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Serving Great White

Short answer: The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is a large predatory shark found in coastal waters worldwide. Off places such as South Africa's False Bay, great whites ambush Cape fur seals from below at speed, sometimes breaching clear of the water.

Like many sharks, great whites can be put into tonic immobility, a trance-like state, often by turning them upside down; researchers use it to handle sharks more safely. Orcas have also been seen using the effect on sharks. The footage shows great whites breaching and swimming, with the presenter.

VideoWrite-up2 sources
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What should you know about Serving Great White?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Great whites live in coastal waters worldwide.

    DD-189-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Worldwide)

  2. They ambush seals from below.

    DD-189-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Ambush)

Video transcript: Serving Great White: Great Whites Can Launch Fully Out of the Water After Seals

Great White Sharks, majestic predators of the oceans, possess several intriguing features. DID YOU KNOW? One captivating fact is their incredible ability to breach the water surface while hunting seals. With powerful tails and a burst of speed, they launch themselves into the air, displaying a behavior known as breaching. This technique allows them to surprise their prey from below, demonstrating both their agility and predatory prowess. Great Whites also exhibit a phenomenon known as tonic immobility, where great white sharks can be induced into a trance-like state. This state is thought to calm the sharks, and is sometimes used by researchers for safer handling during scientific studies. Despite their fearsome reputation, these creatures exhibit a range of behaviors that contribute to their complex and intriguing nature. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 41.7s Reel ·

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Serving Great White: Great Whites Can Launch Fully Out of the Water After Seals Instagram Reel · · 41.7s

The write-up

Great whites can launch fully out of the water after seals. Turned upside down, a shark can fall into a trance.

  1. Exhibit A

    Worldwide

    Great whites live in coastal waters worldwide.

  2. Exhibit B

    Ambush

    They ambush seals from below.

  3. Exhibit C

    Breaching

    They can leap clear of the water.

  4. Exhibit D

    Tonic immobility

    Sharks can be put into a trance.

  5. Exhibit E

    Research use

    Researchers use it for safer handling.

Questions people ask about Serving Great White

Where do great whites live?

Many oceans.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Worldwide) · Wikipedia: Great white shark

How do they attack seals?

An ambush.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Ambush) · Wikipedia: Great white shark

What is breaching?

Seen in False Bay.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Breaching) · Wikipedia: Great white shark

What is tonic immobility?

Often by flipping them.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Tonic immobility) · Wikipedia: Tonic immobility

Who uses it?

Orcas too.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Research use) · Wikipedia: Tonic immobility

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Where do great whites live?

    1. Coastal waters worldwide
    2. Freshwater lakes
    3. Only the Arctic
    4. Caves
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Coastal waters worldwide Many oceans. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Worldwide) · Wikipedia: Great white shark

  2. How do they attack seals?

    1. From below at speed
    2. From the beach
    3. By trapping in nets
    4. Slowly
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. From below at speed An ambush. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Ambush) · Wikipedia: Great white shark

  3. What is breaching?

    1. Leaping out of the water
    2. Diving deep
    3. Sleeping
    4. Molting
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Leaping out of the water Seen in False Bay. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Breaching) · Wikipedia: Great white shark

  4. What is tonic immobility?

    1. A trance-like state
    2. A disease
    3. A migration
    4. A diet
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A trance-like state Often by flipping them. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Tonic immobility) · Wikipedia: Tonic immobility

  5. Who uses it?

    1. Researchers
    2. Fishermen only
    3. No one
    4. Whales only
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Researchers Orcas too. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Research use) · Wikipedia: Tonic immobility

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Serving Great White." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-189, last updated Jan 18, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/serving-great-white/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/serving-great-white/ · Last updated

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