White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) Recovery Plan
BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION Appendix ABIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION Appendix A
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BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION Appendix A
Description of Species
The White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the Great White Shark or White Pointer, is a close relative of the mako and porbeagle sharks and is classified in the family Lamnidae (mackerel sharks). White Sharks have a moderately stout, torpedo-shaped body; are coloured blue-grey to grey-brown on the upper surface and white below; have large serrated triangular teeth, and a distinctive lateral keel along the body midline immediately before a crescent shaped tail. White Sharks grow to at least 6 metres in length (NSW Fisheries 1997; Last & Stevens 1994), although there are unconfirmed reports of specimens up to 7 metres (Mollet et al. 1996). The White Shark also has a heat-exchanging circulatory system allowing it to maintain body temperatures up to 14o C above that of the surrounding seawater (Goldman et al. 1996).