PeRMS taxon details
Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758)
105838 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:105838)
accepted
Species
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
(of ) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. [iii] + 824 pp. , available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886 [details] Available for editors 
Type locality contained in Europe
type locality contained in Europe [details]
Description Possibly to 8 m, world's largest predator. Generally in the open ocean, but does swim into shallower waters. Most attacks...
Distribution Newfoundland to Argentina
Description Possibly to 8 m, world's largest predator. Generally in the open ocean, but does swim into shallower waters. Most attacks occurred in estuaries. Usually swims alone or in pairs but can be found in feeding aggregations. A versatile predator with a broad prey spectrum. Feeds on sturgeon and tunas, as well as sea lions and other large animals and fish (Ref. 9987). Presumably ovoviviparous. Reported by some experts to attack humans which they mistake for their normal prey of seals. Reported to cause poisoning (Ref. 4690). Meat is utilized fresh and smoked for human consumption, the skin for leather and the liver for oil (Ref. 9987). [details]
Distribution Newfoundland to Argentina
Distribution Newfoundland to Argentina [details]
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2025). FishBase. Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: Santamaría, J.; Romero, C.; Meza, M. (Eds) (2025) Peruvian Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/Perms/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=105838 on 2026-09-06
Santamaría, J.; Romero, C.; Meza, M. (Eds) (2026). Peruvian Register of Marine Species. Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed at: https://www.marinespecies.org/Perms/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=105838 on 2026-09-06
Date
action
by
original description
(of ) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. [iii] + 824 pp. , available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886 [details] Available for editors
context source (RAS) Australian Antarctic Data Centre. , available online at https://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/biodiversity/ [details]
context source (PeRMS) Chirichigno, N.; Cornejo, M. (2001). Catálogo comentado de los peces marinos del Perú. <em>2ª ed. Instituto del Mar de Perú. Publicación Especial. Callao.</em> 314 p. [details]
context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (HKRMS) Lam VYY. (2009). The shark fisheries of Southern China and the reproductive biology of the spadenose shark, Scoliodon laticaudus. Mphil thesis. The University of Hong Kong. [details]
context source (Bermuda) Smith-Vaniz, W. F.; Collette, B. B.; Luckhurst, B. E (1999). Fishes of Bermuda: History, zoogeography, annotated checklist, and identification keys (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Special Publication No.4) . ASIH, 424 pp. [details]
basis of record van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Compagno, L.J.V. (2001). Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Volume 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). <em>FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes.</em> No. 1, Vol. 2. Rome, FAO. 269p. [details]
additional source Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2026). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (04/2025)., available online at https://www.fishbase.org [details]
additional source King, C.M.; Roberts, C.D.; Bell, B.D.; Fordyce, R.E.; Nicoll, R.S.; Worthy, T.H.; Paulin, C.D.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Keyes, I.W.; Baker, A.N.; Stewart, A.L.; Hiller, N.; McDowall, R.M.; Holdaway, R.N.; McPhee, R.P.; Schwarzhans, W.W.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Rust, S.; Macadie, I. (2009). Phylum Chordata: lancelets, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals. <em>in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia.</em> pp. 431-554. [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source McEachran, J. D. (2009). Fishes (Vertebrata: Pisces) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1223–1316 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Scott, W.B.; Scott, M.G. (1988). Atlantic fishes of Canada. <em>Canadian Bulletin of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.</em> No. 219. 731 pp. [details]
ecology source Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. <em>Scientific Data.</em> 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details]
context source (RAS) Australian Antarctic Data Centre. , available online at https://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/biodiversity/ [details]
context source (PeRMS) Chirichigno, N.; Cornejo, M. (2001). Catálogo comentado de los peces marinos del Perú. <em>2ª ed. Instituto del Mar de Perú. Publicación Especial. Callao.</em> 314 p. [details]
context source (Deepsea) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (HKRMS) Lam VYY. (2009). The shark fisheries of Southern China and the reproductive biology of the spadenose shark, Scoliodon laticaudus. Mphil thesis. The University of Hong Kong. [details]
context source (Bermuda) Smith-Vaniz, W. F.; Collette, B. B.; Luckhurst, B. E (1999). Fishes of Bermuda: History, zoogeography, annotated checklist, and identification keys (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Special Publication No.4) . ASIH, 424 pp. [details]
