A mighty Great White Shark prepares to take a bite out of its next meal in Guadeloupe, Mexico.
Its jaws open wide ready to devour its prey as the enormous predator closes in on its target.
One image shows a shark eyeing the photographer snapping from his cage whilst surrounded by a flurry of black and white stripy fish.
Great white sharks gained notoriety in the 1975 film ‘Jaws’ and are feared by many who go in the ocean.
A mighty Great White Shark taking a bite out of his next meal in Guadeloupe, Mexico
One image shows the shark appearing to pose for the camera whilst surrounded by a flurry of black and white stripy fish
The photographer said he wasn’t scared by the shark:Â ‘The sharks are curious but not aggressive towards us in the slightest’
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Great white sharks can grow to around 20 feet in length and weigh up to 6,600 pounds, heavier than a car.
Euan Rannachan took the photos about 130 miles off the coast of Baja California.Â
‘A large male white shark had been interested in the bait and made a couple of half-hearted attempts to catch it,’ he said.
‘When those failed it went full apex predator on the line right in front of me.’
Gallery: Fascinating animal facts (Photos)
Bighorn Sheep Ram
Bighorn sheep, named after their large horns, are native to North America. Males, called rams, have massive horns that curl around their faces and can weigh up to 14 kg. Females, called ewes, have short and spiky horns that curve slightly to a sharp point. The sheep have keen eyesight, hearing and sense of smell and are well-equipped for climbing the steep terrain that keeps their predators at bay.
Orangutans
These apes, native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, are the world’s largest tree-climbing mammals. They are mostly found in lowland areas and prefer forests in river valleys or floodplains. The three species of orangutan – the Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli – differ a little in appearance and behaviour. The name orangutan means ‘person of the forest’ in the Malay language, and they are famously known as the gardeners of the forest.
Galápagos Sea Lion
Sea lions are found in large colonies on rocks and sandy shores on the Islands. A male sea lion may reach more than 225 kg when fully grown. A native of its namesake island chain, this member of the pinniped clade enjoys the shores and surf of the Galápagos archipelago, and is rarely found more than 10 miles offshore.
Vicuña
The vicuña is one of four South American camelids, along with its cousins, the llama, alpaca and guanaco. (They’re also related to camels.) Vicuña wool is one of the most expensive fabrics in the world, far exceeding the cost of cashmere. The value of its wool has led to conservation efforts to bolster the vicuña’s numbers – and thus the amount of wool that can be shorn – but it’s also resulted in vicuña poaching and illegal smuggling of the prized wool.
Gentoo Penguin
Behind the emperor and king penguins stands the gentoo, third-largest of all penguin species that can grow to be nearly one metre tall. Gentoo penguins have sleek, streamlined bodies and powerful flippers that propel them up to 35 kilometres per hour. No other diving bird can swim as fast.
Puma
Pumas are large, secretive cats, commonly known as cougar and the mountain lion, predominantly found in the mountains of North and South America. There are seven subspecies of puma, all of which have similar characteristics, but tend to vary slightly in colour and size. Pumas live in a variety of habitats, including desert scrub, chaparral, swamps and forests. They can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour in order to catch their prey.
Sloth
Found high in the forests of Central and South America, sloths are usually seen resting on tall trees, as their long claws make it difficult for them to walk on the ground. They spend 90% of their lives hanging upside down and their feed consists mainly of buds, leaves, and tender shoots. Sloths possess a symbiotic relationship with the algae that grows on their fur providing camouflage and extra nutrients through the skin. The pace that sloths generally travel is no more than 125 feet (38 meters) in a single day.
White Rhinoceros
This, the second-largest land herbivorous mammal, is found in Africa’s grassy plains. Both black and white rhinoceroses are actually grey and distinguished not by colour but by lip shape. Adult males weigh a massive 3.6 tonnes, while females are considerably smaller but can still weigh 1.7 tonnes. Due to a surge in poaching for their horns, a record number have been killed in recent years.
