Great White Shark
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is an apex predator reaching 6 meters in length and over 2,000 kg. As a cartilaginous fish with a lifespan of up to 70 years, it is an important indicator for marine ecosystem health.
biology.marine
Metrics
Scientific Name
Linnaeus, 1758. Family Lamnidae (mackerel sharks).
Body Length
Longest reliably measured shark: 6.02 m (2014 study).
Mass
Females: 1,000–1,900 kg, males: 680–1,000 kg.
Lifespan
Earlier estimates were 30–40 years; current studies show up to 73 years.
Relations
A blue whale is about 6 times longer and over 100 times heavier than a great white shark.
Factor: 100 × (Masse) · Direction: A_lt_B
Explanations
The Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is a cartilaginous fish and one of the ocean's most powerful hunters. With an average length of 5 meters and a weight of around 1100 kg, it reaches speeds of up to 40 km/h. It inhabits temperate to subtropical coastal waters and open oceans, and can live for over 70 years – much longer than most other fish species.
Sources
Vulnerable (2019). CITES Appendix II.
Related Cards
Provenance
Status
seed
Review
none
Last Updated
2026-02-17