Great White Shark

ID points

• Grey back and white belly, the dividing line straight and sharp
• Broad triangular teeth with serrated edges
• Upper and lower tail lobes almost equal, crescent-shaped

Basics

Family

Lamnidae

Length

4.0–6.0 m

Depth

0-250 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic · Temperate & polar · Open ocean

Distribution

Coastal and offshore temperate and tropical seas worldwide

Habitat

Coastal and offshore temperate seas

Diet

Seals, large fish

Easily confused with

Mako SharkSharply pointed conical snout, extremely streamlined bodyCaribbean Reef SharkStout body, first dorsal fin starting over the rear edge of the pectoral finsOceanic Whitetip SharkPectoral fins and first dorsal fin very long with rounded tips

Fun fact

A great white can sense a bioelectric field of one billionth of a volt. It works through thousands of teeth in a lifetime, a fresh row rolling forward the moment one in front falls out.