Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does the diet of an adult white shark differ from that of a newborn?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
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).
The diet of a white shark changes significantly as it matures from a newborn to an adult.
- Newborns: During their early stages, white sharks primarily consume fishes and other sharks.12
- Adults: As they reach adulthood, their diet expands to include larger marine animals, such as sea turtles, seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins, and small whales.12
In addition to hunting live prey, adult white sharks act as opportunistic scavengers, feeding on the carcasses of whales and basking sharks.12