Length:     6 m (20 ft) [adult],      1.8 m (5.5 ft) [juvenile],      0.5 m (1.6 ft) [pup]
Height:      1.8 m (6 ft) [adult, pectoral fin tip to dorsal fin tip]
Weight:     2,268 kg (5,000 lbs) [adult] [ref1]
Life Stages:     pup (at birth), juvenile (0-15 years), adult (15-30 years)
Lifespan:     up to 30 years
Speed:     cruising, 8 kph (5 mph, 4.3 knots),      attack, 19 kph (12 mph, 10.2 knots)
Species:     Carcharodon carcharias
Sense of Smell:    exceptional
Vision:    average
Coloration:     countershading (belly is white, topside is gray). Serves as an aquatic camouflage.
Prey detection:    special sensory cells detect faint electrical signals of prey animals.
Habitat:     coastal waters in all major oceans in temperatures between 12-24 °C (54-75 °F).
Bite Force:     18,000 Newtons (4,000 lbf). It takes just 4,000 Newtons to break a human thighbone.   Another max. bite-force estimate is: 2,700 Newtons (600 lbf). (Feb1-2012)
Dorsal Fin:     Sharks and dolphins are sometimes confused because both dolphins and sharks have large dorsal fins.  However, cruising dolphins don't have a tail fin that constantly stays above the water.  If you see a big fin above the water, look for the second above-water vertical fin behind it.  A handy rule is "shark if 2-fins, dolphin if 1-fin."
Evolution:     great white shark species is 16 million years old. The body plan of all sharks is so efficient that it has not significantly changed in 400 million years.

Go back to 'Shark Attacks' page  

                               For your viewing pleasure →

This video was shot on a nice sunny summer day of 2007 in southern California, USA
It shows mostly longboarders.