The great white shark is a fierce predator, with a grey back and white belly. It may grow up to 6 metres (20 feet) long. Great white sharks prefer cool coastal waters, but have been known to frequent tropical waters. They feed mainly on seals and porpoises, but do sometimes attack humans. They are one of the most dangerous shark species to bathers.

Attack!

The great white shark is one of the most ferocious predators in the oceans. Although it has been known to attack and kill humans, this is rare; it usually feeds on fish, turtles and sea mammals, such as dolphins and seals.

Sharks usually attack their prey from underneath so that they are taken by surprise. Sometimes they hit their prey with such force that they leap out of the water. Sharks do not chew their food. Instead, they tear off chunks of flesh with their teeth and swallow them whole.

Teeth

Great whites have between 200 and 300 razor-sharp teeth, arranged in several rows with only the front rows in use at any one time. The others are brought to the front to replace worn-out ones. As the teeth replace themselves continuously, great whites can have about 30,000 teeth in a lifetime. The teeth have sharp edges, like saws, and some are nearly 8 centimetres (3 inches) long. They are perfectly designed to slice out great chunks of flesh from a shark's victim. Sharks have very strong jaws—they have no problem biting through bone.