If you have seen the popular horror film “Jaws,” you would believe that great white sharks are the worst things to walk this planet. However, that could not be farther from the truth.

We believe that these creatures are largely misunderstood. Considering that what we know about them is merely a fraction of what we should know, ruling them off as monsters is a bit far-fetched.

Without a doubt, great white sharks are the largest predatory fish globally. They feed on aquatic animals.

1. Great white sharks are curious about humans 

Shark attacks make a great storyline and will undoubtedly become blockbusters. However, the reason depicted in movies is not quite the same reality-wise

You see, there is a yearly report of about one hundred shark attacks. Half of them are unprovoked, while the others are in self-defense.

They result in an average of four deaths annually! Scientists have discovered that our interactions with sharks are born out of curiosity from these white-bellies creatures.

They are not out to harm us.

2. They are massive creatures 

Great white sharks can grow as large as twenty feet and weigh tons.

They have conical-shaped faces that look great with their torpedo-shaped bodies. Perhaps their extra-large and plenteous teeth explain why the media has decided to paint them as monstrous creatures, but the dentition is certainly not reserved for us.

3. Their scientific name is about their teeth

The scientific name for great white sharks is Carcharodon carcharias. It is Greek for “sharpened teeth.”

These creatures do not chew their prey, despite their large teeth. Instead, their dentition is reserved for tearing the kill into smaller pieces and consuming them whole.

4. They have an incredible sense of smell 

Great white sharks have the most incredible sense of smell! They can perceive a drop of blood in 26 gallons of water.

This great sense of smell makes it mighty easy for them to sense prey. It also helps them expand their diet, which consists of animals at the lower sections of the food pyramid. Some of these options include sharks, seals, sea turtles, and lions, among many others.

5. They can breach the surface 

Great white sharks occasionally enjoy breaching the surface of the water. They are among the few aquatic creatures that can do this and do it well. You would undoubtedly enjoy a show from this creature; it can position its body magnificently to catch prey in the process.

However, breaching is seldom done because of how energy-consuming it is.

Bottom line

Great white sharks are fascinating creatures that mean us no harm, even though they have been depicted as monsters. If anything, they are merely curious about us; we look like strange seals to them.