Class: Chondrichthyes
Family: Lamnidae
Genus species: Carcharodon carcharias
Maximum known length: 21 feet
Maximum known weight: 2,664 lbs
Habitat: Found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans.
source : [1] |
These sharks are responsible for a number of fatalities in humans, but most attacks are cases of "mistaken identity" with the shark being attracted because of thrashing around that causes it to think it's attacking a fish, or because from below a body surfer looks like a seal. Most attacks also occur in waters with low visibility. Great White Sharks, like many other sharks have rows of teeth behind the main ones, allowing any that break off to be replaced rapidly.
Great White Sharks achieved an even higher notoriety when Steven Spielberg released the movie, Jaws in 1975. These sharks have an extinct relative, Carcharodon megalodon, which could probably reach sizes of 60 feet or more and is currently known only from its teeth. From time to time it is suggested that Megalodon survives to this day. However, while Megalodon fossils are widespread and plentiful, not a single tooth has been found from recent times.