Last Updated on April 11, 2023 by Amin Tawar
Whale Shark Height & Length
You might have seen the movie “Jaws”, which is based on sharks. Sharks have been depicted in movies in a variety of ways, portrayed as vicious predators that attack humans without provocation.
Other than this, one of the most prominent features shown is their massive size. The Whale Shark is quite actually what you would have seen in movies, giant!
In fact, whale sharks are the largest species of fish in the world, and are known for their distinctive markings and distinctive pattern of spots and stripes.
In terms of their height and length, whale sharks are insanely large. That is they have an average length of about 12 meters (40 feet) which can at most reach up to 18 meters (59 feet).
Additionally, based on the average length of a mature whale shark, which is around 40 feet (12 meters), and the typical body shape of these animals, it is estimated that their height could be around 15-20 feet (4.5-6 meters) when they are fully grown.
| Whale Shark | Length |
| Male Average | 8 to 9 meters (26 to 30 ft) |
| Female Average | 14.5 m (48 ft) |
| Maximum size | 18 meters (59 feet) |
Whale Shark Weight
Moreover, have you ever wondered how heavy such a giant shark would be? They are insanely heavy and weigh more than you could imagine.
But, before we talk about the exact details, you should be aware that these estimates could vary depending on several factors such as the whale’s sex, age, diet as well as habitat.
However, in general, whale sharks are the largest species of fish in the world, and they can grow to be very large and heavy.
The average weight of a mature whale shark is around 21 metric tons (23 short tons/46k lbs), although individuals can weigh much more. The largest known whale shark on record was over 50 feet (15 meters) long and weighed an estimated 60 tons (132k lbs).
| Whale Shark | Weight |
| Average size | 21 metric tons (23 short tons) |
| Maximum size | 60 tons |
Whale Shark Mouth Size
In addition to their gigantic length and weight, sharks are also very well known for their insanely huge mouth.
As they are large species of water animals, they have to consume large amounts and size of diet (prey) which would fulfill their daily food demands, and so the large size of a shark’s mouth and teeth is an important adaptation that helps them to survive and thrive in their marine environment
Talking about the exact size of their mouth, sharks have a range of mouth sizes depending on the species, and the size of their mouth can vary widely.
Some sharks, such as the whale shark, have very large mouths that can be up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide and 3 feet (1 meter) tall. 1
Whale Shark Teeth Size
Furthermore, the mouth of whale sharks is located on the underside of their head and is surrounded by hundreds of small, serrated teeth that are used to help filter food particles from the water.
Also, Whale sharks are filter feeders, meaning they strain small prey such as plankton, krill, and small fish from the water using their gills.
Because they do not hunt or feed on larger prey, they do not have teeth like much other predatory fish.
Instead, they have tiny, blade-like structures called gill rakers in their gills that they use to filter their food from the water.
In terms of size, these particular types of teeth are less than 6mm in length. Interestingly, whale sharks are thought to have about 3000 teeth in each jaw.
Whale Shark Baby Size
Although Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, they are born at a relatively small size compared to their adult counterparts.
Like human children, whale sharks keep growing in terms of their overall length and weight, and as they reach maturity they achieve their full size.
At birth, whale sharks are typically born at a size of around 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 in) long and weighing around 3 – 5 kg (7-13 lbs). It is quite amazing to see how small these species are as pups, and how insanely large they become as adults.
Whale Shark Stomach Size
In addition to their large body size, sharks have insanely large stomach areas. How would it not be if they keep eating such a large size of prey? The stomach of a whale shark is relatively large, given the size of the animal.
It is located in the front part of the body, just behind the gills, and can hold a significant amount of food.
The exact size of a whale shark’s stomach can vary depending on the size of the animal, but it is estimated to be capable of holding up to 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of food at a time.
Also Check Out Our Guide On Other Shark Sizes
Whale Shark Size Comparison To Human
By now you would surely have got a glimpse of the insane and massive size of the whale shark, but what do you think about how large it is compared to us? As whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, they are significantly larger than humans.
Adult whale sharks typically grow to an average size of around 26-48 ft in length and weigh around 21 metric tons (23 short tons).
However, some individual whale sharks have been known to grow even larger, with some individuals reaching lengths of up to 18 meters (59 feet) and weighing as much as 60 tons.
