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5 Interesting Great White Shark Facts

5 Interesting Great White Shark Facts

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on April 26, 2015
great white shark

Effectively demonized in all types of media, the truth about the great white shark is not quite what we have been led to believe. These incredible ocean apex predators deserve far more respect than they are given by the general population, for without them our oceans would suffer an ecological imbalance. Let’s take a look at just five interesting great white shark facts that are little discussed when the topic arises.

Great White Shark
Photo by Gerald Schömbs on Unsplash

Facts about the Great White Shark

They’re not the largest sharks

While it is the world’s largest predatory fish, growing up to 20 feet in length and weighing around 5,000 pounds, the great white shark is not the largest of its species. It actually comes in second to the gentle whale shark, which can reach up to 40 feet in length and weigh over ten times more than the great white.

There are only about 10 great white shark attacks on humans every year

The great white shark has long been considered a man eater, though in truth, they average no more than ten attacks on humans each year. Experts believe that rather than waging a calculated predatory attack on humans, the sharks are actually “taste testing” to see if a swimmer might be a palatable meal. Apparently, we leave a bit to be desired in the world of great white cuisine, but unfortunately for us, one bite is often sufficient to cause serious or potentially fatal damage.

They swim in deep waters and long distances

While a common notion about the great white shark is that it resides in coastal waters, they have been recorded at depths nearly 4,000 feet below the surface, and swimming distances of up to 12,000 miles across the ocean. This incorrect perception about their habitat is likely a result of coastal waters being their prime hunting grounds.

They travel in schools

Great white sharks are often perceived as lone predators patrolling the ocean in an unceasing hunt for prey. However, researchers have discovered that they travel in schools just like most other fish. Surprisingly, when a great white tries to steal the food of another, the typical result is a flurry of tail slapping rather than biting, since even a single chomp could prove too damaging to either foe.

They can drop their core temperature

Finally, while most sharks are literal cold blooded killers, the great white has the amazing ability to regulate its body temperature to be warmer than the surrounding water, allowing it to more efficiently hunt fast-moving prey. When it’s time to conserve energy, the great white can internally drop its core temperature to match the ambient temperature of the sea.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro