10 largest sharks in the world. The largest sharks in the world. Could megalodon exist today?

Large animals arouse genuine interest in people, excite the imagination and even inspire awe. Especially for you, we have prepared a photo selection of the 10 largest sharks in the world.

10th place. Common sand shark

The common sand shark is the only one of all species that swallows air at the surface and uses it to regulate its buoyancy. Its maximum length reaches 3.2 m, maximum weight - 0.3 tons.

9th place. fox shark

This species is not dangerous to humans. The shark masterfully controls its tail, with the help of which it stuns the victim. It reaches a length of 6 m and weighs about 0.5 tons.

8th place. Mako shark

The mako shark is the fastest of all. Currently on the verge of extinction. The largest individuals reach a length of 3.8 m and weigh about 0.55 tons.

7th place. Hammerhead shark

These strange sea creatures may soon disappear from the face of the Earth. They are dangerous predators, although they almost never attack people. The length of the largest individuals reaches 6 m, weight - 0.58 tons.

6th place. Sixgill shark

The sixgill shark has one interesting feature: Her eyes fluoresce blue-green in the dark. The length of the largest individuals reaches 5.5 m, weight - 0.59 tons.

5th place. Greenland shark

This species lives in icy ocean waters. Fish meat is poisonous and should not be eaten. The shark grows up to 6.4 m in length, its weight reaches 1 ton, but there are individuals weighing up to 1.5 tons.

4th place. Tiger shark

The tiger shark is aggressive and dangerous to humans. It got its name due to the striped coloring on its sides. The length of these terrible creatures reaches 6 m, weight - 630 kg. A fish of this species weighing 1.5 tons is registered in the Guinness Book of Records.

3rd place. Great white shark

Great white sharks are famous for being featured in the movie Jaws. IN real life their length is 5–6 m, weight - 1.1 tons, although there are also giants up to 7 m long and weighing up to 2 tons.

2nd place. Giant shark

Giant shark never attacks a person, so on the Internet you can find many photographs of her in the company of divers. The weight of these giants reaches 4 tons, length - 9.8 m, very in rare cases- 15 m.

Sharks, the word itself evokes fear and an incomprehensible feeling of panic. But let’s still figure out which sharks are the largest in the world, and whether they are all as dangerous and scary as they seem at first glance.

10th place - Mako shark

The Mako shark is one of the most aggressive species of sharks from the herring family. She is capable of jumping 6 meters out of the water and reaching a throwing speed of up to 70 km/h. The body size of Mako sharks reaches 3.5-4.5 m. These sharks fight for life even in the womb, they attack each other and only the strongest survive... There have been cases of attacks on people, but as a rule, they were all provoked.

9th place - Fox shark

Despite its impressive body size (6 meters), most of it is occupied by the caudal fin. It is with the help of it that the shark goes hunting; it uses it as a whip, which stuns its prey. But the striking difference between these sharks is that they are not dangerous to humans, since they themselves are very shy.

8th place - Sixgill shark

Its dimensions reach 5.4 meters. At first glance, she is a little slow and does not like to be touched, but when it comes to prey, she shows lightning-fast reactions and almost always hits the target. She is not dangerous for humans, but of course, if you don’t make her angry...

7th place - Hammerhead shark

The body size of this predator is truly impressive - 6.1 meters. Distinctive feature The hammerhead shark is its appearance; the front part of the shark is similar to a hammerhead, which makes it different from its relatives with a more elongated snout. There have been cases of attacks on people. Therefore it is potentially dangerous.

6th place - Tiger shark

One of the largest sea ​​creatures-predators. The body size of Tiger sharks can reach 7 meters. Although the most common sizes are approximately 5 meters. For humans, these predators pose a real threat, since during autopsies human body parts were often found in their stomachs. Some countries are even taking measures to reduce tiger sharks to avoid danger to people.

5th place - Pelagic largemouth shark

This species of shark was discovered relatively recently, due to the fact that they live mainly in very deep waters. The body size of such sharks reaches 5.7 meters, but scientists believe that there are no more than 60 of them in total, so it is unlikely that you will be able to meet such a shark by chance.

