White shark - among the many sea ​​inhabitants(lat. Carcharodon carcharias) has long caused fear and speculation, which often turns out to be just a figment of people’s imagination. And the white predator itself, as if in mockery of humanity, has been simply improving its qualities as the most cunning underwater predator for millions of years.

Man-eating shark, jawed predator, White death- whatever people called this graceful, ominously mysterious, intelligent and organized animal. She really instilled and instills animal fear in people with just her appearance in the sea. Of all shark attacks on humans, a third are attributed to the great white shark. The predator lives in all coastal waters with temperatures ranging from 12 to 24 degrees Celsius. She lives on average 30 years, and reaches sexual maturity only at 15 years.

However, the deeper scientists and enthusiasts study this predator, the clearer the understanding becomes that the largest predatory fish in the world is not as deadly as the overly exaggerated rumors say. Many different studies and underwater recordings, as well as various and often dangerous experiments, have shown that humans are by no means the favorite delicacy for the great white shark.

When a white shark attacks

Often fatal shark attacks on a person occur because the person behaves too carelessly and forgets that one should not get close to it, for example, not to dive into the water in the hunting areas of the white predator.

This animal can even cause admiration, and not just fear, because it is big White shark- This is one of the most armed predators in the world for hunting, since it has a very sensitive sense of smell, excellent hearing, vision, tactile and taste sensations and electromagnetism.

What does a white shark look like?

It has the body of a torpedo. Some individuals can reach a length of up to 12 meters, and their weight approaches three tons.

The shark has a white or very light belly, and top part bodies are gray, brown or green - so the great white shark is almost invisible in the depths of sea water. Seals, whales, fur seals, dolphins and other sharks are terrified of its huge mouth with triangular teeth arranged in several rows. The shark tears the flesh of the victim with its upper jaw, and holds it with its lower jaw.

This shark has an amazing ability to maintain its temperature higher than the temperature of the surrounding water. Therefore, it is considered a warm-blooded animal, just like all mammals. And besides, the great white shark has the most perfect sense of smell on the planet.

White shark's sense of smell

The sense of smell greatly influences the life of a shark, so two-thirds of the brain of the largest marine predatory fish is spent on its work.

Great white sharks are able to smell a substance dissolved 1 in 25,000,000 in water at a fairly large distance - 650 m.

White shark can catch electricity

The beautiful predator has a head that is unique in its ability to detect an electrical signal better than any modern laboratory, and human abilities exceed millions of times.

The great white shark has a special eye structure - like a cat, and is able to see prey in the dark, and a special organ of the shark - the lateral line - allows it to detect the slightest disturbances in the water at a distance of over 100 meters.

White shark breeding

It is noteworthy that great white sharks become predators even before they are born. Usually up to 5 sharks are born in the belly of a shark, but only one will be born. It is she who will devour all her brothers and sisters before they are born. Pregnancy lasts 11 months and occurs once every two years and a white shark is born.

Watch a video about how a great white shark lives in nature:

more about the white shark:

Original taken from masterok in Flight of the Great White Shark

What have we already read about sharks:

Now let's study probably the most famous and bloodthirsty shark.

Great white shark (lat. Carcharodon carcharias)- also known as the white shark, white death, man-eating shark, carcharodon - an exceptionally large predatory fish found in the surface coastal waters of all oceans of the Earth except the Arctic.

This predator owes its name to the white color of the abdominal part of the body, separated by a broken border on the sides from the dark back. Reaching a length of over 7 meters and a mass of over 3,000 kg, the great white shark is the largest modern predatory fish (not counting the plankton-eating whale and basking sharks).

In addition to its very large size, the great white shark has also acquired a notorious reputation as a merciless cannibal due to numerous attacks on swimmers, divers and surfers. A person has much less chance of surviving an attack by a man-eating shark than under the wheels of a truck. A powerful moving body, a huge mouth armed with sharp teeth and a passion for satisfying the hunger of this predator will leave the victim no hope of salvation if the shark is determined to profit from human flesh.

The great white shark is the only surviving species of its genus Carcharodon.
It is on the verge of extinction - there are only about 3,500 specimens left on Earth.

The first scientific name, Squalus carcharias, was given to the great white shark by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
Zoologist E. Smith in 1833 assigned the generic name Carcharodon (Greek karcharos sharp + Greek odous - tooth). The final modern scientific name of the species came into being in 1873, when the Linnaean species name was combined with the genus name under one term, Carcharodon carcharias.

The great white belongs to the herring shark family (Lamnidae), which includes four other species sea ​​predators: Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), longfin mako shark (Longfin mako), Pacific salmon shark (Lamna ditropis) and Atlantic herring shark (Lamna nasus).

The similarity in the structure and shape of the teeth, as well as the large size of the great white shark and the prehistoric megalodon, has led most scientists to consider them closely related species. This assumption is reflected in the scientific name of the latter - Carcharodon megalodon.

Currently, some scientists have expressed doubts about the close relationship of Carcharadon and Megalodon, considering them to be distant relatives belonging to the family of herring sharks, but not so closely related. Recent research suggests that the white shark is closer to the mako shark than to the megalodon. According to the theory put forward, the true ancestor of the great white shark is Isurus hastalis, while megalodons are directly related to sharks of the species Carcharocle. According to the same theory, Otodus obliquus is considered a representative of the ancient extinct branch of Carcharocles megalodon olnius.

Fossil tooth

The great white shark lives throughout the world in coastal waters of the continental shelf, the temperature of which ranges from 12 to 24 degrees Celsius. In colder waters, great white sharks are almost never found. They also do not live in desalinated and slightly salted seas. For example, they were not found in our Black Sea, which is too fresh for them. In addition, there is not enough food in the Black Sea for such a large predator as the great white shark.

