Descendent from prehistoric sharks, the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is known as the terrifying killer in the 1975 classic Jaws. While these apex predators are both feared and enamored, there aren’t many of them left in the world to observe. Great whites are considered a vulnerable species, and while they can pose a danger to humans, there are proven ways to live in harmony with these impressive beasts of the sea.

Species Background

Great white sharks are one of the oldest animals in existence. Although there are conflicting theories on exactly which creature they descended from, it’s clear that both lineages trace far back into the fossil record. Their warm-blooded circulatory system, that generates heat through swimming movements, helps them to adapt to many different ocean environments. Compared to other cold-blooded counterparts, this means great whites can travel greater distances with little worry.

With teeth that have the ability to puncture and shatter bone, it’s no wonder the great white shark is feared among humans and sea life alike. Great whites measure no more than 21 feet in length, and most weigh anywhere between 1500 and 4000 pounds. These beasts of the sea are revered for their stature, and it’s obvious why they’re at the top of most marine food chains.

While the history and behavior of great white sharks is a little murky, some sharks are known to be territorial around feeding areas. Certain individuals may stick around one area for a large amount of time, while others are known to migrate far and wide. There’s scientific speculation that great white sharks may keep certain marine populations in check with their position as an apex predator. This means that shark removal can have a serious effect on the surrounding ecosystem and ultimately throw it out of balance.

Humans are the single greatest threat to great white sharks, but other larger sharks or orcas have been known to prey upon them as well. Great whites are often sought out for their teeth, jaws, fins and flesh, and they’re popular for sport fishing since it’s no easy feat to catch one. Certain unexpected mechanisms can help draw great whites closer at sea, but some experimentation may be necessary.

“Yummy Hum” Theory

Shark dives are popular in areas where great white sharks are protected. These beasts were routinely lured in by dive boats using a mix of minced fish and tuna oil, commonly called chum. Since using chum often made the great whites linger, the idea of using sound waves to attract sharks was eventually proposed as an alternative. This is a common technique for locating sharks in open waters since it can sound similar to vulnerable prey. One day, a South Australian shark diver got creative and played AC/DC’s hit Back in Black on his bobbing speaker, and the rest is history.

Low frequency sounds are effective in luring great white sharks, much like using a dinner bell to indicate feeding time. Many sharks use the follicles in their skin and ears to feel the vibrations that music provides. In this case, rock music can be used much the same way to elicit a curious response rather than a violent one.

Do great white sharks live in every ocean?

This is mostly true. Great white sharks can be found in almost every major ocean on earth. They prefer temperate waters for their habitat and tend to stick within areas that fit this statistic, much like humans do. However, great white sharks are not averse to diving and exploring. Some have been located over 3000 feet below in the deep ocean, and thousands of miles away from their normal habitat!

What country has the most great white sharks?

Although it’s hard to pinpoint great white sharks to a specific country, they have more condensed populations in certain places around the globe. In the eastern Pacific Ocean, great whites are found often in the plentiful fish-infested waters around Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and all along the coast of California and Chile in the west. In the Atlantic, great white sharks are common near South Africa and in pockets along the east coast of the United States.

What do great white sharks like to eat?

A great white’s diet largely depends on its age. When they’re young, great white sharks like to eat mostly coastal fishes because of their size and ease of catching. As they grow, these predators begin to seek out larger prey like other sharks, seals, dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles and porpoises. Great whites are especially fond of feeding on the rich blubber that whales and seals provide, but most don’t have a set animal they consistently prey on. These predators normally hunt by ambush, and their top speed of 35 mph means great white sharks can easily rush their prey and inflict a fatal b

What’s the biggest thing a great white shark can eat?

Based on a single example, great white sharks may feed on animals as large as whale sharks. However, great whites are also known to scavenge off of carcasses that have otherwise been left for dead. It’s unclear whether or not this mammoth beast was actually alive and was pursued by the great white shark, or if it was merely left there to die by another predator. Whether or not this is the case, great white sharks are known for eating plenty of other sizable sea life to survive. Smaller sharks, dolphins, porpoises and seals are all fair hunting game for the great white, and prey is easy to consume with their serrated teeth.

How many great white sharks are left?

In 2018, it was estimated that there were only about 3500 great white sharks left in the wild. Many of these sharks have been lost due to threats of overfishing and collisions with ocean vessels. Since great whites are often deemed responsible for shark attacks, this can spell trouble for the species at large with the negative opinions held by most people. Advocation for great whites is important in the coming years so that they do not face extinction.

Australia has implemented one of the first systems to deal with shark presence so that great whites can potentially live in harmony with humans. Scientists have begun tagging great white sharks with receivers, so that if one of these tagged sharks appears in the bay, a phone call is received, and the beach in question is closed. This is one viable solution, but humans must be creative and thoughtful in order to make these ideas work. Great white sharks are also protected in California, Australia and South Africa, and “shark dives” can often be a popular way in these areas to get a safe peek at these predators.

How aggressive are great white sharks?

Great white sharks are the shark species responsible for the greatest number of unprovoked shark attacks, so it’s no wonder they’re seen as aggressive aquatic predators. However, research out of Sydney, Australia has confirmed that humans swimming or paddling on surfboards looks remarkably similar to sea lions and seals from below. This is especially true for long surfboards, as shorter boards don’t emulate the size of these sea creatures the same way.

Sharks are often completely colorblind, which makes wetsuits or surfboards hard to distinguish from food sources. And in the case of young white sharks, who are still learning how to hunt larger prey, attacks can be a simple case of mistaken identity.

Do great white sharks attack humans?

Historically, great white sharks are responsible for the most shark attacks out of any species. Of reported cases, there have been 333 attacks with 52 of these being fatal. Many of these shark attacks have occurred in temperate, coastal waters where great white sharks are exceedingly common. Overall, only about 7% of reported shark attacks result in death. The chance of getting bitten by a shark is one in 3.75 million, which means the risk is extremely low for most aquatic explorers.

Great white sharks are some of the most well-known aquatic predators of modern times. Even if they sometimes mistake their prey, this prehistoric species is worth saving to keep ocean ecosystems in balance.

Works Cited

Swain-Wilson, S. (2019, February 14). 10 places you’re most likely to see a great white shark. Insider. Retrieved December 8, 2021, from https://www.insider.com/places-likely-to-see-a-great-white-shark-2019-2.

Long, D. (2021, November 20). White shark. Britannica. Retrieved December 8, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/animal/white-shark.

Owens, B. (2016, February 12). White shark’s diet may include biggest fish of all: whale shark. NewScientist. Retrieved December 8, 2021, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2077291-white-sharks-diet-may-include-biggest-fish-of-all-whale-shark/.

Merchant, B. (2018, October 11). Only 3,500 Great Whites Now Left in the Wild. Treehugger. Retrieved December 8, 2021, from https://www.treehugger.com/only-great-whites-now-left-in-the-wild-4858371.

Mendoza, J. (2021, November 1). You look like a seal – at least to a baby great white shark, study suggests. USA Today. Retrieved December 8, 2021, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2021/11/01/baby-great-white-sharks-poor-vision-humans-seals/6234455001/.

Penberthy, N. (2015, November 27). Great white sharks prefer rock music. Australian Geographic. Retrieved December 9, 2021, from https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2015/11/great-white-sharks-prefer-rock-music/