Because of its highly streamlined shape and powerful swimming muscles, a great white shark can swim up to 35 miles per hour in short bursts. In addition to its ability to swim in short bursts, a great white can also move at a steady cruising speed. Scientists recorded one great white that swam a total of 12,400 miles in nine months, an average of 45 miles each day.
This incredible speed is fairly unique among sharks. In fact, the great white shark's top speeds are quite close to those of the mako shark, which, with bursts in excess of 31 miles per hour, is the fastest known shark species.
