The Mediterranean's ghost population: a 3-million-year-old lineage of apex predators
In short: For centuries, the Mediterranean was a kingdom ruled by the great white shark. Today, these giants are shadows, hiding in deep waters and forgotten nurseries. A recent underwater sighting in the Strait of Sicily offers a rare glimpse into a population that has been evolutionarily isolated for millions of years.
The presence of great white sharks in the Mediterranean is no longer a matter of historical record; it is a modern mystery. In 1956, a massive 19-foot specimen was caught just 300 meters from the coast of Southern France, serving as a stark reminder of a time when these predators were far more abundant. Today, they are considered a "ghost population." Due to their elusive nature, it is nearly impossible to quantify their numbers, but they face severe pressures from habitat loss, competition with commercial fishing vessels, and accidental entanglement in abandoned nets.
Recent forensic investigations and underwater footage are beginning to piece together the survival of these animals. In May 2026, a diver spotted a 13-foot great white roughly 50 miles offshore in the Strait of Sicily. This was significant as it was considered the first underwater video of an adult male in the region. To study these creatures without startling them, researchers now use advanced rebreather technology to eliminate air bubbles, allowing for face-to-face encounters that were previously impossible to capture.
What makes these sharks truly remarkable is their deep evolutionary history. Research conducted by the University of Bologna in 2020 identified Mediterranean great whites as a separate genetic group. They have been isolated from other great white populations for approximately 3.2 million years, dating back to the Pliocene period. Data from mitochondrial DNA of specimens collected during the past 200 years indicates these sharks share a nearer lineage with Pacific groups than Atlantic ones, marking a specific evolutionary path within the Mediterranean.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Mediterranean Sharks: Face to Face with the Great White | Part 3 | SLICE EARTH
- Also: Diver captures rare footage of great white shark—in the Mediterranean
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