Great White Shark - Sharkworld

Phylum	Chordata
Class	Chondrichthyes
Order	Lamniformes
Family	Lamnidae

Common names :	great white shark, white death, white pointer, blue pointer.
Diet :	Small to large fish, including other sharks, seals, sea lions, dolphins, whales and carrion.
Reproduction :	Ovoviviparous : Females give birth to up to 9 live young per litter. Thought to only breed 4 to 6 times in a lifetime. Females reach sexual maturity at the age of approximately 10 years.
Size :	Maximum 8 metres Average female 6 metres Average male 4 metres

Distribution : Worldwide in temperate seas and entering into sub-tropical waters occasionally. Usually found in cool shallow water along oceanic coastlines. It is not common anywhere but the best places to see a white shark are the waters off South Africa, the coast of Southern California and South Australia. The great white is now known to breed in the Mediterranean and was possibly sighted off the tip of Cornwall in Southern England.

Danger to man :	One of the most dangerous and feared sharks. It has attacked and killed several people, mainly off Southern California, South Africa and Australia. It has also been known to attack boats, sometimes persisting until the boat sinks. The Great White has probably been attributed with more attacks than it is actually responsible for due to public ignorance and it's automatic reputation as an indiscriminate man-eater.
Economic Importance :	The teeth, jaws and skin etc. of a Great White, fetch high prices as curios. The natural feeling of owning a real part of the 'Jaws' man-eater is all to irresistible for many people. The negative impact it creates to the tourist industry, especially if a recent attack has occurred can not be under-estimated, even though this is caused mainly through human misunderstanding of the creatures habits and the greatly exaggerated chance of attack. Cage diving trips are now proving to be a popular source of income for some boat owners in parts of South Africa and Australia.
Other Comments :	The Great White is at the top of the food chain and therefore plays a very important role in marine ecology. It has been virtually eliminated from certain areas without a second thought of the consequences. Over the past few years, as public opinion of sharks start to change, some countries have given the Great White legal protection. The Great White is the only shark known to rise vertical to the surface and raise its head above water to observe it's surroundings.