Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias):  As the biggest meat-eating sharks, great whites have gained a fearsome reputation. They average between 12 and 21 feet but have been recorded at 35 feet. Great whites, which have torpedo-shaped bodies and pointed snouts, get their name from the distinct white coloring on their undersides. Mostly found in temperate coastal waters, great whites have been known to swim down to depths of 700 meters and to travel great distances - one shark traveled 3800 km in 40 days. They prefer coastal waters because that is where preferred prey - seals and sea lions - spend their time. Because of severe overfishing, great whites have been listed as "vulnerable" in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's "Red List" of threatened species. Although they are protected in some regions, they lack adequate international protection and continue to be targeted for their teeth and jaws, which are sold on the black market.