Welcome to another episode of Natural World Facts!
This fact file is all about the Great White Shark in the series Ocean Life Enjoy :)

Newer Great White Shark video:    • Why our Oceans need Great White Sharks  

Brief Overview:
Great White Sharks are the worlds largest predatory fish. They can grow to be around 15 to 20 feet, which is 4 to 6 metres long. They generally weigh up to 2300 kg (5000 lb.) Although they are massive, Great White Sharks are not the largest kind of shark. The whale shark is the largest, although is a filter feeder, and preys on krill and plankton. These fish are well adapted predators, with over 300 serrated, triangular teeth arranged in rows. They also have an acute sense of smell, being able to detect one drop of blood in 25 gallons (100 liters) of water.

Appearance:
Great Whites are bluegrey on their upper side to blend in with the bottom of the ocean when viewed from above. They get their name from their white undersides, which make it difficult to see the sharks from below. They have streamlined, torpedo shaped bodies and powerful tails enabling them to reach speeds up to 24 km/hr (15 mph).

Diet:
Great white sharks are carnivores, preying on a diet of seals, sea lions, sea turtles, carrion and even small whales. they search for prey at the surface while swimming below. When they hunt, they leave the water completely, breaching like whales when attacking prey from underneath. Surprisingly, Great White Sharks are far more ferocious in our minds than in reality. Though they are often seen as maneaters, these animals are responsible for just 5 to 10 attacks per year.

Habitat:
They can be found in cool coastal waters across the globe, but mostly along the coasts of Australia, South Africa, California and the northeastern United States.

Breeding:
Great White sharks are Ovoviviparous, meaning the young develop and hatch inside the female and continue to develop until birth. They have an 11 month gestation period, the powerful jaws begin to develop in the first month. Birth is usually in Spring and Summer.

Status:
Great White Sharks are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN RedList of threatened species, mostly due to overfishing and accidental catching.

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