The Great White Shark

The great white shark (scientific name carcharodon carcharias) is a subspecies of shark that inhabits the waters of the Galapagos, Southern Chile, Coastal East Africa, and the Gulf of California. It is the largest known species of predatory fish, growing between 16 and 20 feet long and weighing between 4,000 and 7,000 pounds. It has a heavy, torpedo-shaped body that allows it to suddenly swim in bursts of such high speed that it is sometimes able to leap out of the water when it spots prey, even after long periods of cruising. Even though it has 300 teeth, it does not chew its prey: instead, it rips them into mouth-sized pieces that it then swallows hole. These prey are very varied in species, ranging from small fish such as halibut to large mammals such as seals and dolphins.

The great white shark is classified as a Vulnerable species. It is this close to becoming extinct for two reasons. The first reason is that, for years, it has been hunted for its fins, teeth, and overall body, the last of which often so it can be used as a trophy for sport fishing. The second reason is that it often gets caught in fishing nets and entangled in beach-protecting meshes. Because of this, the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF's) effort to save it consists of creating a management plan for its one protected area (Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve) that includes ideas on protecting them from getting caught in fishing nets and entangled in beach-protecting meshes. This is being done because, as a large and powerful marine predator, it plays an important role in the continued health of the marine environment.

Source for picture and all information: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/great-white-shark