The habitat of the great white shark covers many coastal waters of the warm and temperate seas of the World Ocean. The above map shows that it can be found anywhere in the middle ocean belt of the planet, except, of course, the Arctic Ocean.

In the south they are not found further than the southern coast of Australia and the coast of South Africa. Great white sharks are most likely to be found off the coast of California, near the Mexican island of Guadalupe. Individual populations live in the central part of the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas (Italy, Croatia), off the coast of New Zealand, where they are protected species.

Great white sharks often swim in small schools.

One of the most significant populations fell in love with Dyer Island (South Africa), which is the site of numerous scientific studies of this type of shark. Great white sharks are relatively common in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Mauritius, Madagascar, Kenya and near the Seychelles. Large populations persist off the coasts of California, Australia and New Zealand.

Carcharodons are epipelagic fish, their appearance is usually observed and recorded in coastal seas, abundant in prey such as seals, sea lions, whales, where other sharks and large bony fish live.
The great white shark is nicknamed the mistress of the ocean, since no one can compare with it in the power of attacks among other fish and sea inhabitants. Only the large killer whale terrifies Carcharodon.
Great white sharks are capable of long-distance migrations and can descend to considerable depths: these sharks have been recorded at depths of almost 1300 m.

Recent research has shown that great white sharks migrate between Baja California, Mexico, and a spot near Hawaii known as the White Shark Cafe, where they spend at least 100 days a year before migrating back to Baja California. Along the way, they swim slowly and dive to a depth of approximately 900 m. After arriving at the coast, they change behavior. Dives are reduced to 300 m and last up to 10 minutes.

White shark tagged offshore South Africa, showed the migration routes to the southern coast of Australia and back, which it made every year. Researchers have found that a great white shark completes this route in less than 9 months. The entire length of the migration route is about 20 thousand km in both directions.
These studies refuted traditional theories, according to which the white shark was considered an exclusively coastal predator.

Interactions have been established between different populations of white sharks, which were previously considered separate from each other.

The purposes and reasons why the white shark migrates are still unknown. There are suggestions that migrations are caused by the seasonal nature of hunting or mating games.

ate a great white shark with a spindle-shaped, streamlined shape, like most sharks - active predators. A large, conical head with medium-sized eyes located on it and a pair of nostrils, to which small grooves lead, increasing the flow of water to the shark’s olfactory receptors.

The mouth is very wide, armed with sharp, triangular-shaped teeth with serrations on the sides. With such teeth, like an ax, the shark easily cuts off pieces of flesh from its prey. The number of teeth in a great white shark, like in a tiger shark, is 280-300. They are located in several rows (usually 5). A complete change of the first row of teeth in young individuals of great white sharks occurs on average once every three months, in adults - once every eight months, i.e. The younger the sharks, the more often they change their teeth.

Behind the head there are gill slits - five on each side.

The body coloration of great white sharks is typical of fish that swim in the water column. The ventral side is lighter, usually off-white, the dorsal side is darker - gray, with shades of blue, brown or green. This color makes the predator unnoticeable in the water column and allows it to hunt for prey more efficiently.

Large and fleshy anterior dorsal fin and two pectoral fins. The ventral, second dorsal and anal fins are smaller. The plumage ends with a large caudal fin, both blades of which, like all salmon sharks, are approximately the same size.

Among the features anatomical structure, it should be noted that great white sharks have a highly developed circulatory system, which allows them to warm up their muscles, thereby achieving high mobility of the shark in the water.
Like all sharks, great whites lack a swim bladder, meaning they must constantly move to avoid drowning. However, it should be noted that sharks do not feel any particular inconvenience from this. For millions of years they managed without a bubble and did not suffer from it at all.

Regular sizes adult great white shark 4-5.2 meters with a weight of 700 - 1000 kg.

Females are usually larger than males. The maximum size of a white shark is about 8 m and weighs more than 3500 kg.
It should be noted that maximum size The white shark is a hotly debated topic. Some zoologists and shark specialists believe that the great white shark can reach significant sizes - more than 10 or even 12 meters in length.

Over the course of several decades, many scientific works According to ichthyology, as well as the Book of Records, two individuals were called the largest great white sharks ever caught: a great white shark, 10.9 m long, caught in southern Australian waters near Port Fairy in the 1870s, and a great white shark 11.3 m long, caught in a herring trap at a dam in New Brunswick (Canada) in 1930. Reports of the capture of specimens 6.5-7 meters long were common, but the above sizes remained a record for a long time.

Some researchers have questioned the reliability of the size measurements of these sharks in both cases. The reason for this doubt is the large difference between the sizes of record specimens and all other sizes of large great white sharks obtained through accurate measurements. The New Brunswick shark may have been a basking shark rather than a great white, as both sharks have a similar body shape. Since the fact of catching this shark and its measurement was recorded not by ichthyologists, but by fishermen, such an error could well have occurred. The question of the size of the Port Fairy shark was clarified in the 1970s when shark expert D. I. Reynolds studied the jaws of this great white shark.

Based on the size of the teeth and jaws, he determined that the Porta Fairy shark was no more than 6 meters in length. Apparently, an error in measuring the size of this shark was made in order to obtain a sensation.

Scientists determined the size of the largest specimen, the length of which was reliably measured, to be 6.4 meters. This great white shark was caught in Cuban waters in 1945, measured by experts and documented. However, in this case, there were experts who claim that the shark was actually several feet shorter. The unconfirmed weight of this Cuban shark was 3270 kg.

Young carcharadons feed on small bony fish, small marine animals and mammals. Grown-up great white sharks include larger prey in their diet - seals, sea lions, big fish, including smaller sharks, cephalopods and other more nutritious marine life. Whale carcasses are not ignored.

Their light coloration makes them less noticeable against the background of underwater rocks when they are stalking prey.
The high body temperature inherent in all herring sharks allows them to develop higher speed when attacking, and also stimulates brain activity, as a result of which great white sharks sometimes use cunning tactics during the hunt.

