Survivors of the Sea
Sharks have been on Earth since long before the dinosaurs. No matter how much the planet has changed, sharks have always found a way to survive. They are true champions of adaptation and strategy.
Sharks have incredibly sharp senses, sight, hearing, taste, touch, and even the ability to detect electricity. Their livers are large, oily, and full of fat, which helps them stay buoyant in the water.
You may have seen sharks in movies like Jaws, but here is the truth: sharks do not want to eat us. They are mysterious creatures of the wild waters. The more you learn about them, the less scary they become.
Bull Shark
The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is known for being unpredictable and aggressive. Many experts consider it the most dangerous shark of all. Its cousins (the great white and tiger shark) are also very dangerous. All three are highly territorial and may attack if they feel their space is being invaded.
Bull sharks have been spotted in the Amazon River, the Mississippi River, and many other waterways around the world. They can control the salt levels in their bodies, which lets them survive in both salt water and fresh water. They go by many names: Van Rooyen's shark, Zambezi shark, Ganges shark, and Nicaragua shark.
Great White Shark
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) sits at the very top of the ocean food chain. It is the ultimate apex predator of the sea. Like all sharks, the great white is a cartilaginous fish, its skeleton is made of cartilage, not bone, just like the bendy material in your nose and ears.
Many scientists believe great whites are curious and intelligent. Their bodies and teeth are extraordinary, but what really sets them apart are their senses. A great white can detect a single drop of blood from a mile away. It can also sense the tiny electrical signals made by a heartbeat or moving gills. There is no hiding from one.
Other names for the great white include white pointer, white shark, and white death. Great whites have bitten humans before, but most attacks are not fatal. Scientists think they are not deliberately hunting people, they bite to investigate and then usually swim away, because they do not like the taste of humans.
Take the Bull Shark vs. Great White Quiz!
5 quick questions. Can you tell these two ocean predators apart?
Differences Between Bull Shark and Great White Shark
Now you know a bit about each shark. Let's put them side by side to see exactly what makes them different.
| Point Of Difference | 🐟 Bull Shark | 🦈 Great White Shark |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Bull sharks love shallow water and spend a lot of time in freshwater rivers and lakes, which is why they are nicknamed 'freshwater whalers'. | Great whites live in open oceans and shallow seas. They are often seen off the coasts of California, Australia, and South Africa, and in cold and tropical coastal waters worldwide. |
| Eating Habits | Bull sharks eat fish, dolphins, sea turtles, and carcasses. | Great whites eat seals, dolphins, elephant seals, and carcasses. They tear off large chunks of meat and swallow them whole without chewing. |
| Attacking Strategies | Bull sharks use a 'bump and bite' technique, they ram the prey first, then bite. | Great whites position themselves directly below the prey and shoot straight up to attack, sometimes launching their whole body out of the water. |
| Reproduction | Bull sharks give birth to live pups, between 1 and 13 at a time. Each pup is about 27.6 inches long at birth. Pups take 10 years to fully grow up. | Great white pups hatch from eggs inside the mother's body, then are born live. Between 2 and 12 pups are born at a time. Each pup is already 5 feet long at birth! |
| Body Features | Gray on top, white below. Bull sharks have 2 dorsal fins with dark-tipped edges and pale stripes along the sides. Their snout is short and blunt, and their eyesight is quite poor, which is why they prefer murky water. | Great whites have a sleek, torpedo-shaped body with a pointed snout. They use their caudal, dorsal, and pectoral fins to power through the water. Their bite force reaches 18,000 Newtons, roughly the weight of a small car. |
| Size and Weight | Bull sharks grow up to 11 feet long and weigh around 318 kg. | Great whites grow up to 20 feet long and weigh around 1,900 kg, that is more than six times heavier! |
| Teeth | Bull sharks have serrated, triangular teeth in their upper jaw. Their lower jaw teeth have a broad base and sharp serrations. Front teeth sit straight and symmetrical; back teeth lean to the side. | The great white has around 3,000 teeth arranged in rows. They are triangular, serrated, razor-sharp, and up to 3 inches long. As old teeth fall out, new ones move forward to replace them. |
Beautiful and Worth Protecting
Both sharks can live up to 30 years. They are powerful, magnificent animals. Yes, they can be dangerous, but remember: sharks do NOT hunt humans. They bite by mistake or to defend themselves, and they quickly lose interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is bigger, a bull shark or a great white shark?
The great white is much bigger, up to 20 feet and around 1,900 kg, versus the bull shark's 11 feet and 318 kg.
Can a bull shark live in freshwater?
Yes. Bull sharks can balance the salt in their bodies and swim far up rivers, which is why they're nicknamed 'freshwater whalers'.
Do sharks really hunt humans?
No. Sharks do not feed on humans. Most bites happen by mistake or for protection, and sharks generally do not like the taste of people.
How long do bull sharks and great white sharks live?
Both sharks have a lifespan of up to 30 years.
What is a shark's skeleton made of?
Cartilage, not bone, sharks are cartilaginous fish, so their skeletons are made of the same bendy material found in your nose and ears.
Sadly, thousands of sharks are killed every year by people, for their fins, by accident in fishing nets, or because of pollution. These amazing creatures deserve to be protected. Next time you see a shark in a film, think of the real animal: a survivor that has roamed the oceans for millions of years.
Explore More Animals
All About the Food and Habitat of the Great White SharkGreat white sharks are the largest predatory fish of the oceans. Dubbed as killing machines, they derive their name from their typical white underbellies.
The Amazing Life Cycle of SharksSharks have prowled the oceans for around 400 million years. Discover how great white, hammerhead, bull, and thresher sharks are born, grow, and survive.
The 10 Most Aggressive Sharks in the WorldWhich shark species are most aggressive toward humans? Discover the top 10 most dangerous sharks (from the bull shark to the lemon shark) with attack stats, s
Habitat of a Tiger Shark: Where Does It Live?The tiger shark lives in warm tropical and subtropical seas worldwide. Discover its habitat, range, physical features, diet, and reproduction, plus a quiz!
Fun fact for today!The bull shark can swim up rivers into freshwater, something almost no other big shark can do!