weigh well over a tonne. Females grow larger than males, making them among the biggest in the species. The largest individuals ever recorded measured close to six metres, though unverified reports suggest some may grow even bigger. They are the largest predatory fish on Earth.
What do great white sharks eat?
Young great whites feed mostly on fish and rays, but as they grow their diet shifts toward larger prey. Adults hunt marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and dolphins. They also scavenge on whale carcasses when the opportunity comes up, taking in large amounts of fat and protein in a single sitting. After a big meal, they can go weeks without eating again.
Where do great white sharks live?
Great white sharks are found in temperate and subtropical coastal waters in nearly every ocean. They are especially common off South Africa, southern Australia, New Zealand, and California. They roam vast distances rather than staying in one area, and researchers have tracked individuals crossing entire ocean basins. Juveniles tend to stay in shallower waters closer to shore, while adults also venture into the open ocean.
Are great white sharks dangerous to humans?
Great whites have a fearsome reputation, but unprovoked attacks on people are actually quite rare. Most researchers believe that when a great white does bite a human, it is investigating something unfamiliar rather than hunting. Surfers on boards can resemble a seal from below. Fatal attacks are uncommon worldwide. In reality, humans are a far greater threat to great whites than great whites are to us.
Are great white sharks warm blooded?
Great white sharks are partially warm blooded, which sets them apart from most other fish. They can keep their muscles, eyes, and brain warmer than the water around them, which gives them faster reactions and sharper vision in cold conditions. This ability, known as regional endothermy, helps them hunt effectively across a wide range of ocean temperatures and makes them exceptional predators.
Why are great white sharks endangered?
Great whites are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. They are threatened mainly by accidental capture in fishing nets, targeted hunting for their fins, teeth, and jaws, and the decline of prey in some areas. They also reproduce very slowly: females do not reach maturity until around 33 years of age and have small litters. This makes it very hard for populations to recover from losses.
Can great white sharks jump out of the water?
Yes, and it is one of the most spectacular things any shark does. When hunting seals, great whites accelerate from deep water toward the surface at high speed, and the momentum can launch them completely out of the water. This is called breaching. It is seen most famously off Seal Island in South Africa, where the combination of deep water close to shore and large seal colonies creates perfect conditions for this hunting technique.