If we add to this a massive body, powerful jaws with strong and sharp teeth, then we can understand that great white sharks can handle any prey.

Great white sharks' food preferences include seals and other marine animals, including dolphins and small whales. These predators need fatty animal foods to maintain energy balance in the body. The system for heating muscle tissue with blood in great white sharks requires high-calorie food. And warm muscles provide high mobility to the shark’s body.

The tactics of hunting seals by the great white shark are curious. At first, it slides horizontally through the water, as if not noticing the tasty prey floating on the surface, then, approaching the victim closer, it abruptly changes the direction of movement upward and attacks it. Sometimes great white sharks even jump several meters out of the water at the moment of attack.

Often, carcharodon does not kill the seal immediately, but by hitting it from below with its head or slightly biting it, it throws it up above the water. Then it returns to the wounded victim and eats it.

If we take into account the passion of great white sharks for fatty food in the form of small marine mammals, then the reason for most shark attacks on people in the water becomes clear. Swimmers and, especially, surfers, when viewed from the depths, surprisingly resemble in their movements the prey familiar to great white sharks. This can explain known fact, when, often, a great white shark bites a swimmer and, realizing the mistake, leaves him, swimming away in disappointment. Human bones cannot be compared with seal fat.

You can watch a film about the great white shark and its hunting habits.

There are still many questions and mysteries about the reproduction of great white sharks. No one got to watch them mate and the female give birth to her young. Great white sharks are ovoviviparous fish, like most sharks.

The female's pregnancy lasts about 11 months, after which one or two cubs are born. Great white sharks are characterized by so-called intrauterine cannibalism, when more developed and stronger sharks eat their weaker brothers and sisters while still in the womb.

Newborns are equipped with teeth and everything necessary to begin an active life as predators.
Young sharks grow quite slowly and reach sexual maturity at approximately 12-15 years of age. It was the low fertility of great white sharks and long puberty that served as the reason for the gradual decrease in the population of these predators in the World Ocean.

The white shark, or Carcharodon carcharias, is the largest predator of modern sharks. The only surviving species from the Carcharodon genus is the “white death”, which alone deserves respect. This sharp-toothed monster leaves no chance of salvation for anyone. Carcharodon prefers the coastal waters of the continental plume, where more heat. However, for some populations one of the habitat regions is the Mediterranean Sea. Although, it would seem, this particular sea is considered one of the safest in terms of attacks on people by man-eating sharks. Should we be afraid of white sharks in the Mediterranean and how do predators behave in these warm waters?
Let's figure it out.

The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar. So, according to the latest information, the number of “indigenous” populations of white sharks has decreased threefold here. Unregulated smuggling of carcharodon, as a source of delicious products - fins, fat, liver, as well as an expensive souvenir - jaws, has led to the fact that white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea are on the verge of extinction. This can lead to catastrophic changes in the entire aquatic system, since it is this species that plays the role of police officers in the underwater state.
But nature took care of its toothy crumbs. Right now, cases of migration of man-eating sharks from the Atlantic have become more frequent - albeit slowly, but they are restoring their numbers.

Should you be afraid of encountering great white sharks in the Mediterranean? It turns out that humans are not the most desirable prey for Carcharodon. Our bodies are too sinewy and too bony to satisfy the great white shark's appetite, so instead of homo sapiens, white sharks prefer fatty tuna. Throughout history, only a few cases of attacks by bloodthirsty killers directly in the Mediterranean Sea have been recorded, and even those were provoked by people.

The most common victims of white sharks are sport fishermen and divers who dare to swim too close to the predator. It is interesting that it was in the Mediterranean that the “shark phenomenon” was registered - if Carcharodon attacked a person, it did not tear it apart, as happens in other oceans, but, having tried to bite and realizing that it was not very appetizing food, let go and swam away.

Perhaps this behavior of great white sharks is related to ecology, or perhaps the reason is the food richness of local waters - there are a lot of fish in the Mediterranean Sea, including 45 species of sharks, almost all of them are potential prey for Carcharodon. Therefore, having felt the unusual taste of human flesh, Carcharodon often refuses to eat it.

However, there is an opinion among experts that a great white shark can take the path of cannibalism by tasting the taste of human flesh during periods of famine. However, the same can be said about other active predators from the shark community.

Interestingly, the last 3 years have been characterized by an increase in encounters between Carcharodon and humans in the coastal Mediterranean waters. Usually these fastidious sharks do not swim close to the coasts, preferring more clear waters, however, beaches are now increasingly being closed due to the appearance of white sharks. Thus, vacationers on the beaches of the Cote d'Azur and Levantine coasts, resorts in Spain, Turkey and Montenegro were evacuated. This does not mean that the beaches were attacked by white-bellied predators, no, the sharks simply swam closer to the shores than 100 meters. In some cases, great white sharks have simply been confused with dolphins.

Fears of the great white shark in the Mediterranean are stimulated by the mass of films about killer sharks, as well as isolated cases of attacks, which immediately become the subject of sensational hype in the media, often describing the events in unrealistic colors.

Thus, the whole world went around the shocking news about the death of the cult Italian director from the teeth of a carcharodon, which occurred off the coast of Cyprus. However, no one said that the man decided to try his hand at the now popular sport fishing. Trying to catch a great white shark with a fishing rod, he simply fell into the sea, where he was bitten in half by huge jaws. Not one more death There are no carcharodon attacks in this area.

The Mediterranean is not a fishing zone. There are not many fishermen here. However, this does not save the white shark from being hunted by people. Since the resort business is developed, all sacrifices are for the benefit of vacationers.
White-bellied beauties are killed for their fins, ribs, and teeth. Fins are a world famous delicacy; Often a fish is caught, the fins are cut off and the unfortunate predator is released to die. Usually such mutilated sharks die in the jaws of their fellow tribesmen, who take advantage of their helplessness.

