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| Source: Kids Konnect |
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Chondrichthyes
Subclass
Elasmobranchii
Superorder
Selachimorpha
Order Lamniformes
Scientific
Name Carcharodon Carcharias
Type Fish
ANATOMY
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| Source: NSW Government |
It's famous
for its dark to light grey upper body and all white lower half. To a seal
swimming on the surface, the shark would resemble the murky depths below it and
if seen from below, the stark white belly would resemble the light from above, known
as countershading.
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| Source: Mirror UK |
It has
a long pointed conical snout, similarly sized upper and lower lobes of the tail
and a mouth filled with serrated teeth. The jaws of the sharks are lined with
rows of teeth just beneath the gum. It is composed of nearly pure muscle, with
very little fat. It stores fat in the liver for emergency use or for travelling
long distances without eating.
BEHAVIOUR
The
Great White’s behaviour is not well known. But some have been found to have
bites matching other Great Whites, suggesting that a proximity warning is given
with a light bite. Spy hopping is frequently done as the shark breaks the
surface of the water and looks above the ocean for prey. Research suggest that
it has to do with smelling for prey, as smell travels faster through air than
water.
They
also breach whereby they, usually while attacking, charge from below the prey
at up to 40kmph (25mph). This results in huge sharks breaking the surface of
the water while grabbing the prey, flying up to 3 m (10 ft), above the water.
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| Source: The Animal Globe |
DIET
They are
carnivorous, preying on nearly any fish in the ocean, but preferably fat rich
animals. Juvenile (younger than 15) sharks hunt and eat small fish because the cartilage
in their jaws isn’t mineralized to withstand the force for a stronger bite.
Older sharks are able to hunt larger prey, such as elephant seals, sunfish and
even whales. They also scavenge food, consuming off the dead carcasses of, for
example, whales. This particular species is warm-blooded and although it doesn’t
keep a constant body temperature, it needs to eat a lot of meat to regulate its
temperature.
HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
Their distribution
is widespread, found in every ocean and sea across the world. They are commonly
found as far north as the Upper Atlantic and Pacific, just south of Arctic
waters and as far south as the southern tip of Australia. The Great White is considered
native to the Mediterranean states, United States, sub-Saharan coastal states,
South America and the Australian states. They stay close to coastal shelves,
preferring to hunt off the coastline. They spend their time in temperate waters
all over the world, but have made fleeting trips into colder water in the
north.
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| Source: Animal Fact Guide |
REPRODUCTION
Sharks
reach reproductive maturity at 15 years. Females are ovoviviparous (they hatch
their eggs internally then give birth once their pups are strong enough). Pups
are oophagous (they eat the weaker eggs while gestating). After mating the
female develops several eggs which hatch in her womb. They give birth between
spring and summer and have specific breeding grounds. They have anywhere
between 1-5 pups. Pups are roughly 1 ft. long when they are born and weigh around
5kg. Their jaws are strong enough to kill within their first month of life.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Their
numbers have steadily declined, though there is no exact number of population
size. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,
their status is currently Vulnerable but
it is on the cusp of being labelled endangered due to overfishing.
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| Source: HD Desktop Wallpapers |
REFERENCES
http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/great-white-shark/
