Lexi Webster
Great white sharks are considered some of the most feared and misunderstood animals in Australia. The intense reaction from the public is due to the gruesome nature of their attacks on swimmers, divers, and surfers, as well as the portrayal of great whites as ruthless man-eaters in the media. However, this is a misconception, as great whites are generalist carnivores that prey on fish (such as tuna and rays), cetaceans (like dolphins and whales), pinnipeds (including seals and sea lions), and other animals such as squid, sea turtles, and seabirds. In Australia, great white sharks are also preyed upon by orcas, which have been observed hunting and eating their livers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet | Great white sharks are generalist carnivores and prey on fish (e.g. tuna, rays, other sharks), cetaceans (i.e. dolphins, porpoises, whales), pinnipeds (e.g. seals, fur seals, and sea lions), squid, sea turtles, sea otters, and seabirds. |
| Dead whales are an important source of food for great whites. | |
| Great whites are not considered to be "man-eaters", despite the portrayal in the media. | |
| Orcas are predators of great white sharks in Australian waters, eating their livers. | |
| Feeding Technique | Great whites immobilize northern elephant seals with a large bite to the hindquarters and wait for them to bleed to death. |
| Harbor seals are taken from the surface and dragged down until they stop struggling. | |
| California sea lions are ambushed from below and struck mid-body before being dragged and eaten. |
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What You'll Learn
Great white sharks are generalist carnivores
Great white sharks prey upon fish such as tuna and rays, as well as other sharks. They are known to feed on dead whales, with blubber from a dead whale sustaining a shark for around 1.5 months. They also eat pinnipeds, which include seals and sea lions, by immobilizing them with a large bite to the hindquarters and waiting for them to bleed out. Juvenile elephant seals are the most frequently targeted at elephant seal colonies, while mature great whites in the Northwest Atlantic feed on harbor and grey seals. California sea lions are ambushed from below and struck mid-body before being dragged and consumed.
Great white sharks also feed on cetaceans, including dolphins, porpoises, and whales. They have been observed hunting in packs to take down large prey such as blue whales. Additionally, they consume squid, sea turtles, sea otters, and seabirds. The transition to hunting marine mammals occurs when the sharks reach a length of nearly 4 m (13 ft), as their jaw cartilage mineralizes, enabling them to tackle larger prey.
It is worth noting that great white sharks have been known to ingest indigestible objects. The frequency of their feeding depends on the nutritional value of their meals. While they are not primarily man-eaters, great whites have been known to attack swimmers, surfers, spear-fishers, and divers, resulting in gruesome deaths that fuel their fearsome reputation.
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Orcas hunt great white sharks in Australia
Great white sharks are large mackerel sharks that can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans. They are generalist carnivores, preying on fish, cetaceans, pinnipeds, squid, sea turtles, sea otters, and seabirds. They are apex predators, inspiring fear and awe in people across the world.
In 2023, the remains of a great white shark washed up on a beach near Portland in Victoria, Australia. The carcass was disemboweled, with only its head and spine remaining intact. Bite marks near the shark's disfigured belly indicated that its liver had been removed. This was confirmed to be the work of orcas through DNA analysis of the bite wounds. This was the first confirmed evidence of orca predation of great white sharks in Australia, although such behavior has been previously observed off the coast of South Africa.
Orcas, also known as killer whales, are the largest member of the dolphin family. They are highly intelligent and social, able to work together in synchronized pods to take down large prey such as great white sharks and blue whales. They have been observed specifically choosing certain organs, such as whale tongue and shark liver, to eat. The reason for their preference for liver is not fully understood but may suggest a nutritional deficiency that they are trying to compensate for.
The presence of orca predation on great white sharks in Australia could have a significant impact on the ecosystem. White sharks are key regulators of ecosystem structure and functions, and their decline could disrupt the balance of marine life in Australian waters. Understanding the dietary needs and hunting behavior of orcas can help with conservation efforts for both species and the preservation of the ecosystem.
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Great whites immobilise northern elephant seals
Great white sharks are large mackerel sharks, notable for their size and status as apex predators. They are generalist carnivores, meaning they have a varied diet, including fish, cetaceans (such as dolphins, porpoises and whales), pinnipeds (seals, fur seals and sea lions), squid, sea turtles, sea otters and seabirds.
Great whites are one of the only known predators of elephant seals, alongside orcas. Northern elephant seals are abundant around Isla Guadalupe, where they share a habitat with great white sharks. The sharks immobilise northern elephant seals by biting their hindquarters, the main source of mobility for the seals, and waiting for them to bleed to death. This technique is especially used on adult male elephant seals, which are larger and potentially more dangerous than the sharks. Juvenile elephant seals are the most frequently targeted by great whites.