Lion
These iconic animals are the second largest in the cat family. Nearly all wild lions live in Africa, below the Sahara Desert, with one exception being found in a National Park in India. They are highly adaptive and can live in very dry areas. Female lions do most of the hunting while male lions defend the pride’s territory. They grow impressive manes with age, which protect them during the fights. A lion’s roar can be heard from as far as five miles away.
Muskox
The muskox is a herbivorous mammal that lives in the frozen Arctic and grazes on grass, willows, lichen and moss using their strong hooved feet to dig into the icy ground. They have the longest fur of any other animal and have an insulated woolly undercoat that helps them survive the most severe temperatures. Many muskoxen live on nature preserves in herds in Alaska, Norway and Siberia, where they’re protected.
Giraffes
The tallest of all land animals, giraffes are herbivores. They can live up to 25 years in the wild and are currently categorised as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List. With 53-cm-long tongues, they can easily pluck leaves from the tallest of trees.
Wallabies
These herbivorous pouched mammals are members of the kangaroo family, almost identical but smaller. Their natural habitat varies by group, such as the brush, rock, swamp, forest and shrub wallabies. The soft, woolly fur can be grey, brown, red or almost black. There are around 30 different species of wallaby and can mostly be found in Australia.
American Pika
This small, rodent-like mammal with an invisible tail is found in the high mountains, camouflaging well in the bare rocks. They are herbivorous, eat stored grasses to survive for winters in their den, but don’t hibernate. Pikas reach a size of about 18 to 20 centimetres in length.
Southern Tamandua
Also known as the collar anteater or lesser anteater, this long-tailed animal does not have teeth but its paws have knife-like claws. It can extend its long and thin tongue to a great length to feed on ants and termites.
Capybara
Native to South America, these are the world’s largest rodents. They are generally found living near water bodies and are known to be excellent swimmers.
Piraputangas
A freshwater fish known to be a native of South America. Also known as the Brycon Hilarii, this fish feed mainly on fruits and seeds, and sometimes jump out of water to pluck low-hanging fruits.
Brown capuchin monkey
Also called tufted capuchins, this monkey species is native to South America, primarily around the Amazon Basin. They are considered highly intelligent, and are known to use sticks and rocks as tools for getting food.Â
King penguin
Found in the sub-Antarctic region, the second largest species of penguins are characterised by a black face, white belly, golden-yellow neck and orange-red cheeks. They can dive to depths of 100 to 300 metres.
Chinstrap penguin
This species of penguin is found mostly around the Antarctica and sub-Antarctic islands and icebergs. They are also called stonecracker penguins because of their loud screech that can break stones.
Brown bear cubs
These cubs belong to one of the largest bear species. Mostly born in pairs, they stay with their mothers for two and a half to three years before heading out to lead a life of their own.
Japanese Macaque
Commonly known as snow monkeys, Japanese Macaque have thick fur that allows them to live in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius. One can spot them in the hot water springs at the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Anteater
These long-tailed animals do not have teeth and their paws have knife-like claws. They can extend their long, thin tongues to a great length in order to feed on ants and termites.
Golden snub-nosed monkey
Found in the mountain ranges of southwestern China, this monkey species is highly vocal, producing 18 types of call. It has a remarkable ability to communicate in a ventriloquist-like manner, showing no visible sign of mouth or face movement.
Badger
The nocturnal mammal has short legs that are perfect for digging. They can be found in various parts of the world and are known for their burrowing ability. The species differ in size, habitat and colouration, but all of them have powerful jaws and sharp claws.
Musk Ox
Found in the Arctic region, these mammals are noted for their thick coat and for the strong odour emitted by males during the mating season. They feed on Arctic willows, grass, woody plants, lichens and mosses.
Meerkat
Meerkats are highly social animals found in the arid regions of southern Africa. They are renowned for their posture – standing upright on hind legs – which helps them see any approaching danger while other meerkats forage for food. Their burrows have extensive tunnels and rooms that help protect them from the harsh sun of the African desert.