Coastal restaurants use driftwood to make soups, one serving of which costs $100. The ribs are used to make souvenir combs, keychains, etc.

A separate income item is teeth and jaws. On the Italian coast, collectors pay up to $1,000 for a Carcharodon jaw.

red shark - mistress sea ​​waters. The Mediterranean, as it turns out, is not the most popular habitat for carhadon populations. However, these waters are also mastered by white-bellied beauties. Calm, low-aggressive white sharks Mediterranean Sea different from their brothers. Maintaining ecological balance, these ancient predators decorate the entire aquatic system, and will patrol the waters of the Mediterranean for many years to come.

And only man, with his greed and thoughtless cruelty, can stop the existence of this fish necessary for Mother Nature - the great white shark.

There are many facts confirming such fruits of human activity in relation to many types of living beings in history, all of them are reflected on black sheets International Red Book.

Complex Scientific research showed that people abusing fishing themselves lead to a decrease in the amount of food for sharks, and the lack of food is main reason their aggressive behavior towards swimmers and surfers. The number of collisions is increasing due to the fact that everyone more people go out into the open sea, ignoring the warnings of the authorities, and enter shark habitats, which leads to skirmishes and collisions with animals. Data shows that 6 out of 10 attacks are caused by humans. For example, emboldened scuba divers are increasingly trying to touch a shark. Very often there are attacks on fishermen who are trying to pull out a shark they have caught.

Well, how do you get out of a fight with a shark alive? Here are some real life examples. Richard Whatley, who was swimming, was attacked by a shark in mid-June 2005 in Alabama. He was almost 100 meters from the shore when he felt a strong push in his thigh. He realized it was a shark and tried to escape. A second later, the shark received a powerful punch to the nose - all that Richard was capable of, he put into this blow. Having knocked down the predator, Richard rushed with all his might to the saving shore. But the shark quickly recovered and continued to attack. However, each of her attempts to attack ended in failure: blows to the nose followed one after another, until Richard finally crawled ashore safe and sound. By the way, this was the first recorded shark attack on a person in Alabama in 25 years.

So what? Powerful right hook to the shark's nose - effective remedy protection? In this case, the person, of course, survived, but in most cases, such blows will only irritate the shark, so if you see a shark, then you better freeze and wait for help.

Yes, so far the shark is the number one enemy in the water for humans. But I would like to hope that in the near future people will invent some kind of remedy against the attacks of these bloodthirsty predators. Then, perhaps, a person’s fear of this fish will dissipate and he will appreciate these formidable hunters of our planet.

Over millions of years of existence, sharks have perfectly adapted to living in aquatic environment. They can be called the most perfect fish of all fish species, known to man. For more successful survival, they lack only one thing - caring for their offspring. After birth, the cubs are left to their own devices. But maybe that’s why sharks have become such perfect creatures? After all, it is known that in cruel world nature, the strongest or “cunning” species survives. The only enemy of an adult shark is man. Although he does not exceed it in body size and number of teeth, he is capable of destroying any, even the largest shark with one movement of his finger by pressing a button trigger device next lethal weapon. So maybe it's time to leave these creatures alone and give our descendants the opportunity to discover amazing world white sharks?

White shark attack tactics are varied. It all depends on what the shark has on his mind. These formidable predators are very curious animals. The only way For her, studying her object of curiosity means trying it out. Scientists call such bites “research.” They are most often obtained by surfers or divers floating on the surface, whom the shark, due to its poor eyesight, mistakes for seals or sea lions. Having made sure that this “bony prey” is not a seal, the shark can lag behind the person, if it is not too hungry, of course.

According to official statistics Every year, from 80 to 110 people are attacked by sharks (the total number of recorded attacks of all types of sharks is considered), of which 1 to 17 are fatal. If we make a comparison, people destroy about 100 million sharks every year.

Carcharodons, also known as white sharks, are rightfully considered the most dangerous waterfowl predators that roam the oceans. Many people would like to know what the largest white shark is and what it looks like.

These graceful predators swim in all oceans on the planet, with the exception of the Arctic Ocean. They live in warm waters, so people can often observe them close to the shore. California and Australia can be called the most favorite places to stay for dangerous white sharks. These animals are also called “white death”, since they commit more than a third of all attacks on people by sharks in general. They have from 3 to 5 rows of sharp triangular teeth in their mouths, which are constantly replaced. The white shark has about 300 teeth in total.

Lifespan

Scientists believe that the lifespan of white sharks is 70-100 years. Their maturity occurs at about 30 years of age, at which time they begin to reproduce. These strong, powerful animals are created by nature to be predators. Usually, a female white shark carries several sharks at the same time (from 5 to 10), but gives birth to only one. This happens because the cubs destroy their brothers and sisters while still in the womb, this is how natural selection works.

White Shark Sizes

It is impossible to say exactly what the largest white shark is. Typically, adult female white sharks are larger than males, and can reach a length of 4.9 meters, while males grow up to 4 meters. But there is a lot of evidence, both oral and documented, pointing to other, larger data on the weight and length of the largest predators ever caught:

In 1959, a white shark 5.17 meters long and weighing 1.2 tons was caught on a fishing rod near the Great Australian Bight called Daniel Bay. Believed to be the largest line-caught and officially recorded big fish, it was caught by Elf Dean.

But it is known that in 1976 an even larger specimen of the white shark (or white death) was caught. Also off the coast of Australia, Cliven Green caught a shark weighing more than 1.5 tons and 5.24 meters long. True, there is no documentary evidence of this.

And near the Azores in 1978, with the help of harpoons, a huge white shark was caught with a length, according to various sources, from 6.2 to 7 meters. When they tried to harpoon her, the predator killed 2 fishermen: she bit one in half, and pushed the second into the water and broke her spine.
Another documented case was the capture of a shark, 6.4 meters long and weighing about 3.2 tons. This “white death” was caught and photographed off the coast of Cuba back in 1945.