4th place - White shark (Carcharodon)

Surely you have often seen such a shark in scary horror films, and for good reason. Her body measures up to 4.5 meters, but she has incredible jaw clenching strength. If you get caught by such a shark, then nothing can save you.

It is very dangerous for humans because it is not picky about its food. But despite its power and strength, it is an endangered species, and there are no more than 3,500 of them left on the planet.

3rd place – Greenland shark

The top three is opened by the Greenland polar shark. The largest shark in the world that lives in icy northern waters. Its dimensions are very impressive (6-7 meters), but it is not inferior in weight, about one and a half tons. Due to the specific habitat conditions (in northern waters), it moves quite slowly, approximately 2.7 km/h. But even such a low speed does not prevent her from feasting on seals that have fallen asleep in the water. It is the slowest fish on Earth.

2nd place - Giant shark

The size of the Giant Shark is truly impressive (9.8 m). Males are slightly smaller than females, but this does not interfere with their hunting. Previously, according to fishermen, there were Giant sharks up to 12 meters, but since they desperately began to exterminate them, now you won’t see them anymore. What’s very interesting is that they treat people very calmly, although you shouldn’t get too close to them because of the sharp scales on their skin that can easily hurt you. The basking shark feeds mainly on plankton and krill.

1st place - Whale shark

So, we got to 1st place. Winner: Whale Shark. The largest living shark. Its dimensions are truly enormous - 12-14 meters. But there are claims that some whale sharks can reach 18-20 meters. The weight is also a little puzzling - 36 tons. In order for such a shark to feed itself, it needs to consume 200 kg of plankton every day. But if you decide to swim alone with such a fish, you can be absolutely calm; the whale shark is not dangerous for humans, since its menu includes only small fish and plankton.

05/01/2016 27/07/2019 TanyaVU 313

Is the biggest marine mammals in the world. Many species of sharks also live in the oceans. Among these species are the "Whale Shark" - biggest shark in the world.

For many years, sharks have fascinated people with their deadly power and menacing appearance. Humanity creates myths around these mammals, and then they write books or make films based on them.

With the biggest shark modern world We have already introduced you briefly. But when compiling such ratings, many authors mistakenly add “Megalodon” - a huge shark that appeared on our planet about 23 million years ago and lived in the oceans until the late Pliocene (2.6 million years ago).

By the way, according to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest predatory shark ever living is Carcharodon Megalodon, which was about 16 meters long and possibly 2 meters wide.

Now let's move directly to the list of the largest sharks in the world, which can be found in the waters of the world's oceans.

The largest sharks in the world

Great whale shark

The whale shark is the largest and heaviest living shark because it weighs over 21 tons and is over 12 meters long. These mammals live in the open ocean and warm waters. These predators mainly feed on plankton, but sometimes they can be found while hunting for more big fish. Whale sharks are not in danger of extinction because their population is large enough.

The heaviest whale shark (that was discovered) weighed about 21,000 kg. But the longest one is 12.19 meters.

Giant shark

This shark is in second place in our ranking. They live in temperate and warm oceans of the world. These giants are quite friendly and never watch divers. Giant sharks feed on plankton and small fish. This species of mammal is the heaviest in British waters.

Average weight This shark of this species weighs 14,515 kg, and its length varies from 9 to 11.6 meters.

Great white shark

Big White shark is the largest predatory fish in the world, and they feed on other marine life. If you have seen the movie “Jaws”, then you are undoubtedly aware of the fact that these predators do not hesitate to eat “humans”. But in reality, this fish rarely attacks humans.

Very often, great white sharks can be found in coastal areas of all oceans. Their average weight is about 3300 kg. Yes, by the way, the white shark is also the fastest shark in the world.

Greenland shark

This huge shark lives in the cold waters of the oceans, and the largest population was found in the northern part Atlantic Ocean, near Greenland and Iceland. This deep sea fish, which is not so often seen, even while diving. Greenland shark meat is poisonous, so they are not used as food.

Its average weight is about 1020 kg. And she is in 4th place on the list of the largest sharks in the world.

Tiger shark

This is another type of dangerous and predatory shark that eats all types of marine animals. It is considered the most dangerous to humans because they often attack people. This shark was nicknamed “tiger” because of the stripes on its body, thanks to which its appearance resembles the color of tigers. It is found in all oceans and especially where warm waters are present. The average weight of tiger sharks is about 939 kilograms.

