# Great White Shark (*Carcharias carcharias*) The Great White Shark is a large and powerful fish known for its size and strength. They are often seen in the ocean! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Legendary - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Open ocean - **Also known as:** Great White, Shark, White Pointer, White Shark ![Great White Shark](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424498/objects/4712.jpg) ## Appearance The Great White Shark has a powerful, torpedo-shaped body with a dark grey top and a stark white belly, offering perfect camouflage. Its large, triangular dorsal fin and crescent-shaped tail make it instantly recognizable from other sharks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Elasmobranchii - **Order:** Lamniformes - **Family:** Lamnidae - **Genus:** Carcharodon ## Interesting facts - Great White Sharks can actually lift their heads out of the water to look around. - Their skin is covered in tiny, tooth-like scales called dermal denticles, making it rough. - These amazing sharks are one of the ocean's oldest living predators, existing for millions of years. - They replace thousands of razor-sharp teeth throughout their lifetime! ## Special abilities - **Ambush Camo:** Great White Sharks have a dark grey back and white belly that helps them blend with the ocean from above or below. - **Super Sniffer:** Great White Sharks possess an incredible sense of smell that helps them locate even a tiny trace of blood from miles away. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 400-600 cm - **Weight:** 680-1100 kg - **Lifespan:** 40-70 years - **Swim Speed:** 40 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 1200 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding Top ocean predators, Great White Sharks eat marine mammals like seals and fish. - **Age differences:** Young sharks eat mostly fish, while adults prefer larger, energy-rich marine mammals. - **Primary Foods:** seals, sea lions, small whales, tuna, rays, other sharks - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** California Sea Lion (*Zalophus californianus*) — A primary food source in many coastal habitats. - **Hunts:** [Harbor Seal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harbor-seal) (*Phoca vitulina*) — Often ambushed by sharks near their coastal rookeries. - **Eaten by:** Killer Whale (*Orcinus orca*) — Young or smaller sharks can be prey for killer whales. - **Symbiotic with:** Whitefin Sharksucker (*Echeneis naucrates*) — Remoras attach to sharks for transport and to eat scraps. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Great White Shark? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Great White Shark? 400-600 cm ### How much does Great White Shark weigh? 680-1100 kg ### How long does Great White Shark live? 40-70 years ### What does Great White Shark eat? Top ocean predators, Great White Sharks eat marine mammals like seals and fish. ### How fast can Great White Shark swim? 40 km/h ### Where is Great White Shark usually found? Open ocean ### How does Great White Shark hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Dallas World Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dallas-world-aquarium) — Texas, US · Aquarium - [Minnesota Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/minnesota-zoo) — Minnesota, US · Zoo - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-san-diego) — California, US · Aquarium - [Diergaarde Blijdorp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/diergaarde-blijdorp) — South Holland, NL · Zoo - [Madrid Zoo Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/madrid-zoo-aquarium) — Spain, ES · Aquarium - [Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/omahas-henry-doorly-zoo-and-aquarium) — Nebraska, US · Aquarium [View all places to see Great White Shark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-white-shark) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Great White Shark: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-white-shark)