The Great White Shark

Beginning with the simplest one-celled organism, an extraordinary animal rose in the murky waters entitled to a non-comparable killing-eating machine. This organism has become nature's most genuine and most successful creature that it has

remained unchanged for over 250 million years. Nature finally invented the perfect king of the sea. This animal has given the sea it's “living” adjective; in turn, it was entitled, the “great white shark.”

The Great White Shark derived from a series of evolutionary advancements that took several billion years. It began with the derivation of the vertebrates—the Phylum Chordata. Here, the Class Agnotha came to existence. Some features of Agnotha are the presence of a cartilage skeleton, nine gill slits (turning into five gill slits in sharks, where the first four became the jaw), and fins. Sharks belong to the class Chondrichthyes—a

more elaborated organism. Jaws derived from the first four gill slits, spiral valve, and productive fins. The fins are amongst the most important advancements made by the sharks.

Fixed rigid rods support the fins. The sharks have five different types of fins. They have paired fins that lift the shark, as it is able to swim; paired pelvic fins, which

stabilize the shark and letting it steer to reach its prey in a more effective manner; dorsal fins also further aide the shark in stabilization as well as the anal fin. For propelling, the

shark uses the caudal fins. The caudal fins allow the shark to charge directly toward its prey.

The great white shark's size is inevitably recognizable, but it was actually even bigger, much bigger. It was called Carcharodon megalodon years ago. This creature is still believed by some to live down in the waters, where it would be almost impossible to reach shore because of its monstrous size. It is over forty feet long and believed to be able to eat a school bus whole! Of course, the great white average length is anywhere

from twelve to sixteen feet long, but they are not restricted to those limitations.

The shark's outer “skin” is covered by something called placoid scales. These scales are like tiny teeth and have the same structure as the shark's teeth. They are also called dermal denticles. The placoid scales are arranged in a regular patter. Although they do not grow in length, they grow to cover the shark's surface area as the shark grows. Sometimes, the placoid scales create tiny whirlpools behind each scale, enabling

the shark to swim more efficiently.

The great white shark has two types of muscles-red and white. Red muscle is aerobic; thus, it needs oxygen to function. This muscle contains myoglobin. The main function of the red muscles is used just for swimming. The white muscle is anaerobic- doesn't need oxygen. White muscles primarily function for sudden bursts of speed when attacking a prey. One cannot forget to realize the teeth of the great white, as well as its powerful jaw structure. The teeth are actually modified, enlarged placoid ...