Great White Sharks

Patrick Meehan

Dr. Hurley

Plant Biology

4-28-05

The Great White Shark: Monster of the Ocean

          "It's tail swayed slowly from side to side, pushing the hunters body through the

murky water. All signs of motion were non-existent, except for the rhythmic movement

of the water over the five gill slits on either side of it's head. Slowly gaining speed, the

shady figures unmoving eyes fixed on it's target, a lost harbor seal pup. As the distance

between the predator and it's prey grew closer, the jaws of the massive fish drew forward,

exposing nearly eight rows of razor sharp teeth. Strings of it's previous meal hung in rows

from between it's teeth. Sensing danger, the harbor seal frantically tried to find a place to

seek refuge, but it was too late. The jaws of the shark closed around the seal with an

astounding 14,000 pounds of pressure, cutting the seal in half. The Great White shark

claims another victim". (Animal Planet.com)

          Any one who's seen the famous movie series "Jaws" may look at the Great White

Shark as a "man killer". Perhaps it's the way that Hollywood uses a mix of fact and

fiction in the movie. This may have frightened many people into fearing the Great White

for it's ferocity. It might have also been the size of the shark in the movie that's kept

thousands of people off the beaches and out of the water. It could also have been have

been the overall storyline: A Great White shark with an eating disorder and a taste for

human flesh. Perhaps that's what was keeping vacationers from grabbing their trousers

and snorkels.

            Over all, there have been 1026 attacks on humans by sharks in the last ten years.

Only 294 of these attacks have been linked to Great White sharks. That's roughly the

number of people who drown each year in swimming accidents in the U. S. Of these 294 attacks, less than eighteen percent were fatal. Out of the... [continues]

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