Great White Shark Evolutionary Senses - Learn amazing facts! (original) (raw)
Great White Shark Evolutionary Senses
Great White Shark Evolutionary Senses
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Human beings have come a long way from the days of believing that animals are non-sentient, unintelligent and far below the evolutionary scale of modern man. The deeper we investigate the abundant animal life on our planet, so the perceived gap between the sentience of man and megafauna closes, as we discover that beyond the ability to communicate via verbal syllables, we are not that different from the creatures we share our world with.
Fish have Feelings too
Science has proven that fish, contrary to popular belief, do in fact feel pain. Neurobiological scientists studying the biology of various fish species have discovered that fish produce pain relieving neurotransmitters – the only possible reason that a nervous system of any animal would produce these endorphins, is for pain relief.
Our life-giving Ocean
The Great White Shark has evolved over 400 million years to be the guardian apex predator of our oceans. Tasked with keeping fish populations in check and healthy – this constant inherent monitoring of our oceans has a cascading effect that benefits even the tiniest algae blooms, at the very bottom of the food chain, that ultimately contribute more life-giving oxygen into our atmosphere, than the entire Amazon Rainforest.
The image was captured on July 18 by NASA’s Operational Land Imager on the Landsat 8.
Great White Shark Super Senses
The Great White Shark anatomy is geared for hunting through finely tuned senses of smell, hearing, touch, taste, sight and electromagnetism. Working together, these highly developed senses make Carcharodon Carcharias deeply attuned to its oceanic environment.
The Great White Shark’s brain has evolved to be able to outwit prey, such as fast-moving seals and dolphins, that are well known for their incredible agility and intelligence.
Great White Shark Eyes & Nose
The most powerful sense of the Great White Shark is its sense of smell. Their olfactory bulb is believed to be the largest of any shark species, and they can detect even a single drop of blood in 10 billion drops of water.
The Great White Shark’s ears can hardly be seen just behind their eyes, but they are made up of cells that can detect the tiniest vibration in the water. A small ‘ear stone’ that responds to the earth’s gravity, allows the Great White Shark to know its orientation in the water while hunting.
The Great White Shark’s eyes are small in comparison to their body, but they are still a powerful aid to hunting, with a specialized retina that is divided into day vision and night vision enabling them to hunt in dark, murky waters. They have also evolved the ability to protect their eyes from attacks from their prey by rolling them back into their sockets when threatened.
Carcharodon Carcharias Electromagnetic Abilities
The most incredible sense of the Great White Shark is their ability to sense electromagnetic fields. This ‘magic-like’ ability is called ‘electro-reception’ and allows them to navigate through the open ocean by following the map of the earth’s magnetic fields within the earth’s crust. The organ that gives the magnificent Great White Shark this ability, is called the Ampullae of Lorenzi, tiny jelly filled pores that can pick up on the power and direction of electrical currents.
This formidable apex predator’s sense of touch is enhanced by a sensory structure that runs along the length of its torpedo shaped body called the ‘Lateral Line’. This enables them to perceive the tiniest vibrations in the water given off by prey.
White Shark Diving Company – Where Adventure Meets Conservation!
White Shark Diving Company is a shark conservation driven company that gives guests the opportunity to experience South Africa’s sharks up-close, in an educational, adrenaline fuelled adventure that will leave visitors with a sense of awe, wonder, respect and a deeper understanding of the incredible sharks that live along the South African Coast.
Join our shark cage diving trips in Gansbaai for a one-day adventure or combine our shark cage diving tours with a variety of other incredible adventures in the area, from Whale watching, shark breaching, Zip Lining – to mind blowing Whale watching flights that will give you an unforgettable aerial view of the majesty of the Overberg coastline.
Shark & Marine Research Institute
Our Research Institute, Shark & Marine Research Institute was founded to conduct essential research in collaboration with our Government and Universities to help gain a better understanding of the threats facing our vulnerable shark populations, so that the powers that be can make better management decisions that will preserve our incredible sharks for future generations to come.
Contact Us
Physical Address
9 Kus Drive,
Kleinbaai,
Gansbaai,
South Africa,
7220
Postal Address
P.O. Box 2381,
Clareinch,
South Africa,
7740
Why our Clients Love Us
Wow Just wow!
Our original tour with a different company was cancelled due to bad weather but this experience was simply superb! The crew were all lovely and we saw so many sharks it was simply incredible.
