Amazing Animals: Great White Shark Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
1 min
Amazing Animals: Great White Shark Quiz
Image: Brandon Cole/Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images

About This Quiz

They are the most notorious species of shark, boasting 3,000 jagged teeth and a bite that kills. See how much you know with this quiz.
As of May 2008, how many unprovoked great white attacks have been officially recorded?
238
482
2193
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Great white sharks are far and away the leading species when it comes to the number of shark attacks. As of May 2008, 238 unprovoked attacks and 95 boat attacks, resulting in 65 fatalities, have been officially recorded. This trounces the species with the second most attacks, the tiger shark, which has 88 recorded attacks.

Humans aren't a very good meal for great whites because:
They are much bigger than the seals and fish great whites are accustomed to eating.
They are less likely to die from their wounds than most great white victims.
They have too much muscle, and great whites crave fatty blubber.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Scientists who have studied the stomachs of great white sharks say that humans have far too much muscle content to be an ideal dinner for great whites. Sharks want fatty blubber from animals like seals when they feed, not muscle.

What is a great white shark's main prey?
almost any type of fish
small and medium-sized whales
an aquatic carnivore, such as a seal or a sea lion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A great white's main prey is any type of pinniped, or aquatic carnivore. Seals and sea lions can be up to 50 percent fat, satisfying a shark's craving for blubber.

Advertisement

How many tons of food a year does a great white shark consume on average?
2 tons
11 tons
18 tons
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Great whites consume roughly 11 tons of food each year. To give you an idea of just how much grub this is, a 150-pound human eats about half a ton of food in the same amount of time.

The most common way for a great white to approach its prey is:
the underwater approach, when a great white attacks from below the surface and lunges up at its victim
the surface-charge approach, when a great white is partially above the surface before attacking
the inverted method, when a great white swims on its back
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Great whites usually use the underwater approach, lurking beneath the surface before coming within a few feet of their targets and attacking. When they attack using this method, great whites bring their head to the surface to bite their victim and then swim away and let it bleed to death.

In Latin, a great white's scientific name means:
"great white"
"fierce one"
"ragged tooth"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The great white shark's scientific name, Carcharodon carcharias, means "ragged tooth" in Latin. Each great white has about 3,000 serrated teeth.

Advertisement

How much does an average great white weigh?
2,000 pounds
4,500 pounds
7,000 pounds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A typical great white weighs in at about 4,500 pounds and grows to a maximum length of about 20 feet. Great whites are the largest predatory fish in the sea, as the only bigger sharks feed on plankton and small fish.

Why won't you find a great white at an aquarium?
Great whites are almost impossible to keep in captivity because aquariums are unsure of the right food and tank type necessary to house one.
Great whites normally swim at depths far too low to be captured and transported.
Great whites are too large to be kept in a normal aquarium tank.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You can't find great whites at your local aquarium because they're extremely difficult to keep in captivity, assuming they survive the capture and transport to an aquarium. Aquarium officials have had little success determining the food, water and type of tank necessary to accommodate a great white shark.

How many shark pups are in a typical litter?
one
two to 10
20 to 25
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sharks grow in eggs that are hatched inside the mother. A litter will normally number anywhere from two to 10 pups. At birth, great white pups are about 5 feet long and weigh 77 pounds or so.

Advertisement

How long do most great whites live?
12 years
25 years
30 years
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Great whites grow slowly and usually live about 30 years. Males reach maturity at about age 10, while females reach maturity at about age 15.

You Got:
/10
Brandon Cole/Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images