The Great White shark is the most dangerous predator swimming in the sea. They have
been swimming in the oceans on this planet for over 400,000,000 years. The Great White shark
is undeniably the most feared fish in the sea. The evolution, reproduction and behavior patterns
of this massive creature, make it one of the most interesting swimmers in our oceans.
The process of evolution has changed many creatures on our planet for millions of years.
Sharks are one of the few creatures that have managed to survive for millions of years. For over
a century, paleontologist a have debated bout where the Great White shark came from. In the
Smithsonian Institution's Ocean Portal article entitled, "Shark Teeth Tell …show more content…
Ovoviviparous, is to produce eggs that are hatched within the
body, so that the young are born alive but without placental attachment, as certain reptiles or
fishes. "While in the womb, great white shark embryos feast on unfertilized eggs, a practice
known as oophagy. It doesn't appear that they eat the fertilized eggs, as a few other species of
shark has been known to do, but they may swallow their own teeth when they lose them for the
calcium"(Edmonds). The gestation period for a great white shark is estimated to be between 12
and 18 months. Baby sharks are called pups. Mother sharks tend to have litters consisting of 10
pups. There have been cases where there have been as many as 17 pups in a litter.
Scientists believe that female great white sharks reproduce every other year because of
the lengthy gestation period. Scientists are trying to learn what they can about the gestation
period of the great white shark for conservation purposes. Many people fear the great white
shark, but they are a very important part of our ecosystem. Great white sharks eat seals, seals eat
salmon, If sharks did not eat the seals, there would be an abundance of seals. "An abundance …show more content…
Great white sharks are skilled hunters. They have six highly refined senses: smell,
hearing, touch, taste, sight, and electromagnetism. The Smithsonian Institution's Open Portal
explains all six sensed of the great white shark. Great whites have an incredible sense of smell.
They can smell a single drop of blood floating in the water. "The great white’s olfactory bulb is
reported to be the largest of any shark" (Web). Their sense of hearing in impeccable. Their ears
are small. "Inside, there are cells that can sense even the tiniest vibration in the surrounding
water. Sharks also have an ‘ear stone’ that responds to gravity, giving the animal clues as to
where it is in the water: head up, head down, right side up, or upside down" (Web). Great