It is also reliable that the largest measured female white shark was caught off Prince Edward Island in 1988. Its size was 6.1 meters and its weight was 1.9 tons.
There are unconfirmed reports that sharks measuring around 8 and 7 meters in size were discovered and caught in 1982 and 1987 respectively.

In addition to the specimens caught by fishermen, a huge pregnant female Carcharodon, approximately 6 meters long, was captured on camera in 2013 in waters off Mexico. Despite all this evidence, some scientists agree that the length of the white shark can reach 11-12 meters.
Perhaps they are right, there is a possibility that somewhere in ocean depths Huge representatives of this shark species still live. Or maybe they lived just recently, because the size of predators directly depends on their living conditions and the availability of sufficient food. IN Lately, humans do not contribute to improving the situation in the world's oceans. Fishing, man-made disasters, pollution environment(water in particular) – reduces the number and diversity of living organisms on the entire planet. And a small amount of food entails a decrease in the number and size of predators, who have nothing to feed their huge bodies.

Fear and curiosity - these are the feelings the creators of the blockbuster “Jaws” hoped to evoke in viewers, but the effect exceeded all expectations. And we're not talking about Oscars and record box office receipts. The great white shark, presented in the film as a monster greedy for human flesh, began to be caught and exterminated without hesitation.

However, ichthyologists will say that in most cases, attacks by white sharks on humans are the result of incorrect identification of a swimming object. When viewed from the depths, a diver or surfer can easily pass for a pinniped or a turtle, and in general, great white sharks, due to their curiosity, try everything by the skin of their teeth.

Today, about 3.5 thousand individuals of this ancient predator live in the world's oceans, which is undoubtedly dangerous and therefore not well studied. But like any animal with a sinister reputation, the great white shark will always be of interest, especially to thrill-seekers.

Origin of the white shark

It was previously believed that white sharks descended from megalodon - giant fish, up to 30 m long and weighing almost 50 tons, extinct 3 million years ago. But modern research The remains of the superpredator made it possible to establish that megalodons belong to the family Otodontidae, and white sharks belong to the family of herring sharks, so the number of supporters of this version has greatly decreased.

Today, scientists consider Isurus hastalis, one of the extinct species of mako shark, to be the recognized ancestor of the white shark. Both predators have almost the same tooth structure, only in the white shark, during evolution, serrations have formed along the edges of the teeth.

Taxonomy of the white shark

The white shark belongs to the class of cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), which means that its skeleton does not have bones, but consists entirely of cartilaginous tissue. In addition to sharks, stingrays and chimeras have this feature.

The white shark is part of the order Lamniformes, which unites large species of sharks with a torpedo-shaped body.

The dense build, pointed snout and 5 gill slits made it possible to classify the white shark as a member of the family of herring or lamn sharks (Lamnidae). Its closest relatives are the mako shark, salmon shark and lamna.

The genus of white sharks (Carcharodon) includes 2 extinct and one modern species - the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), also called carcharodon or, due to its sad fame, the man-eating shark.

Appearance of a great white shark

This is a stocky fish with a dense body, elongated in the shape of a torpedo. The head of the predator is very large, conical, with a pointed muzzle and mouth, curved into a parabola. On the sides of the head, closer to the pectoral fin, there are 5 huge gill slits that provide water respiration.

The pectoral fins are large, elongated in the shape of a sickle. The first dorsal fin is high, triangular in shape, growing slightly further than the base of the pectoral fins. Sometimes its top is rounded. The second dorsal fin is very small, as is the anal fin. On the pelvic fin of males there is an elongated element - a copulatory outgrowth.

The tail fin blades of the white shark are of the same width, which is typical of other herring sharks, which are capable of developing decent speed before attacking.

The name “white” shark does not quite accurately convey the coloration of the predator. Its upper part and sides are often gray, sometimes brownish or with a blue tint. There are dark, almost black specimens. But the belly of a white shark is dirty white.

Newborn sharks and adult individuals are completely identical in appearance, but differ only in size.

How much does a white shark weigh?

The maximum possible size and weight of Carcharodon still causes heated debate in scientific circles. In the authoritative encyclopedia of past years, “Animal Life,” 1971, the greatest height of a measured white shark is called 11 m, without indicating weight. However, the opinion of modern scientists on this matter is less optimistic. Ichthyologists believe that, given an ideal habitat, a white shark can grow to a maximum of 6.8 m in length.

A number of scientific sources claim that the largest white shark was caught off the coast of Cuba in 1945. Its length was 6.4 m and its estimated weight was 3,324 kg. The measurements were based on a photo of a white shark, so some experts believe that the real size of the fish is overestimated by at least 1 meter.

In 1988, a white shark was caught off the Canadian coast, which was measured and weighed. It was a female, 6.1 m long with a body weight of about 1,900 kg. This specimen is considered so far the only one whose dimensions and weight have been reliably confirmed.

Interesting fact: if you compare the weight of a great white shark with major representatives other families, then its mass with the same length will be almost 2 times greater!

On average, adult individuals weigh from 680 to 1,100 kg. Females are heavier and larger than males, their length is 4.6-4.9 m, males grow from 3.4 to 4 m.

Nevertheless, what excites minds is not so much the impressive dimensions of the great white shark, but its deadly mouth. After all, in sea ​​depths There are larger predators, for example, representatives of the family of giant sharks, and the teeth of the white shark are unique in their own way.

How many teeth does a white shark have?

This predator has the largest teeth of all fish existing today, their length is about 5 cm. Triangular-shaped teeth with rough jagged edges are arranged in several rows and are constantly renewed. The number of rows depends on the age of the fish, there are from 3 to 7. The upper jaws bear larger teeth, on the lower jaw the teeth are smaller but sharper.

