There are more than 360 species split across 8 orders of sharks. Some sharks are predators and some are perfectly safe. Some sharks are large and some sharks are small, but humans in general are fascinated with size and because of this I have compiled a list of the 10 largest sharks in the world. 10. Bigeye Thresher Shark
The Bigeye Thresher shark, Alopias superciliosus, is the 10th biggest shark in the world. The Bigeye Thresher can be found in tropical oceans around the world and can be found at depths up to 1650 feet deep. Bigeye Thresher sharks are of a purplish grey color and can reach lengths up to 15.1 feet long and can weigh up to 795 lbs.
9. Bluntnose Sixgill Shark
The Bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus, is the ninth biggest shark in the world and is often referred to as a cow shark. The Bluntnose sixgill shark is a member of the Hexanchidae family; most of their relatives are extinct. These sharks skin color's can range from tan/brown to nearly black in color. These sharks are known to grow as big as 15.8 feet and some larger versions have even been spotted.
8. Thresher Shark
The Thresher shark, similar to its smaller brother the 'Bigeye Thresher Shark', is another large breed of shark that can grow as long as 18 feet. The Thresher shark is the 8th biggest shark known to man and is found in tropical oceans around the world. Thresher sharks are a slender shark but don't let that fool you, these bad boys can weigh over 1100 lbs!
7. Great Hammerhead Shark
The Great Hammerhead, Sphyma mokarran is the biggest of all hammerhead sharks growing up to lengths of 20 feet. Great Hammerheads can be found around the world like most sharks in warm tropical waters. While Great hammerheads are a dange r to humans, they tend to be a shyer shark, generally avoiding humans. The heaviest Great Hammerhead caught to date was a 1280 lb female caught in Boca Grande in Florida, US.
6. Greenland Shark
The Greenland Shark, technically known as Somniosus microcephalus is a very large shark that can be found in the North Atlantic Ocean, predominantly near Greenland and Iceland. These sharks are known to grow up to 21 feet long and live as long as 200 years. They are known to be the longest living vertebrate (longest living creature with a spine). While Greenland sharks tend to be a deep water shark living at depths up to 6600 feet, they have been caught on film in shallow water in depths as low as 24 feet.
5. Pacific Sleeper Shark
The Pacific sleeper shark, Somniosus pacificus, is yet another massive shark known to grow up to 23 feet in length and weigh as much as 800 lbs. The one interesting thing about the Pacific Sleeper is that they are one of the few sharks found in polar waters year round. What also makes them interesting is they mostly live in deep waters and can be found as deep at 6500 feet below the oceans surface.
4. Tiger Shark
The Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier is the fourth largest shark in the world with a maximum length up to 24.3 feet! These humungous sharks have been known to weigh up to 2000 lbs and are known for being vicious. Not only do they eat many forms of sea life, they are also well known for attacking human swimmers. The Tiger sharks are mostly known to live tropical waters of the world but are especially common surrounding islands in the central Pacific ocean.
3. Great White Shark
The great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, has got to be one of the worlds most well known vicious sharks. These sharks have been known to grow as long as 26.2 feet and weigh as much as 5000 lbs! The Great White shark is the last surviving member of its species genus, Carcharodon. Unfortunately for us as humans Great White sharks are located in coastal waters across all major oceans, so if you are on vacation, make sure you find out if they habitat the beaches where you plan on swimming!
2. Basking Shark
The basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus is an absolute beast of a shark being the second largest fish on the planet. The Basking Shark can grow as long as 40 feet and has been reported at weighing as much as 19 tons! Luckily these mammoth sharks are non predators as they are filter feeders.
1. Whale Shark
The Whale Shark, Rhincodon typus is the most humungous shark in the entire world. Luckily, they are not predators and are just another slow moving filter feeder similar to the Basking Shark. The Whale Shark can grow as long as 41 feet and weigh as much as 15 tons! The whale shark can be found in tropical and warm water oceans; they have been known to live as long as 70 years. This species is said to have originated as long as 60 million years ago!
The Bigeye Thresher shark, Alopias superciliosus, is the 10th biggest shark in the world. The Bigeye Thresher can be found in tropical oceans around the world and can be found at depths up to 1650 feet deep. Bigeye Thresher sharks are of a purplish grey color and can reach lengths up to 15.1 feet long and can weigh up to 795 lbs.
9. Bluntnose Sixgill Shark
The Bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus, is the ninth biggest shark in the world and is often referred to as a cow shark. The Bluntnose sixgill shark is a member of the Hexanchidae family; most of their relatives are extinct. These sharks skin color's can range from tan/brown to nearly black in color. These sharks are known to grow as big as 15.8 feet and some larger versions have even been spotted.
8. Thresher Shark
The Thresher shark, similar to its smaller brother the 'Bigeye Thresher Shark', is another large breed of shark that can grow as long as 18 feet. The Thresher shark is the 8th biggest shark known to man and is found in tropical oceans around the world. Thresher sharks are a slender shark but don't let that fool you, these bad boys can weigh over 1100 lbs!
7. Great Hammerhead Shark
The Great Hammerhead, Sphyma mokarran is the biggest of all hammerhead sharks growing up to lengths of 20 feet. Great Hammerheads can be found around the world like most sharks in warm tropical waters. While Great hammerheads are a dange r to humans, they tend to be a shyer shark, generally avoiding humans. The heaviest Great Hammerhead caught to date was a 1280 lb female caught in Boca Grande in Florida, US.
6. Greenland Shark
The Greenland Shark, technically known as Somniosus microcephalus is a very large shark that can be found in the North Atlantic Ocean, predominantly near Greenland and Iceland. These sharks are known to grow up to 21 feet long and live as long as 200 years. They are known to be the longest living vertebrate (longest living creature with a spine). While Greenland sharks tend to be a deep water shark living at depths up to 6600 feet, they have been caught on film in shallow water in depths as low as 24 feet.
5. Pacific Sleeper Shark
The Pacific sleeper shark, Somniosus pacificus, is yet another massive shark known to grow up to 23 feet in length and weigh as much as 800 lbs. The one interesting thing about the Pacific Sleeper is that they are one of the few sharks found in polar waters year round. What also makes them interesting is they mostly live in deep waters and can be found as deep at 6500 feet below the oceans surface.
4. Tiger Shark
The Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier is the fourth largest shark in the world with a maximum length up to 24.3 feet! These humungous sharks have been known to weigh up to 2000 lbs and are known for being vicious. Not only do they eat many forms of sea life, they are also well known for attacking human swimmers. The Tiger sharks are mostly known to live tropical waters of the world but are especially common surrounding islands in the central Pacific ocean.
3. Great White Shark
The great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, has got to be one of the worlds most well known vicious sharks. These sharks have been known to grow as long as 26.2 feet and weigh as much as 5000 lbs! The Great White shark is the last surviving member of its species genus, Carcharodon. Unfortunately for us as humans Great White sharks are located in coastal waters across all major oceans, so if you are on vacation, make sure you find out if they habitat the beaches where you plan on swimming!
2. Basking Shark
The basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus is an absolute beast of a shark being the second largest fish on the planet. The Basking Shark can grow as long as 40 feet and has been reported at weighing as much as 19 tons! Luckily these mammoth sharks are non predators as they are filter feeders.
1. Whale Shark
The Whale Shark, Rhincodon typus is the most humungous shark in the entire world. Luckily, they are not predators and are just another slow moving filter feeder similar to the Basking Shark. The Whale Shark can grow as long as 41 feet and weigh as much as 15 tons! The whale shark can be found in tropical and warm water oceans; they have been known to live as long as 70 years. This species is said to have originated as long as 60 million years ago!
