The white shark, commonly called the great white shark, is one of the  most iconic and feared creatures of the ocean. With its razor-sharp  teeth and menacing appearance, it certainly looks dangerous. But the  more we learn about this creature, the more we learn they are not  indiscriminate predators, and definitely don't prefer humans as prey.  Great white sharks are relatively large, although likely not as large as they might be in our imagination.    T he largest shark species is a plankton eater, the whale shark. Great whites average about 10-15 feet in length, and their maximum size  is estimated at a length of 20 feet and weight of 4,200 pounds. Females  are generally larger than males. They have a stout body, black eye, a  steel gray back and a white underside.   Great white sharks are widely distributed across the world's oceans. This shark resides mostly in temperate waters in the pelagic zone. They can range to depths over 775 feet. They may patrol coastal areas inh...