Justine Mather, 19 February 2024
Worth the Trip!
Amazing experience! I was traveling with a family member with mobility issues and they were extremely accommodating. Tash, Tian and Jeff were all awesome and would gladly go again! We saw some 24 sharks and even whales on the trip, was a highlight experience
Craig Aaron D, February 2024
Best Experience!
Amazing, professional, dedicated. Great team, who really sent the extra mile to ensure the best experience for all onboard.
Highly recommended.
The experience was amazing. The staff knew their stuff. Lots of sharks. And service and food was above expectations. ????????????
From pick up to dive to drop back everything went smoothly. Was able to see heaps of sharks. And staff and crew were very helpful. Definitely would recommend for anyone who wants to see some sharks.
Phil Campbell, February 2024
Safe and Secure!
Super! That was an awesome experience! Make sure to get sea sickness medicine if you are weak for that… Safe and secure diving!
Yunus Emre K, December 2023
Birthday with the sharks.
What a lovely way to celebrate my birthday! I was pleasant surprised by how well fed we were. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. We felt safe at all times and we even got the opportunity to purchase an awesome video of the experience to as a keepsake. Definitely recommend this!
Shark Cage Dive.
Amazing experience. Still felt safe. All the crew and team were very nice and welcoming. Highly recommended.
Great Experience!
I thoroughly enjoyed this excursion just 2 hours outside Cape Town. Clint, our driver and excursion ambassador, exceeded expectations. His punctuality, friendliness, and detailed explanations heightened the overall experience. The shark cage diving, with a quick check-in, light breakfast, and insightful briefing, offered a fantastic encounter with bronze sharks. We even had two opportunities in the shark cage. Returning to shore, a delightful lunch awaited.!
Great Experience!
It was a blast!!! We saw many sharks up close! We joined the combo tour with whale watching as well, both boat trips encountered so many wildlife. Staff is professional, smooth experience. Shuttle service is also arranged seamlessly. Our driver Shaheen is a big plus! A very nice guy and took good care of us. I would recommend this company to all of my friends!
Unbelievable day!
What an incredible experience. 3.30am pick up from cape town to get there for 6am. Our driver Clint was so chill and informative. Perfect conditions for the shark diving the guys were so experienced and knew exactly where to go. Then we had a 3 hour wait until the whale watching but Clint took us to the penguin sanctuary and afrikanos where we had lunch and done a alligator tour to fill in the time. Again whale watching was amazing, the driver knew his stuff, we saw so much activity. Then to the drive back where we dozed off after a long and fantastic day! One of the highlights of our trip to cape town can’t recommend enough. Cheers to everyone.
Absolutely brilliant! A must see and do!!
Today we had our shark diving adventure with white shark diving company, it was the first day of our honeymoon and we were picked up at 3:30, so prepare yourselves for an early start! We arrived to breakfast laid out for us to help ourselves to, we met all the team and crew and were given a health and safety demonstration, it is so clear to see all of the staffs passion for the marine life that they work with! The boat ride out was fast and fun and not once did we not feel safe. We arrived at the diving point and were given all of the gear we needed (definitely bring with you an underwater camera or filming gear) after only minutes there were a good amount of sharks circling the boat and they put the cage out ready for us. The dive was INCREDIBLE! We saw copper sharks today with the biggest being 3.2metres! They were such beautiful animals and it was a genuine pleasure to be able to see them in their natural habitat.
PERSONALITY AND PROFESSIONALISM WITH SHARKS in Gansbaai!
From the time I was picked up at my hotel in Cape Town to when I was dropped off, I was impressed by the personality and professionalism of the crew of White Shark Diving Company. The booking staff answered all the questions I had prior to booking. And every communication I received informed me that the last time a white shark had been observed.
The driver Shaheen was friendly and open to questions and conversation about South Africa. Mrs. Mary had nice breakfast waiting for us when we arrived and had nice hot lasagna waiting for us after we returned from the cols waters of Shark Alley. Each of boat crew were great in their roles.
Simply amazing!!!
I went with my wife and my 2-year-old son. We were very well received by the team. During the trip my son remained asleep but when he woke up he was welcomed by the boat captain. The experience of diving and seeing the sharks was incredible! After the tour we were served lunch which was very tasty. We recommend the White Shark company to everyone!
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