Great White Sharks

 
Carcharodon carcharias

Overview - As evidenced by the 1975 movie classic "Jaws," the great white shark has both fascinated and frightened humans since its ominous presence first became known. These powerful fish can kill a person with a single bite, but not necessarily because they want to eat us. Studies suggest surfers and flailing swimmers remind the great white of other prey that it would normally go after. When presented with human dummies, the sharks showed little interest. Nonetheless, each year one or more encounters with a great white usually is reported in the U.S., since the shark's habitat goes all the way from the surface down to well over 4,000 feet.

great white shark picture

Feeding Habits - When considering the diet of the great white, it is almost easier to list what it does not consume, since virtually anything living in its path might be a potential meal. Favored prey includes fishes like salmon, hake, halibut, mackerel and tuna. It will also eat other sharks, blubber from whale carcasses, sea turtles, birds, seals and porpoises. When examined by researchers, one Canadian great white's stomach was found to contain three entire porpoises. One of this shark's impressive hunting methods involves charging, mouth open, into a victim from below. The quick bite, made with teeth shaped like arrowheads, may be all that it takes.

Cool Fact - When a great white attacks, its eyeballs roll back into its head to protect them from injury.

Depth - 4,420 feet

VIDEO: Top 35 Great White Shark Videos

 

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Watch Shark Week 2008
SHARK WEEK premieres July 27 to Aug. 2, 2008, featuring six all-new programs along with some of SHARK WEEK's most popular and memorable shows from past years. Check out the Shark Week lineup and see the TV schedule for the full week of shark programming.

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How Stuff Works

Great White Shark Picture

How the Great White Shark Works
Let’s face it. The great white is often typecast to represent everything angry and fierce that lies in the murky ocean waters. But ponder these quick facts you might not know about the notorious great white. First, great whites don’t chew their food. (Prompting the question: How do they eat?) Second, the strength of a shark bite is about 1 ton per square inch. And consider this third intimidating fact: While in the womb, great white shark embryos feast on unfertilized eggs, in a cannibalistic practice known as oophagy.

 

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