Hammerhead shark

Hammerhead sharks live off the coasts of all oceans and some big seas. Even though this dangerous predator, they very rarely attack people. Scientists say hammerhead sharks are on the verge of extinction.

This species of shark is famous for its beautiful fins and hammer-like head shape. Also, because of their appearance, many call hammerhead sharks the strangest sea creatures.

The average weight of these predators is about 844 kg.

Sixgill shark

The sixgill shark is also included in the list of the largest sharks in the world. These predators feed on various types of marine life. Sixgill sharks are found in almost all oceans, especially in Pacific Ocean. These predators reach a length of about 5.5 m, and their average weight is about 590 kg.

Gray sand shark

The gray sand shark is one of the few non-aggressive shark species. They live in different parts of our planet, which is why it has many names. But most often it is called the “common sand shark.” This species feeds on most marine life, as well as some other smaller sharks.

The gray sand shark poses its beautiful appearance, especially many people like to watch these predators swim in the waters of the oceans.

The average weight of sharks of this species is about 556 kg.

Mako shark

Moko sharks are number nine on our list of the largest sharks in the world. This is very rare view sharks and they are endangered. Some researchers claim that moko is one of the most intelligent marine animals.

The average weight of mocha sharks is 544 kg.

fox shark

This is the last shark species in our ranking. Fox sharks are mainly found in waters in temperate and warm oceans, especially the Pacific. He doesn't attack people. This is a very important species of shark because humanity uses their liver to produce medicines. The average weight of these predators is about 500 kg.

THE BIGGEST SHARK in the world MEGALODON - video:

TOP 10 Largest sharks - video:

10 Scariest SHARKS! - video:

Similar materials

Since ancient times, sharks have impressed people with their impressive appearance, power and the makings of a true underwater predator. There have always been many legends and myths around them, which over time migrated into books and films, becoming the basis of many famous novels and horror films. But still, what is the biggest shark in the world? We have compiled a list of the top 10 sharks that surprise you with their size and abilities.

10. fox shark

The ranking opens by far from being the largest predator, but it is very important for humanity. It lives in the Pacific Ocean and has never attacked people, who in turn often hunt it. And the reason for this is that its liver serves as the basis for many important medications.

9. Sixgill shark

It can reach 5.5 meters in length. It often lives off the coast, but representatives of this species can descend to a depth of up to 2.5 kilometers. At first glance, sixgill sharks are far from agile, but when they see prey, they develop impressive speed, which impresses many.

8. Gray Sand Shark

On average, the mammal weighs about 550 kilograms and differs from its relatives in its beautiful body anatomy, which inspires fear. But it is worth considering that it is not at all aggressive and does not show interest in people, because its diet consists exclusively of fish and small species of sharks.

7. Hammerhead shark

Megalodon - biggest shark in the world, many scientists believe so, but megalodon became extinct more than 2 million years ago, but the hammerhead representative of these predators, despite its ancient roots, still exists. Its weight can reach almost 840 kilograms but, unfortunately, their population is declining more and more every year.

6. Pelagic megamouth shark

Quite a rare species, found in 1976. Until now, their habits and way of life have not yet been fully studied, because according to the latest estimates, no more than one hundred of them live in nature. They reach 6 meters in length and have a specific appearance.

5. Tiger shark

A fairly common underwater predator that not only eats all kinds of fish, but is also a threat to humans. More than several hundred cases have been recorded when the mammal showed aggression and attacked people, swimming close to the shore. The largest individual of this species weighed almost one ton.

4. Arctic shark

In northern waters, poor seals are afraid not only of killer whales, but also of these large representatives of the shark family. The polar huntress has an average length of 6.5 m and weighs about 1200 kilograms. Moreover, due to cold temperature water moves slowly and does not disdain carrion.

3. White shark

It is the largest underwater predator and often turns out to be the main heroine of horror films about these creatures. However, in real life he very rarely shows interest in people. Weighs almost 3300 kilograms, and, despite such a massive body, it is also the fastest among all its other relatives.

2. Giant shark

The owner of incredible sizes, weight - 14 tons, length on average 10 meters, is actually very peaceful. It feeds on plankton and small fish, calmly allowing divers with cameras to approach it.