basis of record van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Compagno, L.J.V. (2001). Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Volume 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). <em>FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes.</em> No. 1, Vol. 2. Rome, FAO. 269p. [details]
additional source Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2026). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (04/2025)., available online at https://www.fishbase.org [details]
additional source King, C.M.; Roberts, C.D.; Bell, B.D.; Fordyce, R.E.; Nicoll, R.S.; Worthy, T.H.; Paulin, C.D.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Keyes, I.W.; Baker, A.N.; Stewart, A.L.; Hiller, N.; McDowall, R.M.; Holdaway, R.N.; McPhee, R.P.; Schwarzhans, W.W.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Rust, S.; Macadie, I. (2009). Phylum Chordata: lancelets, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals. <em>in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia.</em> pp. 431-554. [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
additional source McEachran, J. D. (2009). Fishes (Vertebrata: Pisces) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1223–1316 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
additional source Scott, W.B.; Scott, M.G. (1988). Atlantic fishes of Canada. <em>Canadian Bulletin of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.</em> No. 219. 731 pp. [details]
ecology source Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. <em>Scientific Data.</em> 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details]
Present Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
Unreviewed
Description Possibly to 8 m, world's largest predator. Generally in the open ocean, but does swim into shallower waters. Most attacks occurred in estuaries. Usually swims alone or in pairs but can be found in feeding aggregations. A versatile predator with a broad prey spectrum. Feeds on sturgeon and tunas, as well as sea lions and other large animals and fish (Ref. 9987). Presumably ovoviviparous. Reported by some experts to attack humans which they mistake for their normal prey of seals. Reported to cause poisoning (Ref. 4690). Meat is utilized fresh and smoked for human consumption, the skin for leather and the liver for oil (Ref. 9987). [details]Diet Bony fishes such as salmon, hake, halibut, mackerel and tunas. As well, other sharks, sea turtles, seabirds and marine mammals are eaten. [details]
Distribution Newfoundland to Argentina [details]
Habitat nektonic [details]
Habitat Found in coastal and offshore waters, may enter small bays and harbours and approach shore. [details]
Importance Social & Scientific- Fatal attacks on humans and small boats, flesh and fins used for human food, liver is rich in oil, skin is used for leather, carcass is used for fish meal. [details]
Predators Man and possibly other white sharks [details]
Reproduction Presumed to be ovoviviparous [details]
| Language | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans | withaaiwitdoodshaaispringhaaisarda | [details] |
| Albanian | peshkaqen njeringrënës | [details] |
| Dutch | witte haai | [details] |
| English | white sharkwhite pointerwhite death sharkwhite deathuptailtuna sharkTommymudsharkman-eater sharkjumping sharkgreat white sharkgreat white deathdemon sharkdeath sharkcowsharkblue pointeranchovy-eater | [details] |
| French | requin blancgrand requin blanc | [details] |
| German | Weisshaiweißer HaiMerviel FrasMenschenhai | [details] |
| Hawaiian | niuhi | [details] |
| Hebrew | קרחה לבנה | [details] |
| Italian | tunnu palamitu di funnusqualo biancopisci mastinupisci canipici bistinupesciu canpescecanepesce canepesce can grandepesca canmastinu ferumangia alicelamiaimbestinudamianocarcarodonte lamiacarcarodonte di rondeletcarcarodontecaniscucan grossucagniacagnesca grande | [details] |
| Japanese | ホホジロザメoshirozamehohojirozamehitokiuzame | [details] |
| Lithuanian | baltasis ryklys | [details] |
| Maltese | kelb-il-bahar abjadkelb il-baharhuta tax-xmaragab doll | [details] |
| Maori | taniwhamango-tuatinihare hongi | [details] |
| Modern Greek (1453-) | Λευκός καρχαρίαςkarcharias | [details] |
| Norwegian | hvithaihaa skieding | [details] |
| Polish | żarłacz biały | [details] |
| Portuguese | tubarâo brancotabarao | [details] |
| Russian | мегалодонкархародон мегалодон | [details] |
| Samoan | tanifa | [details] |
| Slovenian | veliki beli morski pes | [details] |
| Spanish | tiburón blancotiburotauró blanctaburosardasalroigsalproixsalproigmarracojaquetón de leyjaquetón blancoca mari | [details] |
| Turkish | büyük beyaz köpekbalığıbuyuk beyaz kopekbaligi | [details] |
| Ukrainian | Велика біла акулаБіла акулаАкула велика біла | [details] |
To Barcode of Life (171 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (184 publications)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Carcharodon carcharias)
To FAO Species fact sheets
To FishBase
To Fishipedia
To GenBank (71288 nucleotides; 46302 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To IUCN Red List (Vulnerable)
To NMNH Paleobiology Collection (USNM PAL 336204 Carcharodon carcharius)
To PESI
To ITIS
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (184 publications)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Carcharodon carcharias)
To FAO Species fact sheets
To FishBase
To Fishipedia
To GenBank (71288 nucleotides; 46302 proteins)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To IUCN Red List (Vulnerable)
To NMNH Paleobiology Collection (USNM PAL 336204 Carcharodon carcharius)
To PESI
To ITIS
From editor or global species database
Hosted externally
Unreviewed