Red cushion sea star, Belize
With more than a thousand species of sea stars (starfish) living in the world’s oceans, it can be hard to tell them apart. But the shell, or endoskeleton, helps. Scientists distinguish between types of sea stars partly by observing the colours, shapes and patterns of calcium carbonate plates called ossicles that make up each star’s shell. They can be granular or bumpy, or – like the one in our image – covered in blunt spines. Here, a red cushion sea star rests on the soft sands off the Caribbean coastline of Belize. This sea star’s home is part of the 620-mile-long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in size.
Humpback whale
Found in all oceans across the world, humpback whales are known to sing underwater. They are named humpbacks because of a hump in front of their dorsal fin. These whales have characteristic features, such as dark backs, light bellies and creased throats.
Cheetah
The world’s fastest land mammal has a lifespan of 10 to 12 years. They are unable to roar, unlike other big cats and can run from 0 to 60 miles (97 kilometres) per hour in just 3 seconds.
Cheetah cubs are helpless during the first few weeks of life. In order to stay protected while the mother hunts, the cubs are hidden in tall grass and are also protected by a coat of spiky, golden fur called a mantle. As the cub grows older, the mantle will give way to the cheetah’s characteristic spots.Â
Shetland pony
Found in the Shetland Islands, these ponies are the smallest breed of horses, with an average height of nearly just 107 cm. Their coat changes with the season – it is silky and short in summer and dense during winter.
Bottlenose dolphin
These intelligent animals have conversations using a variety of methods, including: whistles, squeaks, clicks, head-butting, jaw-snapping, bubble-blowing and more.Â
They can also jump as high as 6 metres in the air, which is another way in which they communicate with each other.Â
Bison
Bison are found in both North America (where they’re also known as buffaloes) and Europe (where they’re also known as wisent). A fully grown male bull is about 6.5 feet (2 metres) tall, can weigh 900 kg and can run up to 40 mph (65 km/h).
Elephant
The African elephant is the largest extant land mammal in the world and also has the largest brain of any land animal. Bull (male) elephants can weigh up to 6,350 kg and stand 13 feet (four metres) tall at the shoulder. They have the longest gestation period among mammals, at nearly two years.
Siberian tiger
The endangered mammal is the world’s largest cat. Mainly endemic to Russia, China and North Korea, their population continues to dip due to habitat loss and poaching.
Highland cow
Originally from Scotland, the cow is also found in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Canada and the USA. It is not often used as a dairy animal, even though its milk has a very high butterfat content. They have long horns to dig through snow while their long hair helps them survive cold temperatures.
Monarch butterfly
Millions of these butterflies migrate south from Canada and parts of the USA to Mexico during winter (January to March). They then hibernate in oyamel fir trees, making them look like natural art installations.
Lion cub
The cubs are born with light brown or black spots which disappear as they grow older. The newborns stay hidden with their mothers for one to two months. They begin walking in 10 to 15 days.
Snowy owl
With cat-like eyes and white feathers, the snowy owl is typically found in the Arctic and camouflages well in the snowy landscapes. With fewer than 30,000 left in North America and 200,000 in the world, their population is decreasing.Â
When competition for prey is high, the birds head south to find food, which is called ‘irruption’.
Manatee
Also known as a sea cow, this huge, aquatic marine mammal measures up to 13 feet (4 metres) and weighs 455 kg. Mostly herbivorous, they swim with their paddle-like flippers, in search of water plants to feed on. Manatees stay near the surface of the water.
Orca
Also known as the killer whale, the orca is one of the largest dolphin species. No other creature preys on it, making orcas the top of the oceanic food chain. Scientists have also discovered that when other predators, like sharks, are in the area, they will quickly leave.
