White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758)

Animal Species:White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758)

The White Shark is one of the most famous (and feared) species of shark. It is one of the few shark species that is dangerous to humans.

Alternative Name/s

Great White Shark, White Death, White Pointer

Identification

The White Shark has a torpedo-shaped body, a pointed snout and large pectoral and first dorsal fins. It has a lunate tail, black eyes and large serrated teeth. It is grey or bronze above and white below.

Size range

White Sharks can grow to at least 6 m in length and weigh 3000 kg.

Distribution

White Sharks are found worldwide in temperate, coastal waters. In Australia they have been recorded from southern Queensland to north-western Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of White Shark specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Worldwide in temperate, coastal waters.

Habitat type

Marine Habitat: continental shelf

What does this mean?

Feeding and Diet

Juvenile White Sharks normally eat squid and fishes such as stingrays and other sharks. As the fish matures, its diet changes. Adults eat seals, sea lions, dolphins and dead whales, although some will continue to eat fishes such as snapper. White Sharks have also been known to eat elephant seals, sea otters, turtles and sea birds.

Life cycle

Females mature at 4.5 m to 5 m in length. It is believed that a White Shark of 5 m to 6 m in length is likely to be 15 to 25 years old. However, the technique of aging sharks by examining growth rings in their vertebrae, is yet to be confirmed as accurate for this species.

Conservation Status (IUCN): VULNERABLE (VU)
Conservation Status (Federal): Vulnerable

What does this mean?

Economic/social impacts

Despite Australia's reputation as "the place to go to see White Sharks", they are uncommon. There are no reliable estimates of the number of White Sharks in Australian waters however, evidence suggests that their numbers are decreasing.

This species is now protected in all Australian states and territorial waters. The White Shark is also protected in many places around the world. South Africa was the first to protect this species in 1992, followed by Namibia, the Maldives, Florida and California and Australia. New Zealand gave the White Shark protected species status In 2007.

The White Shark is a powerful predator, which provokes fear in many people. However, this may not be entirely warranted. Scientists are only recently building up knowledge on the biology, movements and vulnerability of this species. A new research project funded by the Natural Heritage Trust, and under the leadership of J. Stevens and B. Bruce, of CSIRO Fisheries, is one such study. Visit the CSIRO site to view the page on "Neale" the tagged White Shark.

Classification

Species:: carcharias
Genus:: Carcharodon
Family:: Lamnidae
Order:: Lamniformes
Class:: Chondrichthyes
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Anon. 2002. Introducing Heather & Neale. Great White Stars. Natural Heritage. Autumn. 12:16.
Ellis, R. & J.E. McCosker. 1991. Great White Shark. Stanford University Press. Pp. 270.
Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
Klimley, A.P. & D.G. Ainley (eds). 1996. Great White Sharks. The Biology of Carcharodon carcharias. Academic Press. Pp. 517.
Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994.Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513, Pl. 1-84.
Paxton, J.R. 2003. Shark nets in the spotlight. Nature Australia. Spring. 27 (10): 84.
Pogonoski, J.J., Pollard, D.A.& J.R. Paxton. 2002.Conservation Overview and Action Plan for Australian Threatened and Potentially Threatened Marine and Estuarine Fishes. Environment Australia, ISBN 0 642 54786 6. [Online August 2007]
Saïdi, B., Bradaï, M.N., Bouaïn, A., Guélorget, O. & C. Capapé. 2005. Capture of a pregnant female white shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Lamnidae) in the Gulf of Gabés (southern Tunisia, central Mediterranean) with comments on oophagy in sharks. Cybium. 29(3): 303-307.
Stevens, J.D. in Gomon, M.F., C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
White Sharks. Filling the gaps in our knowledge. CSIRO fact sheet 35, May 1999, Pp. 2. White Shark Research. Neale the white shark. CSIRO Australia. [Online August 2007]