Each row can contain from 30 to 40 teeth, i.e. total number There are more than 300 teeth in the mouth of a great white shark.

The teeth of the first, working row quickly wear out and, to replace the lost ones, fully formed new teeth rise from the gums and move forward. This “conveyor” is ensured by mobility in the gums and short tooth roots.

Today, thrill-seekers don't have to watch thrillers about sharks. An extreme type of ecotourism is extremely popular - cage diving, when a person, protected only by metal bars, sees the deadly jaws of the famous predator at arm's length. Entertainment costs everyone 50-150 euros. Dangerous attractions await their customers in places with the largest concentrations of representatives of the species.

Where are white sharks found?

Despite the obvious trend towards reduction in the species, white sharks continue to inhabit all oceans except the Arctic. The most numerous populations are found off the coast of South Africa, the American state of California, the Mexican state of Baja California, Australia and New Zealand. This is where they come from best photos white shark, chilling its realism.

Most carcharodon prefer coastal waters of the temperate zone with temperatures from 12 to 24 ° C and stay almost below the surface of the water. However large specimens thrive in tropical waters, cold seas, the open ocean, and also at considerable depth. According to documented data, a great white shark was once caught at a depth of 1,280 m using industrial bottom tools.

Before the invention of radio beacons, it was believed that long journeys were characteristic only of male white sharks, while females stuck to their native shores all their lives. However, the ability to track the movements of fish using modern equipment has proven the fact of long migrations by individuals of both sexes.

For what purpose great white sharks travel enormous distances remains a mystery. For example, it took one individual 9 months to travel 20 thousand km from the coast of South Africa to Australia and back. Perhaps long migrations are associated with reproduction or seasonal fluctuations in the food supply in different parts of the range.

What do white sharks eat?

Their diet is extremely varied, but despite their reputation for eating everything, white sharks feed primarily on fish, crabs, small marine animals, cephalopods and bivalves. Among the fish found in the stomachs of caught specimens are herring, sardines, stingrays and tuna. Dolphins, porpoises, sea beavers, sea lions and seals are often the prey of predators.

Undigested remains in the stomachs of white sharks once again confirm how aggressive these predators are towards others. sea ​​life. Their victims include beaked whales, sharp-snouted crocodiles, northern elephant seals, sunfish and various types of sharks: dusky dog ​​shark, Australian nurse shark, blue shark, sea foxes and katrans. However, such a menu is not typical for most white sharks and is rather the exception.

White sharks will not refuse carrion and happily eat the carcasses of dead cetaceans. Various inedible objects are often found in the stomachs of predators, for example, pieces of plastic, wood and whole glass bottles.

Sometimes great white sharks practice uncharacteristic cannibalism. For example, in the waters of Australia, before the eyes of observers, a 6-meter white shark bit its 3-meter relative in half.

If the hunt is successful, predators eat for future use. Thanks to its slow metabolism, a white shark weighing about a ton only needs 30 kg of whale blubber for 1.5 months. However, these are purely theoretical calculations, and in practice, predators eat much more, while demonstrating hunting skills honed over millions of years of evolution.

White shark hunting methods

Carcharodons live and hunt solitarily, but sometimes exhibit social behavior. For example, in the coastal waters of Cape Town, a group of 2-6 individuals is regularly spotted, which behave quite peacefully in the flock.

Observations carried out in South African waters have proven that there are various kinds of hierarchies within such groups. Females dominate over males, large individuals over smaller ones. At the meeting, representatives different groups and loners quickly determine the social position of each other and the alpha leader. Conflicts are usually resolved with warning bites and in most cases end there. However, white sharks always separate before hunting.

Unlike their relatives, white sharks often stick their heads out of the water, catching odors wafting through the air. This usually happens when patrolling archipelagos, where pinnipeds set up rookeries.

When the animals are in the water, the white shark begins the hunt. It swims towards the victim just under the surface of the water and makes a sharp throw, sometimes jumping half or completely out of the water. Seals or fur seals are grabbed from below across the body, large individuals are dragged to the depths and drowned, then torn into pieces and eaten. Small ones are swallowed whole.

In fog and at dawn, the chances of a white shark attacking the first time are 50/50. If the attempt is unsuccessful, the predator pursues the prey, reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h.

Northern elephant seals, which are found in abundance off the coast of California, are bitten from behind by white sharks, immobilizing them. Then they wait patiently for the victim to bleed out and stop resisting.

Dolphins are never approached from the front, excluding the possibility of detecting danger using echolocation.

If you don't try, you won't know. According to this principle, great white sharks determine the edibility of any object, be it a buoy or a person. According to statistics, between 1990 and 2011 there were 139 white shark attacks on humans, of which only 29 were fatal.

Even after an attack, carcharodons do not intentionally pursue people; the victims are single swimmers who die from painful shock. When there is a partner, the wounded man can be saved by driving away the predator and leaving the danger zone together.

Only newly born sharks hunt on their own and do not pose a danger to humans or large animals.

Reproduction of white sharks

Reproductive maturity of white sharks occurs late, when the fish reach their maximum size. Females mature at the age of 33 years, males are ready to breed at 26 years.

These predators do not survive in captivity, so research on them mating behavior and reproduction contain extremely scanty information.

Great white sharks are ovoviviparous fish. This means that fertilized eggs remain in the mother's oviducts. They hatch into embryos that feed on the eggs produced by the ovaries. A pregnant female carries on average 5-10 embryos, but theoretically a litter can contain from 2 to 14 cubs. In the early and intermediate stages, the belly of the young is very distended and filled with yolk, and when egg production stops, the fetus digests the reserves nutrients.

The exact timing of gestation in white sharks is unknown, but scientists believe that pregnancy lasts more than 12 months. The baby sharks are born fully developed, 1.2 to 1.5 m long, and ready to live independently.

