![]() ![]() ![]() What is the white shark's role in the marine ecosystem?They play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem by helping to suppress pinniped (seals and sea lions) populations. ![]() Scientists have documented them traveling from California to Hawaii and to the Guadalupe Islands in Baja. How far do sharks travel in a day?I've heard estimates of up to about 50 miles in a day, but we don't know what distance white sharks are capable of traveling. White sharks have been known to swim as deep as 6,150 feet. They prefer waters with sea surface temperatures of 50 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Where are white sharks found?White sharks are widely distributed around the world, mostly in cold, temperate seas and only occasionally frequenting tropical seas. A female white shark was captured off Point Vicente, Calif., in September 1986 that measured 17.6 feet and weighed 4,140 pounds. How large do white sharks get to be?Adult white sharks grow to about 21 feet and dominate their domain as one of the top-level predators of the ocean. Adults have a wider menu, which includes fishes, seals, sea lions, dolphins, whale blubber (scavenged), seabirds, marine turtles, rays and other sharks. Both adults and juveniles are ambush predators. What do white sharks typically eat?Juveniles typically feed on fishes, small sharks and rays. It is important to note that even though human use of the water over the years has greatly increased due to the growing human population and the popularity of surfing, swimming and scuba diving, white shark incidents have not increased in a parallel manner. In December 1994, a diver was attacked and killed off San Miguel Island in southern California. It has been nearly 10 years since a fatal white shark attack occurred in California. How common are shark attacks on humans?While they don't typically prey upon humans, white sharks do pose an extreme threat if you meet them on their "turf," or, maybe in this case, "surf." Between 19, there were 93 white shark attacks on humans in California. Whether or not these animals may pose a threat to humans encountering them accidently in their waters, though, is something that no one can or will say for sure.īut if you look at the statistics, the bottom line is you're taking a much bigger risk by getting into your car each day than by swimming, surfing, diving or snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean.īelow are answers to some common questions about white sharks. It's likely that these youngsters are still just preying on fish and have not developed the more mature teeth patterns or desire for larger marine mammals yet. Over the past few years we've seen more juveniles and sub-adults show up in this general area, but scientists can only speculate as to the reason. While white sharks are found randomly year-round, we still don't know too much about their migration patterns. M O N T E R E Y, Calif., - With swimmers warned away from the water last week in Southern California due to white shark sightings, there has been heightened concern about the safety of sharing ocean waters with these notorious predators. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |