Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias):

This largest of predatory sharks is born in an egg case, and may reach over 5,000 pounds over a life up to 20 years (whale sharks much larger, but they are plankton-eating filter feeders).

The average length of Great Whites is around 10 to 15 feet, with the largest generally accepted to be about 21 feet though no one knows just how large they might reach.

Great Whites spend most of their time in the mysterious deep oceans where they feed on fish, squids, other sharks, dolphins, & even whales. But they gather to breed every season around colonies of their favorite prey animals which today are pinnipeds, the scientific name for seals & sea lions.

The sea mammals live from Point Reyes & Stinson Beach down to Año Nuevo on the southern San Mateo County Coast, and from the Golden Gate out to the Farallon Islands.

Scientists have been watching these large sharks at the Farallon Islands near San Francisco for several decades. Many individual sharks have been identified by their unique markings (their skin color pattern and scars); one named 'Stumpy' for its missing upper tail fin was observed by researchers each year at the Farallons.

Their favorite food:
The Gulf of the Farallones and the Central California Coast is home to one of the largest populations of Great Whites on Earth. The sharks evolved here to prey on the local sea mammals including Sea Lions and Elephant Seals that flourish along our pristine rocky coastline.

 

These mythical sea monsters are known throughout history and the world over by many names:

Japan	~	hohojirozame
Germany	~	weisshai
France	~	grand requin blanc
Italy	~	grande squalo bianco
Spain	~	tiburon blanco
Australia	~	white pointer - or - white death
Russia	~	seldevaja akula

 

 

More info: SharkWatch@GreatWhiteSharkExpeditions.com