Colloquial use favours the name вЂgreat white sharkвЂ™, perhaps because вЂgreatвЂ™ stresses the size and prowess of the species. The English name 'white shark' and its Australian variant 'white pointer' is thought to have come from the shark's stark white underside, a characteristic feature most noticeable in beached sharks lying upside down with their bellies exposed. The name 'great white shark' likely comes from the shark's size, as well as the white underside exposed on beached sharks. The family belongs to the Lamniformes, the order of mackerel sharks. Other members of this family include the mako sharks, porbeagle, and salmon shark. The great white is the sole recognized extant species in the genus Carcharodon, and is one of five extant species belonging to the family Lamnidae.

3.1.1 Examples of large unconfirmed great whites.Humans are not the preferred prey of the great white shark, but the great white is nevertheless responsible for the largest number of reported and identified fatal unprovoked shark attacks on humans, although this happens very rarely (typically fewer than 10 times a year globally).

The novel Jaws by Peter Benchley and its subsequent film adaptation by Steven Spielberg depicted the great white shark as a ferocious man-eater. Due to their need to travel long distances for seasonal migration and extremely demanding diet, it is not logistically feasible to keep great white sharks in captivity because of this, while attempts have been made to do so in the past, there are no known aquariums in the world believed to house a live specimen. It is also protected by several national governments, such as Australia (as of 2018). The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the great white shark as a vulnerable species, and it is included in Appendix II of CITES. The species faces numerous ecological challenges which has resulted in international protection. It is the only known surviving species of its genus Carcharodon, and is responsible for more recorded human bite incidents than any other shark. This shark is also known to prey upon a variety of other marine animals, including fish, and seabirds. It is arguably the world's largest-known extant macropredatory fish, and is one of the primary predators of marine mammals, up to the size of large baleen whales. The great white shark is an apex predator, as it has no known natural predators other than, on very rare occasions, the orca.

Great white sharks can swim at speeds of 25В km/hr (16В mph) for short bursts and to depths of 1,200В m (3,900В ft). According to the same study, male great white sharks take 26 years to reach sexual maturity, while the females take 33 years to be ready to produce offspring. According to a 2014 study, the lifespan of great white sharks is estimated to be as long as 70 years or more, well above previous estimates, making it one of the longest lived cartilaginous fishes currently known. However, most are smaller males measure 3.4 to 4.0В m (11 to 13В ft), and females measure 4.6 to 4.9В m (15 to 16В ft) on average. It is notable for its size, with larger female individuals growing to 6.1В m (20В ft) in length and 1,905вЂ“2,268В kg (4,200вЂ“5,000В lb) in weight at maturity. The great white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias), also known as the white shark, white pointer, or simply great white, is a species of large mackerel shark which can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans. Carcharodon rondeletii MГјller & Henle, 1839.

Deep blue shark last sighting