Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)

Fish · GBIF taxon 2420694

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Also known as White Shark, White Pointer, Great White

Great white sharks are the world's largest predatory fish, cruising coastal and offshore waters with a counter-shaded gray and white body built for ambush. Using an advanced circulatory system that conserves metabolic heat, these powerful swimmers maintain body temperatures warmer than the surrounding water, enabling explosive bursts of speed in chilly seas. Their extraordinary electroreception system detects microvolts of electrical activity generated by the muscle movements of distant prey.

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Licensed reference"Great White Shark" by Elias Levy is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by

—observations

—countries

—peak records

VulnerableConservation status

Key facts

Diet & prey

Cape Fur Seal
Northern Elephant Seal
Yellowfin Tuna

Predators

Orca

ThreatsBycatch, illegal finning, targeted trophy hunting, coastal habitat degradation

HabitatsCoastal ocean, temperate and subtropical marine waters, open ocean

Life span40–70 years

Size / weightNot available

Classification

FamilyLamnidae
SpeciesCarcharodon carcharias

Range & activity

N. Atlantic S. Atlantic N. Pacific S. Pacific Indian Ocean Mediterranean

Marine distribution — the ocean basins and seas where the species occurs.

Safe observation

Interaction riskHigh

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is high: Capable of inflicting fatal bites; maintain extreme distance in the water and follow local beach safety advisories.
Why it is dangerous: Equipped with massive jaws and serrated triangular teeth capable of delivering devastating bites that cause rapid, severe blood loss.
How to recognize a risky encounter: Look for a heavy torpedo-shaped body, dark gray back, stark white belly, and a prominent triangular dorsal fin.
What to do: If spotted while in the water, remain calm, keep eyes on the shark, and swim smoothly toward safety without splashing.
What to notice: Identified by its massive size, conical snout, and stark color boundary where the gray back meets the white underside.
Support conservation: Support sustainable seafood practices and adhere strictly to regional marine protection laws regarding shark conservation.

Responsible observation

Safety Distance: Never enter the water near seal colonies or active shark feeding grounds.
Observer Conduct: View from licensed tour boats or secure diving cages rather than free swimming.
Water Conditions: Avoid swimming at dawn, dusk, or in murky coastal waters where visibility is low.

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