Although it is not the largest of all sharks, the great white is the largest predatory shark. Some relatively harmless sharks, like the whale shark, are much larger than the great white. Great white sharks inhabit temperate waters worldwide, primarily along coastlines. Though not abundant, they are most frequently sighted off the coasts of the United States, Australia, and South Africa.
Scientists can easily identify the teet of a great white shark.
The upper teeth are large, broad, and triangular, while the lower teeth are slightly more slender. All the teeth are serrated. Like other sharks, a great white continually looses its teeth and replaces them with new ones. Though great white attacks on humans are well documented, they are generally rare. Recent studies suggest that great whites may find humans unpalatable.