Great white shark

The great white shark is one of the largest hunting fish in the sea. A grown-up can be as long as a small bus, and the females are even bigger than the males. Its back is grey so it is hard to see from above, and its belly is white so it is hard to see from below.

Great whites are strong, fast swimmers. Deep inside its body, a great white keeps its muscles warmer than the water around it. Warm muscles work better, so the shark can put on a burst of speed to catch fast fish and, when it is older, seals and sea lions.

This shark has amazing senses. It can smell food from far away, and special tiny holes on its snout can feel the faint electric buzz that every living animal makes. That means a great white can find its next meal even in cloudy water.

A great white’s mouth holds rows and rows of pointed teeth. When one wears out or falls, a new tooth simply moves up to take its place, so the shark never runs out. Over a long life it may grow and lose thousands of teeth.

Great whites are not monsters. They are an important part of a healthy ocean, keeping other animal groups in balance. Sadly there are fewer of them than there used to be, mostly because so many are caught in fishing nets. Scientists count them and protect them so these remarkable sharks can keep swimming in our seas.