Great White Shark teeth fossils

The Great White Shark ( Carcharodon carcharias) is the largest predator of our time and has dominated the seas since the Upper Miocene, i.e. for about 11 million years.

With an average length of about four metres and a maximum length of over seven metres, the great white shark is one of the largest shark species. The females become significantly larger than the males, which reach a maximum length of about five metres. The weight can be up to three and a half tons. The largest specimen ever caught was 6.40 metres long, weighing 3.2 tonnes. However, traces on whale carcasses lead experts to believe that the animals can grow up to eight metres long.

Carcharodon carcharias is found all over the world and prefers warmer coastal areas, especially near seals, sea lions and seal colonies. These are the predator's preferred prey.

The body has a perfect streamlined shape similar to a torpedo. With the help of its powerful tail fin, a great white shark moves as swift as an arrow and can even jump completely out of the water. At short distances it can reach a speed of up to 60 km/h when hunting.

At the beginning of the 20th century, some specimens were equipped with transmitters for research purposes. Analysis of the data has shown that the great white shark can dive to a depth of 1,000 metres and covers up to 11,000 km a year. The females are more likely to remain loyal to their habitat and the males in particular migrate between colonies.

The great white shark is a perfect predator and has a so-called revolver bite, which renews itself throughout its life and new teeth are constantly being added. The foremost row of teeth forms a closed cutting edge, with the teeth becoming larger towards the tip of the snout. In the upper jaw, 23 to 28 teeth stand side by side, in the lower jaw 20 to 26 teeth, which are closer together. The teeth of an adult great white shark have a bite force of up to three tons.