1. Whale shark

A true giant who shows no interest in big fish and even more so to a person. The diet of the whale shark also consists mainly of plankton, which helps it gain up to 21 tons of weight with a body length of 12 meters.

Few animals have given us a natural fear of them, but sharks stand out from this list. As a predator, many species of sharks are well equipped to inflict serious injury: large, fast and powerful jaws, armed with multiple rows of razor-sharp teeth, these fish are very precisely honed for the perfect kill. However, of the approximately 400 species of sharks, only a small number pose a danger to humans. Perhaps three or even four species could be considered man-eating sharks.

After sifting through the records of shark attacks recorded in the International Shark Attack Record (ISAF) and the Global Shark Attack Record (GSAF), it is clear that only a few species typically attack humans and that many of the remaining shark species must first be provoked before they can attack person.

Statistically, it is incredibly rare for any species of shark to attack humans, but when they do, the results can be so horrific that they are seared into the psyche of a nation. Reports of victims being bitten or people being half-eaten by sharks the size of school buses will always be on the minds of many people when they put their feet in the ocean.

Now about the rating. Unlike many rankings, which often evaluate sharks purely on statistics, we look at the harm potential, aggression and habitats of sharks to find out which sharks pose the greatest danger to people.

10. Hammerhead Shark

Photo. Hammerhead shark

The hammerhead shark is actually a member of the Sphyrnidae (hammerhead) shark family, which range in size from less than one meter (3 feet) to more than 6 meters (20 feet). It is believed that the strange shape of the head allows the shark to have better all-round vision, and also to better hunt prey that is buried in the sand. For most observers, the different subspecies are difficult to distinguish from each other, especially when they bite. This may seem incredible, however giant hammerhead shark(Sphyrna mokarran) may be the most suitable candidate for our ranking. This shark reaches a whopping 6+ meters (20 feet) and weighs up to 600 kg (1,300 pounds), it is armed with teeth similar to bull sharks and there is no doubt that a giant hammerhead shark can easily inflict fatal wounds on a person. There is also information that they may be more aggressive than other species of hammerhead sharks.

Over the years, hammerhead sharks have been involved in 34 attacks, one of which ended fatal. This number indicates that their potential danger is uncertain since they are an endangered species.

9. Blacktip shark

Photo. Blacktip shark

The blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) is both well-known and widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical shallows around the world. It gets its name from the black stripes and black tips on its fins and tail. In general, these sharks are quite small in size, measuring less than 1.6 m (5 ft) in length, but larger specimens can reach up to 2.8 m (9 ft) and weigh more than 100 kg (220 lb). Their size is definitely offset by their energy, and they can often be seen leaping out of the water while chasing fish.

The blacktip shark is generally not considered very dangerous to humans due to its size. But they often attack people, accounting for the highest percentage of shark attacks in Florida. ISAF has information about 41 attacks by these sharks, one of which resulted in death.

8. Common Sand Shark

Photo. Common sand shark

Many people are familiar with the common sandbar shark (Carcharias taurus) as the large shark that can be seen during an aquarium visit. Often called variously as the gray nurse shark, ragged-tooth shark and blue sand tiger nurse shark, they are found in warm waters around the world.

The common sand shark grows to approximately 3.2 meters (11 ft) in length and can weigh up to 160 kg (350 lb). However, this fierce looking teeth tends to attract people's attention. It has three rows of long, pointed teeth that protrude menacingly from the shark's mouth. Despite their menacing appearance, the teeth are designed to capture small, slippery prey such as fish and squid.

Apparently, common sand sharks do not deserve the bad reputation that people have given them. The fact that they are called "tiger" and that they often surf the waves does not actually mean that they have frequent contact with people. In fact, they are not brindle at all and they are relatively docile. However, they were known to attack and were found responsible for the deaths of two people. Many of the attacks occurred while fishing for them. There have also been several incidents of people being bitten in the aquarium.

7. Blue shark

Photo. Blue shark

Another member of the shark family, the blue shark (Prionace Glauca) is one of the most commonly seen and widespread sharks. It can be found as far north as Norway and as far south as Chile; being a deep-sea species, it rarely comes into contact with humans. This sleek shark is capable of explosive speed, which it uses to catch its prey of squid and fish. The largest specimens recorded have reached over 3.8 m (12 ft), but there have been unconfirmed reports of 21 ft in length.

