Great White Shark
Facts
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VU
Status
Vulnerable
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Scientific Name
Carcharodon carcharias
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Weight
4,000-7,000 pounds
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Length
16-20 feet
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Habitats
Oceans
The great white shark is the world's largest known predatory fish. It has 300 teeth, yet does not chew its food. Sharks rip their prey into mouth-sized pieces which are swallowed whole. The shark’s heavy, torpedo-shaped body allows it to cruise efficiently for long periods of time, and then suddenly switch to high speed bursts in pursuit of prey—sometimes leaping out of the water. It feeds on a broad spectrum of prey, from small fish, such as halibut, to large seals and dolphins.
- Places
- Habitats
Five ways sharks and rays help the world
Sharks and rays are some of the most enigmatic and misunderstood creatures of the ocean. They are crucial for the health of our planet. This blog describes five incredible ways in which sharks and rays help the world, from fighting climate change to digging through sand for their neighbors to feeding phytoplankton.

Why They Matter
Threats
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Extinction Risk Vulnerable
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EX
Extinct
No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died
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EW
Extinct in the Wild
Known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population
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CR
Critically Endangered
Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the Wild
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EN
Endangered
Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild
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VU
Vulnerable
Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild
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NT
Near Threatened
Likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future
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LC
Least Concern
Does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened
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EX

Great white sharks are decreasing in numbers and are rare due to years of being hunted by man for fins and teeth, and often as a trophy for sport fishing. The white shark is often caught as bycatch by commercial fisheries and can also become entangled in meshes that protect beaches.
What WWF Is Doing

WWF supports research and monitoring of white sharks as they migrate to and from the Gulf of California. Sharks are tagged and the movements are tracked by satellite. This information on their behavior will help with a management plan for the protected area where they are found (Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve), such as how to protect them from bycatch and to regulate tourism.
Related Species
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Whale Shark
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Sea Turtle
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Vaquita
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Dugong
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Humphead Wrasse
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Pacific Salmon
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Dolphins and Porpoises
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Whale
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Seals
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Sea Lions
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Marine Iguana
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Tuna
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Bluefin Tuna
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Sei Whale
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Yellowfin Tuna
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Hawksbill Turtle
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Skipjack Tuna
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Loggerhead Turtle
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Leatherback Turtle
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Green Turtle
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Olive Ridley Turtle
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Albacore Tuna
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Bigeye Tuna
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North Atlantic Right Whale
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Blue Whale
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Fin Whale
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Bowhead Whale
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Gray Whale
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Hector's Dolphin
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Galápagos Penguin
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Shark
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Polar Bear
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Narwhal
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Beluga
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Giant Tortoise
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African Wild Dog
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African Elephant
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Black Rhino
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White Rhino
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Rhino