White Shark
Whale Shark

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The White Shark


Biology:

A huge and powerful shark, very active with a stiff (scombroid-like) mode of swimming. Due to its feeding behavior, white sharks are often found in the vicinity of seal populations (South Australia, South Africa, California). White sharks possess a higher body temperature due to a modified circulatory system that enables them to retain a body temperature warmer than the surrounding water (up to 10 to 15 °C higher). This offers a higher activity level due to an increase in muscle power. Although white sharks mostly live solitary they can be found in small aggregation and are social animals.

Feeding:


Marine mammals are a very important source including pinnipeds (such as harbour seals, northern elephant seals, sea lions and others), dolphins and porpoises. Also feed on other sharks (houndsharks, requiem sharks, hammerheads and others) and bony fishes. Furthermore, they often feed on dead animals such as baleen whales and other large cetaceans.


Reproduction:


Aplacental viviparous (ovoviviparous), embryos feed on eggs (oophagous). Pregnant females are hardly ever found suggesting that there is a spatial separation during that period of time. Number of pups is unknown, although a female was once found in the Mediterranean with 9 youngs. Males reach sexual maturity around 350cm (average), females with 400cm. Pups show a fast growth rate.