The great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, also known as white pointer, white shark, or white death, is an exceptionally large lamniforme shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. Reaching lengths of about 6 metres (20 ft) and weighing 2,250 kilograms (5,000 lb), the great white shark is the world's largest known predatory fish. It is the only known surviving species of its genus, Carcharodon.