White giant shark - the most dangerous sea predator

Giant white shark tops the list of the most dangerous inhabitants of the sea depths. It was her vampirism that inspired the filmmakers to create a variety of horror films - so appeared "Jaws", "Open Sea", "Red Water" and a number of similar paintings. This giant shark is considered an ogre, which is not entirely true. It has no purpose to catch people, it simply hunts its territory and attacks any suitable victim.

Let's get acquainted with this dangerous predator. So, the white giant shark belongs to the family of herring sharks. It is easy to recognize by its impressive size, sickle-shaped dorsal fin and frightening jaws with two rows of sharp triangular teeth. Sharks live mainly in the open ocean, but they can easily swim close to the shore.

Despite the fact that this species is called a white shark, it looks rather dark gray or brown. But her belly is really snow-white - it's clearly visible when she jumps out of the water during a hunt.

White giant shark - according to some information - can reach up to 15 meters in length. But these are more legends than the truth. Most often there are individuals of 5-6 meters in length and weighing from 600 to 3000 kilograms. In size, they are inferior only to harmless whale and ordinary giant sharks.

They feed on white sharks not only by other marine life, but also by their own, smaller and weaker congeners. They can swallow individuals up to two meters in total, and larger prey are torn to pieces, as they can not chew food.

The white giant shark attacks its victims (including humans) always in one of three scenarios.

The first, and the most common, option is a single bite, after which the shark leaves and does not return. Most often this happens in muddy water, so some believe that this type of attack occurs by mistake. Another explanation for single bites is the aggressive protection of the territory, when the shark is not hungry, but simply drives out the "competitor" from its site.

The second option - a white giant shark floats around its victim, gradually narrowing the circle, then comes close and bites. One bite is not limited, but comes back again and again, tearing the victim gradually to pieces.

The third option (the rarest) is a sudden attack, without any preparation.

In the arsenal of the predator there are all three ways of attack, but the collision with it does not always end tragically for a person. Scientists from the United States have collected more than three hundred evidence that sharks, rather, accidentally attack people, and then leave them with minor injuries and minor bites.

Not so long ago, near the coast of South Africa, there was a case when two white giant sharks attacked a 15-year-old surfer. It was in horror watching from the shore of his brother. Imagine his surprise when the guy came ashore alive and almost unharmed - his fingers were only slightly injured on his arm. Why the sharks have not eaten it - still remains a mystery to biologists.

According to the facts, the white giant shark most often attacks the surfers, much less often - on individual bathers or on boats. Scientists explain this by saying that out of the depths of the sea the outlines of the surfboard are strikingly reminiscent of the fur seal - a favorite snack of sharks.

Despite all its power and apparent invulnerability, the white giant shark is listed in the Red Book, because in the entire ocean there are not more than 3,500 individuals. They dwell in the warm waters of temperate and subtropical latitudes, and most often they can be found near seal rookeries and seals, ie. In southern Africa, off the coast of Australia and in the Gulf of Monterrey in California.