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How does internal fertilization occur in white sharks?

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white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) — white shark White shark (*Carcharodon carcharias*) populations are frequently centred in highly productive temperate coastal waters (that is, waters characterized by an abundance of fishes and marine mammals).

While mating in white sharks has not been fully documented, it is assumed to follow the pattern of internal fertilization observed in most sharks.1

In this process, the male uses specialized copulatory organs called claspers, located along the inner edges of his pelvic fins, to facilitate the transfer of sperm. The male typically inserts one of these claspers into the female's cloaca, which serves as the opening to the reproductive tract. Once inside, the sperm travels to the anterior end of the oviduct to fertilize the eggs.21

Following fertilization, white sharks exhibit viviparous reproduction, meaning the fertilized eggs are retained within the mother's body until the young are developed. During this gestation period, which is estimated to last about 12 months, the developing pups may feed on undeveloped eggs and potentially their unborn siblings within the womb.1