Great White Sharks

Source: TH

Context: A 20-year study in South Africa reveals that the decline of Great White Sharks disrupted marine ecosystems, causing cascading food web imbalances.

About Great White Sharks:

• Scientific Name: Carcharodon carcharias

• IUCN Status: Vulnerable.

• Habitat & Distribution:

• Found in temperate coastal waters(e.g., USA, South Africa, Australia, Japan).

• Migratory – some travel to tropical waters but return to temperate zones for feeding.

• Key Features:

• Adaptations: Regional endothermy (warm-blooded), serrated teeth, torpedo-shaped body. Food Habits: Hunts seals, dolphins, fish; uses ambush tactics(“bite-and-wait”). Reproduction: It is a Viviparous animal (give birth to live young instead of laying eggs) with 12-month gestation. Late maturity: Females at 15–16 ft (age 12–18 years), males at 11–13 ft (age 10). Ecological Role: Top Predator: Regulates prey populations (e.g., seals, mid-sized sharks). Indicator Species: Health reflects marine ecosystem stability. Study Findings: Decline in South Africa’s False Bay led to surge in seals/sevengill sharks, causing fish/small shark populations to crash.

• Food Habits: Hunts seals, dolphins, fish; uses ambush tactics(“bite-and-wait”).

• Hunts seals, dolphins, fish; uses ambush tactics(“bite-and-wait”).

• Reproduction: It is a Viviparous animal (give birth to live young instead of laying eggs) with 12-month gestation. Late maturity: Females at 15–16 ft (age 12–18 years), males at 11–13 ft (age 10).

• It is a Viviparous animal (give birth to live young instead of laying eggs) with 12-month gestation.

• Late maturity: Females at 15–16 ft (age 12–18 years), males at 11–13 ft (age 10).

• Ecological Role:

• Top Predator: Regulates prey populations (e.g., seals, mid-sized sharks).

• Indicator Species: Health reflects marine ecosystem stability.

• Study Findings: Decline in South Africa’s False Bay led to surge in seals/sevengill sharks, causing fish/small shark populations to crash.

• Decline in South Africa’s False Bay led to surge in seals/sevengill sharks, causing fish/small shark populations to crash.