Great white sharks are among the ocean’s most recognized and formidable predators. Despite widespread fascination, details about their early life stages remain largely unknown. Observing baby great white sharks, often called pups, in their natural habitat is exceptionally rare, making their study a significant challenge for marine biologists. Recent drone footage, potentially capturing the first live newborn in the wild, highlights how uncommon such sightings are.
Distinctive Physical Traits
Baby great white sharks differ from their adult counterparts in several ways. At birth, pups typically measure between 3.5 to 5 feet long and weigh 10 to 77 pounds. While adults are known for their countershading—a gray dorsal side and a white underside—newborn pups may appear paler or even pure white immediately after birth. This initial white coloration is believed to be from a temporary embryonic layer shed shortly after birth.
Newborn pups have a more slender and elongated body shape compared to the robust, torpedo-shaped form of an adult. Their fins are initially more rounded at the tips than the distinctly pointed fins seen in mature sharks. As they grow, their body proportions and fin shapes gradually transition to resemble those of adults, becoming more streamlined and powerful.
Great white shark pups are born with a full set of sharp, thorn-like embryonic teeth. As the shark matures, these are replaced by the more familiar triangular, serrated teeth characteristic of adult great whites. Sharks continuously replace their teeth throughout their lives, ensuring they always have a functional set for hunting.
From Birth to Juvenile Stage
Great white sharks reproduce through ovoviviparity, where eggs hatch inside the mother’s uterus and pups are born live and fully formed. There is no direct placental connection; instead, embryos initially rely on a yolk sac for nourishment. During gestation, intrauterine cannibalism occurs, where developing pups consume unfertilized eggs within the uterus. This practice provides essential nutrients and contributes to the large size of pups at birth. The consumption of ‘uterine milk’ in early gestation is also suggested.
Upon birth, great white shark pups are immediately independent, receiving no parental care from the mother. They instinctively swim away to find shelter and food. These young sharks often inhabit specific nursery grounds, typically shallow, protected coastal areas that offer an abundance of prey and some refuge from larger predators. Identified nursery areas include regions off Long Island, New York, and parts of Southern California.
In these nurseries, pups hone their hunting skills on smaller prey like fish and rays. As they grow from newborns to juveniles, their appearance subtly shifts, with their bodies becoming more robust and their coloration gradually darkening to the classic gray and white of an adult. This developmental period in nursery grounds is important for their survival and transition into adulthood.