underwater photography of great white sharks, dolphins, divers and other marine life by Stephen Brunson
underwater photography of great white sharks, dolphins, divers and other marine life by Stephen Brunson underwater photography of great white sharks, dolphins, seals, divers and other marine creatures underwater photography of great white sharks and dolphins by Stephen Brunson Award winning underwater photography of great white sharks and dolphins by Stephen Brunson All about underwater photographer Stephen Brunson underwater photography of great white sharks, dolphins, divers and other marine life by Stephen Brunson free screensavers, free wallpaper, free animations, free images underwater links and reciprocal link exchange
Great White Shark:  Carcharodon carcharias
In the 1970s the book and movie Jaws introduced millions to the great white shark, making it the most feared and loathed animal in modern history. But in the 1990s the white shark (as it is now officially known) was becoming an animal recognized not for its rare attacks of human beings but for its key role in the oceanic ecosystem. South Africa, most of Australia, the state of California, and the U.S. government have even made the great white a protected animal. The great white shark is an "apex predator," the ultimate link in the food chain. White sharks eat anything they want, and nothing eats them. As the apex predator, a white shark is a grim reaper, keeping the ecosystem balanced by keeping down prey populations. If, for example, white sharks were killed off in an ecosystem that included seals, the seal population would build up-to the detriment of mollusks that are the prey of seals.
Occasianlly the seal fights back. Researchers have seen deep scarring on sharks' heads from the teeth and claws of elephant seals. But the shark inevitably wins, gets its first chunck of prey, then leaves the dying seal for a leisurely later meal. Often other white sharks arrive to feed off the kill, with no apparent interference from the killing shark. (White sharks, however, can be aggressive toward each other. Observers of white sharks in South Africa have seen them jumping completely clear of the water and inflicting wounds on each other while in combat, for unknown reasons.)
Print Number - GWS031
Limited Edition signed color photography for sale by Stephen Brunson
Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias Statistics:

Weight:                    5,940 - 7,040 lbs
Length:                    12 - 25'; Female is usually larger than the male
Sexual Maturity:       About 7 Years
Mating Season:        Varies With Habitat - Whether it is in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere
Lifespan:                  30-50 years
Typical Diet:             Fish, Dolphins, Seals, Squid, Sea Turtles, Seabirds, and Whale Carcasses
Number of Young:   1 to 2
Gestation Period:     About 12 Months
Birth Interval:           Unknown

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