Great white sharks are not averse to hunting prey their own size, but they do not actively seek out larger prey. The largest preserved female great white specimen measured 5.83 m (19.1 ft) in length and weighed around 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Male great whites measure 3.4 to 4.0 m (11 to 13 ft) and females 4.6 to 4.9 m (15 to 16 ft) on average. In comparison, adult male northern elephant seals weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 kg (3,300 and 4,400 lb).
Great whites are also known to prey on juvenile elephant seals, which are easier to catch and provide an energy-rich meal. Baby elephant seals have been likened to hot dogs, with the fat content of the young pinnipeds making them convenient prey for great white sharks.
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Great whites eat dead whales
Great white sharks are large mackerel sharks and are generalist carnivores, meaning they eat a wide range of prey. They are known to prey on fish, cetaceans (such as dolphins, porpoises, and whales), pinnipeds (like seals, fur seals, and sea lions), and other marine creatures.
Great white sharks are also known to scavenge on dead whale carcasses, which are important food sources for these normally solitary predators. They are drawn to the wind-blown chemicals released from decomposing flesh and have been observed feeding on whale blubber. This feeding frenzy can have a cascading effect on the local marine ecosystem, as the sharks eat fewer seals, which then feed on their preferred foods, such as sea urchins.
In 2024, a video captured white sharks feeding on a humpback whale carcass off the coast of Nova Scotia. While the species of these sharks was not specified, it is known that great white sharks are the largest shark species in Nova Scotia waters and are known to feed on whales.
In addition to feeding on live whales, there is evidence that great white sharks also scavenge on dead whale carcasses in Australian waters. While orcas (killer whales) are known predators of great white sharks in Australia, with a preference for their liver, they also contribute to the availability of whale carcasses for great whites.
The presence of dead whales can create a feeding opportunity for great white sharks, who are normally solitary but gather for these communal feasts. This behavior has been observed in multiple locations, including off the coast of South Africa and in the waters of Nova Scotia, further highlighting the importance of whale carcasses as a food source for these apex predators.
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Great whites are not ruthless man-eaters
Great white sharks are often depicted in popular culture as ruthless and ferocious man-eaters. This image has been reinforced by novels such as Jaws by Peter Benchley and the subsequent film adaptation by Steven Spielberg. While it is true that great whites are responsible for the largest number of reported and identified fatal unprovoked shark attacks on humans, it is important to remember that humans are not their preferred prey, and such attacks are extremely rare, occurring fewer than ten times per year globally.
Great white sharks are generalist carnivores, meaning they have a varied diet. They are apex predators and prey upon fish such as tuna and rays, other sharks, cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises, and whales), pinnipeds (seals, fur seals, and sea lions), squid, sea turtles, sea otters, and seabirds. They have also been known to eat objects that they are unable to digest. The diet of a great white shark changes as it grows. Juvenile sharks primarily feed on fish as their jaws are not yet strong enough to attack larger prey. As they mature, their jaw cartilage mineralizes, allowing them to target larger marine mammals.
In Australian waters, great white sharks are known to prey on seals, with one hunting technique involving immobilizing northern elephant seals with a large bite to the hindquarters, which is the main source of the seal's mobility. They then wait for the seal to bleed to death. This strategy is particularly effective against adult male elephant seals, which are typically larger and more dangerous than the shark. However, juvenile elephant seals are the most frequently targeted at elephant seal colonies.
Great white sharks are not the only apex predators in the ocean. In fact, they have their own natural predator—the orca, also known as the killer whale. Orcas are known to hunt great white sharks and have been observed doing so in Australian waters. Orcas work together in highly synchronized pods, using their exceptional intelligence and strong social bonds to their advantage. They have been recorded eating the livers of great white sharks, with one case in South Africa where an orca incapacitated a great white and consumed its liver in under two minutes. The presence of orcas can cause great whites to disappear from an area, suggesting that orca predation has a significant impact on their distribution.
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Frequently asked questions
Great white sharks are generalist carnivores and prey on fish (e.g. tuna, rays, and other sharks), cetaceans (e.g. dolphins, porpoises, and whales), pinnipeds (e.g. seals, fur seals, and sea lions), squid, sea turtles, sea otters, and seabirds. They are also known to eat objects that they are unable to digest.
While great whites have been known to attack swimmers, surfers, spear-fishers, and divers, they are not man-eaters. This is a misconception popularized by the media and Steven Spielberg's movie Jaws.
Orcas, also known as "killer whales," have been known to hunt and eat great white sharks in Australian waters.
