Courtship:
- Prior to mating, male and female great white sharks likely engage in courtship behavior. This may involve swimming alongside each other, circling, and displaying courtship signals.
Size and Sexual Maturity:
- Great white sharks reach sexual maturity at different sizes and ages depending on their sex. Males typically reach sexual maturity at around 13 feet (4 meters) in length, while females may reach maturity at around 16 feet (5 meters) or larger.
Mating Season:
- The exact mating season for great white sharks is not precisely known, but it is believed to occur during specific times of the year, possibly in the spring or summer months.
Mating Behavior:
- During mating, the male great white shark bites and holds onto the female's pectoral fin to keep her in place. He may also bite other areas of her body, leaving distinctive scars.
- Once the male has secured the female's pectoral fin, he inserts one of his claspers (modified pelvic fins) into the female's cloaca to deliver sperm.
- The mating process is likely brief, lasting only a few minutes.
Fertilization and Gestation:
- Fertilization occurs internally after the male has successfully transferred his sperm during mating.
- The female great white shark has the longest known gestation period among sharks. The gestation period is estimated to last around 11 to 12 months, or possibly even longer.
Giving Birth:
- Once the gestation period is complete, the female gives birth to live young known as pups.
- Great white sharks are thought to be ovoviviparous, meaning that they produce eggs that hatch internally, and the pups develop within the mother's reproductive tract before being born.
- The female may give birth to a litter of up to 14 pups, but litter sizes usually range from 2 to 10 pups.
Post-Birth Care:
- Unlike some other shark species, great white sharks do not provide any parental care after giving birth. The pups are born fully independent and capable of swimming and hunting on their own.
Great white shark mating behavior is still not fully understood, and researchers are continuously studying and learning more about their reproductive biology and mating habits.