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The Great White Shark: A Formidable Creature

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It is one of the most feared animals in the world. It is more feared than the king of the jungle, the lion. It’s regarded as the largest underwater predator.

Scientists had found out that the great whites don’t attack humans intentionally. They are usually curious of animals and after biting off a humans flesh, they leave the human since human’s flesh doesn’t taste like sea lion’s meat which they’re accustomed to. I don’t think this will bring any relief to many people.

It’s a majestic animal that grows up to 21 feet though there are recorded sharks that have exceeded this length. The biggest recorded shark measured 26 feet in length.

They weigh between 680-1,800kg though there are sharks that have been documented which weigh more than 2,270kg.

When you come across such a creature, you would want it to mind its own business. You wouldn’t want to play with it like a toy.

But, it isn’t the bad Tom you’ve been accustomed to. In fact, there is a documented video of a researcher who wants people not to fear this magnificent-fearsome animal. She swam with the animal without the animal turning against her.

When you consider its size and weight, its face and its sharp_razor teeth; it’s understandable why many people have a fear of this animal. There are conflicting reports as to how many teeth a great white has – 300 or 3,000? What about the jaws – 5 or 7?. Their teeth are arranged in top and lower jaws which are movable (not fixed). When it attacks its prey, it starts by biting the animal with its lower jaw before using the top jaw to hold a firm grip of the prey. It loses and regrows hundreds of teeth which can amount to 20,000 teeth (by some reports).

Since their jaws aren’t fixed, it makes perfect sense why it’s easy for them to lose their teeth. This is attributed to their preys which are huge such as a sea lion – it isn’t an easy task. They shake their head back and forth with their prey under their teeth’s grip. They usually swallow their prey alive.

They don’t have a protective eye membrane (eyelids). This is the reason why they rotate their eyes to the back to avoid an injury to their eyes.

They usually swim at speeds of up to 24km/hr. However for short busts, they can swim up to 56 or 60km/hr. They can jump up to 10 feet above the water surface to catch and kill their prey.

It has been nicknamed a killer machine. The fear of sharks is known as Galeophobia.

The Great White has no known natural predator. It’s greatest enemy is man. They are an endangered species due to man hunting them as parts of their bodies are useful for manufacture of various items.

This quiz tests how much you know about the great whites. They are a sight to behold. What do you think?

NB:  I have written a detailed article about the great whites at Hubpages titled The Great White Shark – The World’s Largest Underwater Predator.

  • Question of

    The bite of a great white is ten times that of a lion

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Sharks have six senses

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Great whites can go for three months without eating a meal

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Great whites are cannibals – they can eat another great white

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    They are solitary animals – they live most of their lives alone

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    At a short range, they can detect the heartbeat of a stationary prey (animal)

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Even the pups (young ones of a female great white) practice cannibalism while in the womb of their mothers

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    White female sharks lay eggs in their wombs which hatch producing the pups before birthing them into the world

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    The gestation period of a female great white is

    • 9 months
    • 11 months
    • 13 months
  • Question of

    The mother can eat it’s young one once it gives birth to it

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    The life expectancy of a great white is

    • 40 years
    • 70 years
    • 25 years
  • Question of

    They can smell a little drop of blood at a distance of 5km

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    The shark’s nostrils are used for breathing and smelling

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    They can sense the tiny electromagnetic fields generated by animals

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    The young ones can swallow their teeth while in their mother’s womb

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    The great white are warm-blooded

    • Yes
    • No

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Written by Benny

36 Comments

    • Even in this one, you did great Norman. Yah, it’s a bit freaky that they learn cruelty while still in the womb and the mother can eat it’s baby after it has given birth to it.

      1

  7. i got 13 right!

    FYI the Orca or so-called Killer Whale is the largest predator in the sea. The Orca is the only animal other than humans that hunts Great Whites.

    1

    • Wow, congratulations Grace. Throughout the years I have searched much about this animal due to my fascination with it. I love it but wouldn’t want to be near it.

      1