Page 31 - Shark

Pore marking position of ampullae of
Lorenzini—sensory organs for detecting
prey’s electric field (pp. 18–19)

Long gill
slit—one
of five

Sharp,
serrated
teeth

WhiTe deaTh
A great white’s coloring
makes it difficult to
see in the water, so it is
able to sneak up on its
victims. When seen from
below, this shark’s white
undersides blend in with a
bright sky’s reflection at the
water’s surface. This magnificent
shark is sometimes called “white pointer,”
referring to its pointed snout, which makes
it more streamlined. Great whites often have
scratches and scars on their snouts that may be the
result of their prey fighting back. They may also be
bitten by larger members of their own kind that
move in to take bait away from them.

Pectoral fin
Full-length side view
of model of a male
great white shark

Taking The baiT
Scientists, filmmakers,
and photographers use
chum (a mixture of oil,
blood, and horsemeat as
well as tuna and mackerel)
and baits to attract great
whites. These are among the few
sharks that stick their heads out of the
water before and, sometimes, during
attacks on prey. As the shark takes
the bait, its eyes roll back in their
sockets revealing the white surface
of the eyeball. This protects the more Tagging a greaT WhiTe
vital front part of the eye from being Dr. John McCosker, an American shark scientist, tags a
scratched, which could happen if the great white off the Australian coast (top). Sonic tags have
shark was attacking live prey, such as a revealed that a great white can cruise at 2 mph (3 km/h),
seal armed with claws and teeth. traveling about 120 miles (200 km) in three days (above).

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