IN wildlife the blue shark has several natural predators, although killer whales are also said to prey on them. More large sharks can also prey on small blue sharks, this was demonstrated in 1969 at Sea World in San Diego, where blue sharks were mixed with bull sharks in captivity. Suffice it to say that bull sharks thrived there...

From a danger point of view, hurry up people pose a danger to them than vice versa. Every year during fishing between 10 and 20 million sharks are killed. On the other hand, the blue shark is considered potentially dangerous and has been responsible for a number of fatal attacks. Some of them happened in a fishing boat when fishermen pulled it out of the water, but others happened to sailors shipwrecked on the open ocean. The blue shark is known to circle swimmers and divers for up to 15 minutes, and this may be reason to believe that in such situations it is more prone to active action.

6. Narrowtooth shark

Photo. Narrowtooth shark

The bronze whaler or copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) gets its name from its coloration and the fact that these and other sharks congregate at whale kill sites on whale hunting days. They are common everywhere, but not in tropical waters They spend their time in shallow bays, harbors and estuaries. The species is most commonly found during the annual sardine run in South Africa, where sharks feast on the fish in groups that go on a feeding frenzy.

The sandtooth shark is a large shark, reaching over 3 m (10 ft) in length and weighing about 300 kg (675 lb). It is a fast, powerful swimmer equipped with long, serrated teeth. With their size and jaws, bronze whalers do pose a threat to humans and have been involved in a number of attacks. They are generally not aggressive towards people, but have been known to harass fishermen. There are also a number of unprovoked attacks on swimmers and surfers along east coast Australia has suffered at least two similar attacks fatal.

5. Mako shark

Photo. Mako shark

The mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), or blacktip shark, is a member of the mackerel shark family (herring sharks). This family includes such illustrious members as the great white shark and the prehistoric megalodon. It is not a big surprise that the mako shark can be seen in this ranking.

Warm-blooded makos can grow to frightening sizes. Adults typically reach about 3 m (10 ft), but the largest mako sharks reached 4.5 m (15 ft) and weighed almost a ton. Considering the mako's size, it has incredible speed. This shark has been recorded reaching speeds of up to 74 km/h (46 mph) and some scientists suggest it could be much faster. At this speed, the mako shark can make incredible leaps out of the water. One of the problems is that it was often placed in the middle of a fishing boat and they were known to cause serious injuries in the water.

Mako sharks are responsible for three reported deaths and have a reputation for aggression.

4. Longtip shark

Photo. Longtip shark

The Longtip Shark (Carcharhinus Longimanus) is the first shark in this ranking that can truly be classified as a "man-eater". She almost certainly killed more people than all other sharks combined. The reason why it is not at the top of the ranking is that the vast majority of these attacks were completely opportunistic and the result of air and sea disasters. There are several reported sinkings of ships during World War II, when these sharks are believed to have been responsible for hundreds of deaths.

While these sharks are slow to move, they can be incredibly aggressive and persistent. They are known to go into a feeding frenzy and seek to grab a piece whenever possible, engage in battles and wait for the next opportunity. It is for these reasons that Jacques Cousteau called them “the most dangerous of all sharks.” The whitetip shark is a capable killer with powerful jaws, bold character and often big size, the largest recorded specimen reached 4 meters (13 ft).

The open ocean bluetip shark has also been involved in a number of fatal attacks on swimmers and divers, including several infamous attacks in the Red Sea in 2010 in which one woman died from her injuries.

3. Tiger shark

Photo. Tiger shark

The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large and aggressive shark. The name comes from her temperament and the stripes that run down her sides. It is also known as the "sea scavenger" as it tends to swallow anything that comes its way. Here is a list of objects that have been removed from the stomachs of tiger sharks: bottles, tires, clothing, cats, pigs and even an entire horse's head. You imagined it! Its usual prey is fish, seals, dolphins, birds and turtles.

