Special muscles pull the jaw complex forward and down, riding on grooves on the undersurface of the skull. This arrangement allows a Great White to protrude its jaws outward from the head, extending the reach of its teeth and creating a partial vacuum that helps suck in prey.

When a shark – or any other animal – eats a meal, it is consuming energy in the form of the chemical bonds that hold together atoms in stable arrangements called molecules. During digestion, these food molecules are disentangled, broken-down into smaller ones, and most are absorbed through the intestinal walls.

Physical Adaptations The body shape of the great white is one of its main adaptations, being much like a torpedo so as to limit friction while swimming. The powerful tail and muscular body help the large fish to swim at up to 15 mph. Sheer size is an adaptation in itself.

The reason for the frequency of fatal attacks has to do with the island’s tropical location. The island is situated in a so-called “shark highway” between Australia and South Africa, two countries with shark dominated waters.

Mauritius is a rather unique island with lagoons protected by the reefs, which prevent sharks from having access to the beaches.

Dangerous waters; Réunion’s long history of attacks Réunion Island has become so notorious for shark attacks, swimming and surfing is banned outside the coral lagoon. Eleven people have died in attacks since 2011. There have been more than 50 attacks recorded between 1988 to 2016.

Swimming in the lagoon in Reunion Island Due to the abundance of marine life in the waters surrounding the island, swimming and surfing in the open ocean is forbidden. While the waves may look exhilarating for a surf, surfing could result in a fine.