In comparison, the average height of an adult human is around 5.5-5.9 feet. The average weight of an adult human is around 132 to 176 pounds (60 to 80 kgs).
As you can see, whale sharks are much larger than humans in both length and weight. Overall, whale sharks are about 40 times larger and uncountably heavier.
| Animal type | Length | Weight |
| Whale shark | 26-48 ft | 21 metric tons (23 short tons) |
| Average adult human | 5.5 to 5.9 feet | 132 to 176 pounds (60 to 80 kgs) |
Whale Shark Vs Megalodon Size Comparison
Now that we have looked where we stand in the comparison chart of whale sharks, let’s see how large or small this species of shark is compared to other species and types of sharks.
Starting with the Megalodon, which is the name given to an extinct species of shark that lived millions of years ago during the Cenozoic Era.
It was one of the largest predatory sharks to ever live and it is estimated that it could have reached lengths of up to 44 to 56 feet (13-17 m) and a weight of about 50 tons.
Compared to the Megalodon, the average whale shark (although it is the largest now) is smaller. That is because adult whale sharks typically grow to an average size of around 12 meters (40 feet) in length and weigh around 21 metric tons (23 short tons).
| Animal type | Length | Weight |
| Whale shark | 26-48 ft | 21 metric tons (23 short tons) |
| Megalodon sharks | 44 to 56 feet (13-17 m) | 50 tons |
Whale Shark Vs Orca Size Comparison
Next is not a shark, but an equally well-known and massive water species, the dolphins. Orcas are predatory dolphins that are known for their intelligence and high social behavior.
They are top predators in the marine environment and are known to hunt and kill a wide range of prey, including fish, seals, sea lions, and even larger whales.
While adult whale sharks typically grow to an average size of around 12 meters (40 feet) in length and weigh about 21 metric tons (23 short tons).
Orcas are much smaller than whale sharks, with adults reaching an average length of about 6 to 8 meters (20 to 26 ft) long and weighing about 6 metric tons (13,000 pounds).
| Animal type | Length | Weight |
| Whale shark | 26-48 ft | 21 metric tons (23 short tons) |
| Orcas | 6 to 8 meters (20 to 26 ft) | 6 metric tons (13,000 pounds) |
Whale Shark Size Vs Great White Shark Size Comparison
Coming back to comparing the whale shark with its own type of species, let’s look at how it would look beside the great white shark.
Talking about Great white sharks, they are apex predators, meaning that they sit at the top of the food chain and have few natural predators of their own.
Other than this, the Great white sharks are large, predatory sharks that are known for their size, power, and distinctive appearance.
Adult whale sharks can reach lengths of up to 40 feet (12 meters) and can weigh as much as 21 metric tons (23 short tons).
Great white sharks, on the other hand, are smaller and typically grow to be around 15-20 feet (4.5-6 meters) long and can weigh around 680 and 1,800 kg (1,500 and 4,000 pounds).
| Animal type | Length | Weight |
| Whale shark | 26-48 ft | 21 metric tons (23 short tons) |
| Great white shark | 15-20 feet (4.5-6 meters) | 680 and 1,800 kg (1,500 and 4,000 pounds) |
Whale Shark Size Vs Blue Whale Size Comparison
Moving on to our last and one of the most commonly seen and talked about animals, the whale.
Specifically, the Blue whale, are massive animals, which are found in all the world’s oceans, although they are most commonly found in the cold, polar waters of the Arctic and Antarctic.
If we look at the size difference between the two species, then it is interesting to note that both are the largest animals of their individual species.
Additionally, the Antarctic blue whale is the largest animal on Earth, reaching lengths of up to 29.9 meters (98 ft) and weighing as much as 400,000 pounds (200 tons) which is approximately equal to the weight of 33 elephants.
| Animal type | Length | Weight |
| Whale shark | 26-48 ft | 21 metric tons (23 short tons) |
| Antarctic blue whale | 29.9 meters (98 ft) | 400,000 pounds (200 tons) |
Conclusion
And that was everything you need to know about the size of Whale shark. I hope this article was informative enough and your queries were answered.
Thank You For Reading!
Related Articles You May Like