The tiger shark can be found in coastal tropical and subtropical waters around the world, although it usually tends to be in deep water, below 6 m (20 ft). Tiger sharks are the fourth largest of all sharks. Large specimens reach over 5 m (16 ft) in length and weigh more than a ton. In fact, she looks more like a big guy with a heavy build and incredibly thick skin (8 times thicker than cowhide). They also have a more proportionate, wide mouth than other sharks. This monstrous mouth is lined with serrated teeth that are ideal for slicing up prey as opposed to grabbing it like many of the aforementioned sharks.

Obviously, humans are no match for sharks with similar characteristics and this is why the tiger shark has earned a "good" reputation as a man-eater. It is without doubt the most dangerous shark in the tropics and accounts for the majority of attacks in Australia and Hawaii. The statistics speak for themselves, the death toll is second only to the great white shark, and the mortality rate from attacks is also very high.

Video. Restless tiger shark

2. Snout shark

Photo. Snout shark

The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is considered the most dangerous shark in many waters. However, it has not acquired the same reputation as great white and tiger sharks. There are several reasons why this shark is considered especially dangerous, including its physical characteristics.

The bull shark is also awarded more names than most other sharks, a sign of its widespread distribution. These include the Ganges shark, Nicaraguan shark, river shark, Swan River whaler, shovelnose shark, squarenose shark and Van Rooyen's shark.

Bull shark is big strong shark, measuring up to 3.5 m (11.5 ft) in length and up to 318 kg (700 lb) in weight. It gets its name from its flat muzzle and stocky build, with a pugnacious personality to boot. It is well equipped with jaws, which are also studded with several rows of triangular-shaped serrated teeth, ideal for slicing prey. It is a very territorial shark and will attack other species that it feels threatens its territory, including humans.

The bull shark is especially dangerous to humans because the likelihood of crossing with this shark is higher than with any other dangerous sharks. Not only does the bull shark live in shallow coastal waters, but it is also able to do something that most other sharks cannot - swim in fresh water. Sharks have adapted to fresh water, their kidneys allow them to travel thousands of kilometers along river mouths and they can even live in lakes. Some have had the misfortune of swimming in some rivers, the bull shark has killed many people in fresh water.

According to ISAF records, it ranks third in the number of attacks, but many of the bull shark attacks are believed to be hushed up because they occur in third world countries. There were 104 recorded attacks, of which one in three resulted in death.

1. Great white shark

Photo. Great white shark

Just the name great white shark is enough to send people running from the beach. Already sad famous film 1970's Jaws further demonized this shark and cemented the shark's reputation as a man-eater. Although without a doubt shark Carcharodon Carcharias is one of the perfect killing machines on planet Earth.

The largest specimens of great white sharks reach 6.5 meters (22 ft) in length. However, several reports have been published of sharks that reached 8 meters (26 ft) and weighed about 3.5 tons. They are armed with truly crushing powerful jaws, several rows of triangular teeth about 3 inches long, which are serrated on both sides. They are used to cut prey, for this the shark moves its head from side to side. If a tooth breaks, the next tooth from the same row behind takes its place.

This shark is quite fast. When a great white shark chases its prey, it can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h (35 mph). It's more like being hit by a freight train and being stunned, which can cause the prey to die outright. Compared to common carnivores such as sea ​​lions and seals, a person has practically no chance to resist this animal.

In fact, great whites have no interest in humans as food, humans are small enough for them and most attacks appear to have been misguided because the shark misidentified its prey (mistaking a surfer for a seal or Navy SEAL, which is why surfers are recommended to wear special wetsuits that repel sharks) or the shark simply showed excessive curiosity. Unfortunately, an inquisitive bite from a 3-ton shark can result in the loss of an arm or leg.

These sharks are found in all of the world's oceans and can withstand water temperatures ranging from 12 to 24 °C (54 and 75 °F). They can be found in deep water or near the shore, usually near a seal colony. Great white sharks are most abundant offshore South Africa, Australia, northeastern USA, California, Japan and the Mediterranean. The last location surprises many people, however, there have been over 30 recorded attacks there.

Without a doubt, the great white shark is the most dangerous of all sharks and statistics back this up, with over 400 attacks recorded worldwide, many of which were fatal. Oddly enough, this great white shark needs protection from humans and its numbers are falling, despite the fact that it is classified as a protected species in many countries.

Video. Girl swims with a great white shark in the open ocean