Watch a Great White Shark Get Massive Air as It Flies Out Of The Water

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Great white sharks could be thought of as the ocean’s top-notch, toothy superstar! These big guys are like the celebrities of the sea, famous for their starring roles in movies and their impressive size.

They’re found cruising in cool, coastal waters all around the world, showing off their sleek, torpedo-shaped bodies and flashing their large, serrated teeth. But don’t let their Hollywood reputation fool you, great whites are more than just teeth and terror. They’re actually quite intelligent and have complex social and hunting habits to boot.

In the short but shocking clip below, we can see how surprisingly vicious (and even airborne!) these huge creatures can be, even at a moment’s notice. Let’s learn more about this often intense master of the ocean waters and what we might not always see when thinking of them.

Exactly How Smart Are Great White Sharks?

Able to detect electric currents underwater and carrying a curiosity almost as insatiable as their hunger, great white sharks are actually extremely intelligent creatures. Myths may purport these advanced predators are mindless killers, but the opposite is true – the behaviors they exhibit imply a very high degree of cognitive ability.

This level of intelligence, combined with their sensory capabilities, make them highly effective predators and fascinating subjects of study, despite a somewhat rough exterior.

How Fast Can Great White Sharks Swim?

Capable of reaching speeds of up to 25 miles per hour, great white sharks are not to be underestimated. With their muscular frame and well-fitted anatomy, these creatures can travel at notably high speeds. These adaptations are crucial in order to give chase to a range of prey, who can also swim at similar speeds.

With every specially shaped fin at their disposal, along with their mighty tail, great white sharks are capable of both quick and coordinated movements including jumping out of the water, known as breaching, as seen in the video below. This gives them the advantage in their environment, as well as the title of a true apex predator.

Are Great White Sharks Endangered?

Despite what scares Hollywood may have given us over great white sharks and their seemingly scary visage, they need our help to protect them from things like overfishing. The notoriously invasive shark fin trade and incidental damages caused to them due to the mere presence of humans, for example, commercial fishing nets tangling up great white sharks, all hamper their survival.

These wonderful yet intimidating fish have been considered vulnerable in most regions of the world since 1996. Marine biologists worldwide are always on the watch to better understand and assist with conserving this controversial giant so they don’t become any more endangered than they already are.

Is it Normal for Great White Sharks to Jump?

Some shark species are known to jump out of the water in what is called breaching. The great white shark is one of these sharks that is renowned for its impressive aerial displays, earning them the nickname Air Jaws. This impressive behavior exhibited by these massive sharks is another hunting method they employ to ambush their prey.

Great whites are capable of swimming at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour, with burst speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. As they approach the surface in a breach, they are able to propel themselves about 10 feet into the air. This behavior is most often seen off the coast of South Africa in False Bay where they pursue cape fur seals.