How long does a white shark live?

The average lifespan of a great white shark is estimated at 70 years. Studies based on the study of vertebral growth have made it possible to determine the age of the oldest white shark. It turned out to be a 73-year-old male. However, not everyone manages to live to an old age.

Previously, scientists believed that the predator at the head of the food chain had no natural enemies. But at the end of the last century, reports appeared of attacks on white sharks by killer whales - even larger and more bloodthirsty predators.

Another enemy of the white shark is the saltwater crocodile, which is capable of turning over a large fish and easily tearing its throat or belly.

Water pollution, accidental capture and poaching also reduce the already low numbers of the species. The price of a tooth on the black market is $600-800, and the cost of great white shark jaws reaches $20-50 thousand.

Today, predators are protected by law in many countries, for example, Australia, South Africa, American states Florida and California. By the way, Peter Benchley, the author of the famous novel “Jaws,” clearly did not expect the negative consequences of the sensational film adaptation. Therefore, the writer devoted the last 10 years of his life to studying the ocean ecosystem and actively advocated for great white sharks.

A well-known representative of predatory fish is the great white shark. Individuals belonging to Carcharodon carcharias live in the surface layers of the water column of various oceans, although they are also encountered at depth. Only in the Arctic Ocean there are no sharks. These predator fish are called white death, man-eating fish and carcharodon (terrible-toothed).

Characteristics of the white shark: size, weight, teeth structure

White sharks owe their name to their specific appearance. The peritoneum of predatory fish, their sides and back are painted white. gray, in some individuals it is gray-blue or gray-brown.

Due to the specific color, it is difficult to notice fish from afar. The gray color of the back and sides makes it impossible to see them from above; they merge with the surface of the water. If you look up from the ocean floor, the white belly does not stand out against the sky. The shark's body is visually divided into 2 parts when viewed from the side from afar.

Female sharks are larger than males. The average length of female Carcharodon is 4.7 m, and males grow up to 3.7 m. With this length, their body weight varies between 0.7–1.1 tons. According to experts, man-eating fish found in ideal conditions, can grow up to 6.8 m. The body of the white shark is spindle-shaped and dense. There are 5 pairs of gill slits on the sides. The large conical head contains small eyes and nostrils.

Due to the grooves that approach the nostrils, the volume of water flowing to the olfactory receptors increases

The mouth of a predatory fish is wide and has the shape of an arc. Inside there are 5 rows of triangular sharp teeth, their height reaches 5 cm. The number of teeth is 280–300. In young individuals, the first row of teeth completely changes every 3 months, in adults - every 8 months. A special feature of Carcharodon is the presence of serrations on the surface of the teeth.

Powerful shark jaws can easily bite through cartilage and break the bones of victims they encounter. With the help of a study conducted in 2007, it was possible to find out the bite force of this predator.

Computed tomography of the shark's head helped establish that the bite force of a young specimen weighing 240 kg and 2.5 m long is 3131 N. And a shark 6.4 m long and weighing more than 3 tons can close its jaws with a force of 18216 N. According to some, According to scientists, information about the bite force of large sharks is overestimated. Due to the special structure of their teeth, sharks do not need to be able to bite with great force.

The first large fin on the back looks like a triangle, the pectoral fins are crescent-shaped, they are long and large. The anal and second dorsal fins are small. The body ends with a large tail, its plates are equal in size.

U large carcharodon circulatory system well developed. This allows predators to warm up their muscles and increase the speed of movement in the water. White sharks do not have a swim bladder. Because of this, carcharodons are forced to constantly move, otherwise they sink to the bottom.

Where does it live?

The habitat of man-eating sharks is huge. They are found both in coastal areas and further inland. Mostly sharks swim in surface waters, but some specimens could be found at a depth of more than 1 km. They prefer warm bodies of water; the optimal temperature for them is 12–24 °C. Desalinated and low-salt waters are not suitable for sharks.

Carcharodons are not found in the Black Sea

The main centers of concentration of predators include coastal zones in California, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Sharks are also found:

• near the coasts of Argentina, the Republic of Cuba, the Bahamas, Brazil, and the east coast of the USA;
• in the east Atlantic Ocean(from South Africa to France);
• V Indian Ocean(found near the Seychelles, in the Red Sea and the waters of the Republic of Mauritius);
• V Pacific Ocean(along the west coast of America, from New Zealand to the Far Eastern territories).

Sharks can often be seen around archipelagos, shallows, and rocky headlands where pinnipeds live. Separate populations live in the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas. But their number in the indicated reservoirs is beyond last years decreased significantly, they practically disappeared.

Lifestyle

The social structure of shark populations and the behavior of individual individuals have not been well studied by humans. With the help of observations, it was possible to reveal that the attack tactics of predators depend on the type of prey chosen. This is facilitated by high body temperature, which stimulates the functioning of the brain.

Their attacks are so swift that in pursuit of prey they can completely emerge from the water. At the same time, animals develop speeds above 40 km/h. A failed attack does not stop the pursuit of the victim. They can raise their heads above the water while searching for prey.

Interspecific competition occurs in places where sharks and cetaceans have a common food supply

Previously it was believed that natural enemies white sharks do not have them. But in 1997, whale watchers witnessed an attack on an adult white shark. She was attacked by a representative of the cetaceans - the killer whale. Similar attacks were recorded later.

Nutrition and digestive system

The diet of Carcharodon varies depending on the age and size of the animals. They feed on small animals:

• fish (tuna, stingrays, herring and small representatives of the shark family are popular);
• pinnipeds (fur seals, lions, and seals most often suffer);
• cephalopods;
• birds;
• representatives of cetaceans (porpoises, dolphins);
• sea ​​otters, turtles.

Carcharodons do not neglect carrion. A whale carcass can be a good catch.

