Sharks
Great White Shark
Carcharodon carcharias
SaltwaterLamnidaeVulnerable
About
Great white sharks are large, powerful predators with a torpedo-shaped body and a conical snout. They are known for their serrated, triangular teeth and their ability to breach the water when hunting seals and sea lions. They are apex predators, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems.
- Average size
- 15-20 feet, up to 2,500 lbs (females are typically larger than males)
- Colors
- Dark gray or bluish-gray dorsally, white ventrally (countershading)
- Diet
- Primarily marine mammals (seals, sea lions, dolphins), large fish (tuna, rays, other sharks), seabirds, and occasionally sea turtles and carrion.
- Region
- Coastal waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts of the US, particularly California, the Northeast, and Florida.