White shark sizing
Estimating the size of a white shark based on its jaws or teeth has been a topic of discussion for decades. Several models have been proposed by different researchers. In the provided estimator, we use the sizing model developed by Dr. Kenshu Shimada, as it is both straightforward to apply and provides quite reliable estimations. You can read the full paper by clicking below.
Dr. Kenshu Shimada's paper
The relationship between the tooth size and total body length in the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Prerequisites
To accurately estimate the size of a white shark, you must first identify the type of tooth. The image below illustrates the different tooth types, beginning with the upper principal tooth in the top left and the lower principal tooth in the bottom left. Only tooth types that provide sufficient precision for linear correlation, as described by Shimada, are included. Smaller teeth tend to yield less accurate size estimations. However, the estimator can still be applied to them if necessary.
Once the tooth type is identified, measure the crown height. This measurement is taken as a perpendicular line from the crown apex (tip) to the points of contact on the mesial and distal cutting edges. Crown height is a critical parameter – even small measurement errors can lead to significant inaccuracies in the estimated size of the white shark.