Orcas are black and white and known to make distinctive noises to communicate under water.Â
Red Vixen Fox
When fox kits emerge from their den in the spring, they’re only three to five weeks old. They spend most of their time outside playing with their siblings as well as mum and dad. By the time autumn arrives, they’re fully grown and living on their own.Â
Hare
Related to rabbits, there are about 30 species of hares. They have longer ears and hind feet compared to rabbits.Â
Gemsbok
These members of the Oryx genus are exquisitely adapted to life in the Namib Desert, and are able to forgo food and water for extended periods of time. Both male and female gemsboks are equipped with the deadly horns that average 33 inches (83 cm).
Greater Kudu
The greater kudu’s long, curling horns are what distinguish this African antelope from other ungulate herds. By the time they reach their sixth birthday, most greater kudu bulls sport horns twisting two-and-a-half turns. The horns look like they’d make great defensive weapons, but they’re only occasionally used to spar with other males of the species.Â
Rhino
Indian rhinos, despite their tank-like appearance and two-ton (1.8 tonne) weight, can be surprisingly agile. They turn, leap and run quite quickly – some have been clocked at a top charging speed of 30 miles per hour.
Bengal Tiger
Tigers are the largest members of the cat family. Over the last 100 years, three of eight tiger species have become extinct, and hunting and forest destruction have reduced tiger populations from hundreds of thousands of animals to perhaps fewer than 2,500. Bengal tigers, the most common tiger, live in India and account for about half of all wild tigers.
Camel
Camels have a number of ways that they’ve adapted to their desert environments. Their humps consist of stored fat, which they can metabolise when food and water is scarce. They have a third, clear eyelid that protects their eyes from blowing sand. They also can shut their nostrils during sand storms.
Zebra
Scientists aren’t sure why zebras have stripes. There are some theories: Their stripes may distract and confuse predators and biting insects; they may help control the animal’s body heat; or they may help the animals to recognise one other because each zebra’s stripes are unique.
Polar bears
Polar bears have black skin and although their fur appears white, it is actually transparent.Â
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The photographer said he wasn’t shaken by the experience. Â
‘Never once have I felt scared in the cage,’ he said.
‘Once you are in the water with these animals it’s easy to show just how peaceful it is and not scary at all.
‘The sharks are curious but not aggressive towards us in the slightest.’
Sharks use their noses as a means of detecting prey in the water, feeling electrical signals in the water, even allowing it to ‘hear’ a heartbeat.
‘White sharks have little jelly-filled sacks predominantly in their noses called Ampullae de Lorenzini,’ he said.
‘They use these little holes filled with jelly to feel electrical impulses in the water such as an animal in distress.
‘They also can use these sensors to feel your heartbeat in the cage.’
Great white sharks can grow to around 20 feet in length and weigh up to 6,600 pounds, heavier than a car
Sharks use their noses as a means of detecting prey in the water, feeling electrical signals in the water, even allowing it to ‘hear’ a heartbeat
A shark’s dorsal fin is seen above the water, a clear signal to swimmers of an approaching predator in the water
‘Once you are in the water with these animals it’s easy to show just how peaceful it is and not scary at all
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Great white sharks: Feared predators of the deep
Great white sharks have such a strong sense of smell that they can detect a colony of seals two miles away
Great whites give birth to up to ten ‘pups’ but mothers will eat them if they don’t swim off fast enough
They swim at up to 37mph at full pelt and burst out of the water from below their prey
They attack 5-10 humans every year but usually just take a ‘sample bite’ out of curiosity before swimming off
Great whites can live to up to 70 years old
They are colored white underneath to make them harder to see from below with sunlight shining down
They have several rows of teeth that can number into the thousands
As their teeth fall out they are replaced by razor sharp teeth in the row behind
Male great white sharks generally arrive at the same time to the Farallon Islands off the California Coast and the offshore Island of Guadalupe, Mexico from late July through August, and females arrive to these locations several weeks thereafter.
The sharks are observed at their coastal aggregation sites through February.
Great white sharks are opportunists, feeding from the ocean’s surface to the seafloor
Smaller great whites prey on fish, rays, and crustaceans, but larger ones also eat seals, sea lions, dolphins, seabirds, marine turtles, rays, and other sharks
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