The shark on the Jaws poster isn't a Great White
The Jaws poster is arguably one of the most iconic film posters in the history of cinema, showing the great white shark ascending to an unsuspecting Chrissie Watkins, the first victim in the Steven Spielberg film: Behind The Screams: Chrissie’s Attack
Except, it isn't a great white, it is a mako shark. The film poster's artist Roger Kastel didn't head to the ocean for inspiration, instead he paid a visit to the American Museum of Natural History.
There, he took a some photos of stuffed mako sharks waiting to be cleaned. They were laying on their side, but in the finished artwork the shark is positioned as if it is rising through the water.
It's instantly recognisable as the Jaws poster shark, especially those jagged teeth. Sadly, that original Jaws poster artwork is now missing: The Jaws Poster Is Missing
The great white belongs to the Family Lamnidae (the mackerel sharks), which also includes mako and salmon sharks, so it is a close relative.
FURTHER READING: WHO IS THE WOMAN IN THE JAWS POSTER?
Not that the mako isn't mentioned in Jaws, it is mentioned by the fishermen who have caught the shark that they think killed Alex Kintner, Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) corrects them and tells them it is a tiger shark. A whaaaat?
Mako shark: fast fish
The name mako comes from the Maori word for shark. It is also the world's fastest shark, clocking in at speeds of between 45 - 60 mph, giving it the nickname of the cheetah of the sea.
We can see just how different the Jaws poster may have looked with a great white shark on it instead, thanks to the amazing shark photo by world renowned shark photographer and conservationist Euan Rannachan.
We were lucky enough to speak to Euan about that photo and his passion for all things sharks: Interview: Euan Rannachan
Words by Dean Newman
If you would like to contribute a guest blog, please visit our ‘work with us’ page