Of particular interest to large individuals are seals, other marine animals, and small whales. With the help of fatty foods they manage to maintain energy balance, so they require high-calorie food.

But they rarely attack porpoises and dolphins. Although in the Mediterranean Sea the latter are an important component of the diet of sharks. They attack this type of prey mainly from below, from behind and from above, trying to avoid detection by echolocators.

Contrary to popular belief, humans are not of interest to sharks as food due to the insignificant amount of fat. Carcharodons may confuse a human with a marine mammal, which is considered the main reason for the attack.

White sharks have a slow metabolism, so they can sometimes go long periods without food.

Predators can go without food for a long time. It is believed that 30 kg of whale oil is enough to satisfy the metabolic processes taking place in the body of a shark weighing more than 900 kg for 45 days.

In terms of the structure of their digestive organs, sharks are practically no different from other fish. But Carcharodon has a pronounced division of the digestive system into various sections and glands. It begins with the oral cavity, which smoothly passes into the pharynx. Behind it comes the esophagus and the V-shaped stomach. The folds inside the stomach are covered with a mucous membrane, from which digestive enzymes and juices necessary for processing ingested food are abundantly secreted.

There is a special section in the stomach into which excess food is sent. Food can be stored in it for up to 2 weeks. If necessary digestive system begins to use the available reserve to support the life of the predator.

What distinguishes sharks from other species of fish and animals is the ability to “turn out” their stomach through their mouth. Thanks to this ability, they can clean it of dirt and accumulated food debris.

From the stomach, food passes into the intestines. The existing spiral valve contributes to more efficient absorption. Thanks to its presence, the contact of food digested in the stomach with the intestinal mucous membranes increases.

The following also take an active part in the digestion process:

• gallbladder;
• pancreas;
• liver.

The pancreas is responsible for the production of hormones and pancreatic juice, intended for the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Thanks to the work of the liver, toxins are neutralized, pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed, and fats from food are processed and absorbed.

Features of behavior

White sharks do not live in one place. They move along the coast, make transatlantic journeys, but return to their usual habitats. Due to migrations, it is possible for different shark populations to intersect, although they were previously thought to live in isolation. The reasons for Carcharodon migrations are still unknown. Researchers speculate that this is due to reproduction or the search for places rich in food.

During observations in the waters of South Africa, it was revealed that the dominant position is assigned to females. When hunting, predators are separated. Conflicts that arise are resolved through demonstrative behavior.

White sharks start a fight in exceptional cases

Their behavior during hunting is interesting. The entire process of catching a victim can be divided into stages:

1. Identification.
2. Determination of species.
3. Approaching an object.
4. Attack.
5. Eating.

They attack mainly in cases where the prey is near the surface of the water. They grab large specimens in the middle and pull them under water. There they can swallow prey whole.

Diseases

The threat to Carcharodon is the small copepod crustaceans. They settle in the gills, feed on the shark’s blood and the oxygen supplied to it. Gradually, the condition of the gill tissues deteriorates and the shark dies from suffocation.

Carnivores have a well-functioning immune system that can protect them from autoimmune, inflammatory and infectious diseases, but they often develop cancer. We have now identified more than 20 types of tumors that threaten the lives of sharks.

Reproduction: how white sharks give birth

Young sharks are born adapted to live independently

White sharks are ovoviviparous fish. The eggs inside the mother's body hatch into fry. They come out already grown up. There is no connection with the mother's body. The species reproduces by placental ovoviviparity. There are 2–10 sharks in a litter. Most often, 5–10 newborns are born. Their length at birth is 1.3–1.5 m.

The source of nutrients for growing embryos are the eggs produced by the mother's body. Sharks in the womb have a distended abdomen, 1 m long, with a yolk inside. At later stages of development, the stomachs become empty. Observers most often encounter newborn sharks in calm waters. They are well developed.

How long does he live?

The lifespan of Carcharodon is on average 70 years. In this case, sexual maturity in females occurs at 33 years of age, in males - at 26 years of age. They stop growing from the moment they reach maturity.

Assault on a person

People are not of interest to sharks, although there have been many recorded cases of them attacking. The most common victims are divers and fishermen who get too close to the predator.

In the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, a “shark phenomenon” has been observed, according to which Carcharodons swam away after one bite. According to experts, sharks that are hungry can easily feed on humans.

Most often, when meeting sharks, people die from blood loss, drowning or painful shock. When attacking, predators injure their prey and wait for it to weaken.

Playing dead is the worst option when encountering a shark.

Solo divers can be partially eaten by a shark, but people who dive with partners can be saved. Often those people who actively resist are able to escape. Any blows can cause the predator to swim away. Experts advise, if possible, to hit the shark in the eyes, gills, and face.

It is important to constantly monitor the location of the predator; it may attack again. Sharks readily feed on carrion, so the sight of an unresisting victim will not stop them.

Sharks are a little-studied species of predatory fish. A decrease in their numbers affects the food chain, because they are part of the ecosystem of the world's oceans. Despite the fact that little is known about white sharks, researchers have been able to identify a number of interesting facts related to these animals:

• Females have thicker skin than males. This is due to the fact that during mating the male roughly holds his partner, biting her fins.
• Shark teeth are coated with fluoride, which prevents them from deteriorating. Enamel consists of a substance that is resistant to acid produced by bacteria.
• Sharks have well-developed: vision, smell, hearing, touch, taste and sensitivity to electromagnetic fields.
• Sensitive olfactory receptors enable the shark to detect the smell of a seal colony located at a distance of 3 km.
• When hunting in cold waters, carcharodons are able to raise their body temperature.

Due to industrial fishing, the number of white sharks is rapidly declining. According to experts, there are about 3.5 thousand of them left all over the world. If sharks begin to die out, this could lead to the disappearance of many marine plants.