Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Quick Facts

Scientific nameCarcharodon carcharias

Other namesWhite Shark, White Pointer

SizeOver 6 m (20 ft)

WeightOver 2,000 kg (4,400 lb)

FamilyMackerel Shark / Lamnidae

Distribution

Habitat & AU DistributionCoastal & offshore waters from bays, beaches, reefs to the outer continental shelf & slopes throughout the water column

Depth Range0 - 1,300 m (2,866 ft)

Interesting Info

The Great White Shark is the world’s largest predatory fish, growing over 6 m (20 ft) long and weighing more than 2,000 kg (4,400 lb).
In Australia, they are found along all southern coasts—from Western Australia to New South Wales, and also around Tasmania and South Australia.
Globally, they range through temperate and subtropical seas, including South Africa, California, the Mediterranean, and Japan.
Great Whites have torpedo-shaped bodies, crescent tails, and rows of serrated teeth—perfect tools for catching seals and large fish.
They can swim up to 25 km/h (15 mph) in short bursts when attacking prey.
They have up to 300 teeth arranged in several rows; lost teeth are replaced throughout their lives.
Great Whites rely on incredible senses—smelling a drop of blood in 100 litres of water and detecting the faint electrical pulses of prey.
They eat seals, sea lions, dolphins, large fish, rays, and even other sharks.
Young sharks often feed on fish and rays before switching to marine mammals as they grow larger.
They are warm-blooded compared to most fish, keeping their muscles warmer than the surrounding water for bursts of speed.
Females are bigger than males, sometimes exceeding 6 m (20 ft).
They give birth to live pups (ovoviviparous), usually 2 to 10 at a time, after an 11-month pregnancy.
Pups are around 1.2–1.5 m (4–5 ft) long at birth and independent from day one.
Lifespan can reach at least 70 years, making them among the longest-living sharks.
They are solitary hunters but may gather where prey is abundant, such as seal colonies.
Despite their reputation, most shark attacks on humans are cases of mistaken identity.
They migrate incredible distances—one tagged female swam from South Africa to Australia, over 11,000 km (6,800 miles).
Their bite force has been measured at over 18,000 newtons, one of the strongest of any living animal.

Species Interaction

Recreational Fishing, Snorkelling & Diving

For divers and snorkellers, the Great White is the ultimate shark encounter—seen most often from the safety of shark cages in South Africa, Australia, and Mexico. Recreational fishing for Great Whites is banned in Australia and most of the world, but they are sometimes hooked accidentally. They play a critical ecological role as apex predators, keeping seal and fish populations balanced.

Species
Sustainability

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Chondrichthyes

Order: Lamniformes

Family: Lamnidae

Genus: Carcharodon

Species: Carcharodon carcharias

Conservation Status

The Great White Shark is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. While widespread, their populations are decreasing due to bycatch, illegal fishing, and declines in prey. In Australia, they are legally protected under the EPBC Act, making it illegal to target or harm them.