white shark

white shark
n.
a huge, man-eating mackerel shark (Carcharodon carcharias) of tropical and warm seas: see SHARK2

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fish
also called  great white shark 
 (Carcharodon carcharias), species of large, aggressive shark of the family Isuridae (or Lamnidae) that is considered to be more dangerous to human beings than any other shark. It is also known as the white pointer, man-eater, and white death. The white shark is found in tropical and temperate regions of all oceans. It typically lives in the open sea, but it often enters inshore waters. The white shark is notorious for its unprovoked, sometimes lethal attacks on swimmers, divers, surfers, and even small boats. It is noted, aside from its potential as a man-eater, for a voracious appetite and a diet that includes large and small fishes, other sharks, dolphins, seals, turtles, birds, and ships' garbage.

      It is a heavy-bodied shark with a crescent-shaped tail and large, saw-edged, triangular teeth. The white shark is dangerous because of its large size as well as its aggressive behaviour. One specimen weighed 3,300 kg (7,300 pounds) and was 6.4 m (21 feet) long. The shark usually attains a maximum length of about 11 m (36 feet). It is generally gray, bluish, or brownish, with the colour shading suddenly into a whitish belly; large individuals are reported to be paler.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • White shark — White White (hw[imac]t), a. [Compar. {Whiter} (hw[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Whitest}.] [OE. whit, AS. hw[imac]t; akin to OFries. and OS. hw[=i]t, D. wit, G. weiss, OHG. w[=i]z, hw[=i]z, Icel. hv[=i]tr, Sw. hvit, Dan. hvid, Goth. hweits, Lith.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • white shark — or great white shark n. a huge, man eating mackerel shark (Carcharodon carcharias) of tropical and warm seas: see SHARK2 …   English World dictionary

  • white shark — n GREAT WHITE SHARK …   Medical dictionary

  • white shark — noun large aggressive shark widespread in warm seas; known to attack humans • Syn: ↑great white shark, ↑man eater, ↑man eating shark, ↑Carcharodon carcharias • Hypernyms: ↑mackerel shark • Member Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • white shark — Great White shark Great White shark a large shark ({Carcharodon carcharias}, class Chondrichtyes) usually found in warm seas. When young it is bluish but it becomes white with age. It grows to over 15 feet in length and is feared as a man eater.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • white shark — baltasis ryklys statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Carcharodon carcharias angl. great white shark; man eater shark; white pointer; white shark rus. акула людоед; белая акула; карха родон ryšiai:… …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • white shark — /waɪt ˈʃak / (say wuyt shahk) noun a very large, aggressive shark of warm seas, Carcharodon carcharias. Also, great white shark, white pointer …  

  • white shark — noun Date: 1674 great white shark …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • white shark. — See great white shark. [1665 75] * * * …   Universalium

  • white shark — noun another term for great white shark …   English new terms dictionary

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