A great white shark is believed to have been spotted in British waters this month – but how common are they and what species can we expect to see?
Mr Venn, who lives locally, spotted a distinctive triangular fin in the water in the afternoon on February 4 nearby to where a man had been surfing just moments before.
If confirmed, it would be the first time a great white has ever been spotted in British waters.
There are more than 400 known species of shark in the world.
A fin of a ‘great white shark’ has been spotted just yards off the coast from a popular beach, it has been claimed
More than 40 different species of shark pass through UK waters, but only 21 of these can be found all year round.
Here are several species that have been spotted in recent years:
1. Basking shark
The basking shark can reach lengths of up to 12 metres and is second in size only to the gigantic whale shark.
These gentle giants are filter feeders, mostly dining on plankton.
Basking sharks do not actively seek out food or suck in water, instead they swim with their mouths open, catching whatever goes through.
The basking shark is a seasonal visitor to the UK – the best time to spot one is between May and October, when a significant number of them arrive in British waters.
Basking sharks live for around 50 years and often swim around either in pairs or groups of up to 100.
2. Porbeagle
The porbeagle is one of the most common types to be spotted.
Its distinctive dorsal fin and long powerful body are among the characteristics that make the creature resemble a great white.
The porbeagle shark gliding majestically through Plymouth’s Mayflower Marina. Picture: SWNS
There has never been a confirmed case of a porbeagle killing a human, as the predators feed on smaller fish.
3. Dogfish
Known as one of the most unfussy eaters of the ocean, the dogfish feeds on pretty much anything it can catch:…
Source : times
