Massive 13-foot great white shark pings off New England coast
Named after a popular boat brand, scientists reported "Contender," a great white shark, pinged dozens of miles off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The island, a popular travel destination, is about 100 miles from Boston.
At nearly 14 feet in length, the adult male shark surfaced on July 17, according to Ocearch, a global non-profit marine research group tracking shark sightings and migration.
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A ping means the tag attached to the fish's dorsal fin was spotted above the surface for a brief period as it swam, transmitting a near-live location signal to the Ocearch shark tracker.
How much does the great white weigh?
According to Ocearch's shark tracker page, Contender weighs 1,653 pounds and measures 13 feet, 9 inches in length.
The shark is believed to be just over 30 years old. Great white sharks' life span are typically between 30 and 40 years old, but according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration some can live past age 70.
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Where has the great white pinged?
Contender's location has pinged more than 40 times after researchers tagged the beast in January off the Florida-Georgia border.
After that, a Feb. 23 ping showed he'd swam as far south as just off the coast of Vero Beach in Florida, before making his trek more than one thousand miles north.
And last month, the big fish resurfaced off the coast of North Carolina, just off the Outer Banks near Cape Hatteras.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
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