For decades, many ichthyological works, as well as the Guinness Book of World Records, listed two great white sharks as the largest individuals: In the 1870s, a 10.9 m (36 ft) great white captured in southern Australian waters, near Port Fairy, and an 11.3 m (37 ft) shark trapped in a herring weir in New Brunswick, Canada, in the 1930s. Several larger great whites caught by anglers have since been verified, but were later disallowed from formal recognition by IGFA monitors for rules violations.Įxamples of large unconfirmed great whites Ī number of very large unconfirmed great white shark specimens have been recorded. The largest great white recognized by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is one caught by Alf Dean in south Australian waters in 1959, weighing 1,208 kg (2,663 lb). However, later studies also revealed that this particular specimen was actually around 4.9 m (16 ft) in length, a specimen in the average maximum size range. This specimen was reportedly 6.4 m (21 ft) long and had a body mass estimated at 3,324 kg (7,328 lb). However, there was a report considered reliable by some experts in the past, of a larger great white shark specimen from Cuba in 1945. This female great white was 6.1 m (20 ft) long. Another great white specimen of similar size has been verified by the Canadian Shark Research Center: A female caught by David McKendrick of Alberton, Prince Edward Island, in August 1988 in the Gulf of St. Randall, the largest white shark reliably measured was a 5.94 m (19.5 ft) individual reported from Ledge Point, Western Australia in 1987. Great white sharks are at around 1.2 m (3.9 ft) when born, and grow about 25 cm (9.8 in) each year.Īccording to J. This makes the great white shark the largest extant macropredatory fish. These three species are generally quite docile in disposition and given to passively filter-feeding on very small organisms. Among living cartilaginous fish, only the whale shark ( Rhincodon typus), the basking shark ( Cetorhinus maximus) and the giant manta ray ( Manta birostris), in that order, are on average larger and heavier. The maximum size is subject to debate because some reports are rough estimations or speculations performed under questionable circumstances. The largest females have been verified up to 6.1 m (20 ft) in length and an estimated 1,905 kg (4,200 lb) in weight, perhaps up to 2,268 kg (5,000 lb). Adults of this species weigh 522–771 kg (1,151–1,700 lb) on average however, mature females can have an average mass of 680–1,110 kg (1,500–2,450 lb). Male great whites on average measure 3.4 to 4.0 m (11 to 13 ft) long, while females at 4.6 to 4.9 m (15 to 16 ft). In great white sharks, sexual dimorphism is present, and females are generally larger than males.

The iris of the eye is a deep blue instead of black. Great white sharks, like other mackerel sharks, have larger eyes than other shark species in proportion to their body size. When the shark bites, it shakes its head side-to-side, helping the teeth saw off large chunks of flesh.

Great white sharks, like many other sharks, have rows of serrated teeth behind the main ones, ready to replace any that break off.

Leucism is extremely rare in this species, but has been documented in one great white shark (a pup that washed ashore in Australia and died). From above, the darker shade blends with the sea and from below it exposes a minimal silhouette against the sunlight. The coloration makes it difficult for prey to spot the shark because it breaks up the shark's outline when seen from the side. A great white displays countershading, by having a white underside and a grey dorsal area (sometimes in a brown or blue shade) that gives an overall mottled appearance. The upper and lower lobes on the tail fin are approximately the same size which is similar to some mackerel sharks. The great white shark has a robust, large, conical snout. 1.1.1 Examples of large unconfirmed great whites.The great white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias) is one of the most well-known sharks alive today.

Deep blue shark age