Great White Shark
by Richard Ellis, John McCosker
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Book Summary Information
Author: John McCosker, Richard EllisEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1995-10-01
ISBN: 0804725292
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Book Reviews of Great White Shark
Book Review: A Great Book on the Great White
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the most refreshing things about this wonderful book on great white sharks is its unfashionable lack of sentimentality. Ever since the popularity of the movie "Jaws," shark experts have felt obligated to point out to the general public that great whites do not prey on people with any frequency, and that sharks have far more to fear from people than people do from sharks. There are perhaps only a hundred shark attacks on humans recorded every year, with just thirty of those fatal. What's more, these same experts often also claim that many shark attacks may be just a case of mistaken identity -- the shark presumably ripping into what it thinks is a seal or turtle only to discover a foul-tasting diver or surfer, and letting go. There is just enough evidence to make this theory plausible.
Both Richard Ellis and John McCosker are clearly sympathetic to sharks, and they do not sensationalize their subject. But they are also dedicated scientists who want to introduce what is known about the shark to the general public; they realize that the allure and interest surrounding the largest and most famous shark of all - the great white -- is precisely because it is dangerous. There are bigger sharks (whale shark, basking shark). There are bigger predators (sperm whale, killer whale). But there are no larger predators known to initiate unprovoked attacks on humans. Killer whales have never been known to attack humans in the wild. Sperm whales only attack men if they are attacked first. But a handful of species of sharks - the most infamous of which is the great white - will attack and, on rare occasions, eat people. This capability inspires both man's fear and interest in the creature
An incident in Australia (and described in this book) illustrates the potential horror of such attacks. In 1985, in southern Australia, a 33-year-old mother of four, Shirley Durdin, was snorkeling in seven feet of water with two companions, one of whom was her husband. They had been diving in the bay for scallops, when they decided to head to shore. At that moment, a 20-foot white pointer (the great white shark's name in Australia) suddenly attacked Durdin and, in a vicious froth of blood and foam, she was bitten in half. By the time the boats from shore were launched by fishermen trying to rescue her, all they could see was her headless torso, which the shark came back up to snatch and make off with as they watched. It was first confirmed attack in Australia where the great white actually could be seen eating its victim.
This is not just a book about great white shark attacks (although those attacks are comprehensively covered in a very long chapter). Anything you could possibly want to know about the great white is here - morphology, biology, its known habitat, prey, fishing for great whites, the great white in captivity, and its place in literature and cinema. As a result, interesting details abound on all facets of the shark. The largest great white shark ever caught, for example, is probably no longer than 23 feet and most likely no longer than 21 feet. Numerous accounts to the contrary -- including one great white reported to be 36 feet long -- are almost certainly exaggerated accounts, mistaken measurements, or complete fiction. Some researchers believe the great white is oophagous, meaning that baby great whites in the mother's uterus eat each other until only the stronger survive. When born, they measure an astounding four feet long. When fully grown, female great whites sharks are larger than males. More great white shark attacks have been recorded in the central California section between Monterey Bay and just north of San Francisco than anywhere else in the world, including Australia. Great whites can be found in nearly all types of coastal waters, except extreme tropical and extreme artic seas. Finally, they are the only sharks known to attack boats.
Like all of Ellis's work, this is a very well-written book. Just as Ellis is likely to refer to "Moby Dick", when writing about sperm whales, and "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea", when writing about giant squids, so he discusses American artist John Singleton Copley's "Watson and the Shark" and Winslow Homer's "Gulf Stream" when writing about the great white shark. (Ellis's says that the shark in Copley's painting is definitely not a great white.) He also goes over the plot in "Jaws", pointing out that while the plot is exciting, the science in the story is lacking and the resulting popularity of the film was devastating for the shark. This detailed look at the most fascinating of predators makes for a marvelous book, the best of the nearly dozen on sharks I've read.
Summary of Great White Shark
Lavishly illustrated, this book is the first complete, definitive accout for general readers of everything that is known about the great white shark, the most feared creature in the world?s oceans. It is based on extensive research into the scientific literature and lore of this superbly adapted predator, on analysis of historical records, and on the most up-to-date information. The book is illustrated with 238 photographs and drawings, 116 in color.
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