Like with other shark species, this is a hunting adaptation which helps them to remain camouflaged from above and below. They have a two-tone colouration, dark grey on top and pearl white on the bottom – this is where their name comes from. These are incredibly rough to the tough, and can remove skin off a human hand if rubbed the wrong way. These protect the skin from damage and are constantly replaced. White sharks are slate in colour and covered in tiny, tooth-like scales known as ‘dermal denticles. These are two pectoral fins and a triangular dorsal fin. Great whites have large, torpedo shaped bodies with giant mouths, pointed heads and iconic shark fins. However the name has stuck nonetheless and they are most commonly referred to as the Great White Shark or simply Great White.Īppearance What does the Great White Shark look like? Scientists generally prefer to use the term White Shark due to the fact that there is no ‘lesser’ or ‘greater’ subspecies variants. The names ‘Great White Shark’ and ‘White Shark’ both refer to the same species.
