How Big is a Shark?

A typeof fish that belongs to the superorder Selachimorpha, the shark is comprised of a highly streamlined body and full cartilaginous skeleton. Its earliest form can be traced back to as far as 420 million years ago, even before the existence of dinosaurs. It comes in various sizes, depending on the species, which can be classified into 440 different types. In addition to these basic details, it is also nice to know other interesting facts about it including the size of sharks.

The Size of Sharks

How big is a shark? The size of this marine creature varies depending on the species. The whale shark or Rhincodon typus is said to be the biggest, which can grow up to 12 meters or 39 feet. On the other hand, the dwarf lanternshark or Etmopterus perryi is considered the smallest species of shark, which has an average length of 17 centimeters or 7 inches. Another interesting species is the grey reef shark or Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, which grows at an average 1.9 meters or 6.2 feet long.

One of the most vicious species is the great white shark or Carcharodon carcharias. It is called by names like white death, white pointer and great white. It grows at an average length of 6 meters or 20 feet and weighs approximately 2,240 kilograms or 4,938 pounds. The scalloped hammerhead or Sphyrna lewini is known for the unique shape of its head, which resembles a hammer. It grows at a maximum length of 4.3 meters or 14 feet and weighs approximately 150 kilograms or 330 pounds.

The cow shark is a species known for its additional pairs of gill slits. Likewise, it has unspecialized digestive and excretory systems. The average length of an adult shark ranges from 1.4 to 4.8 meters or 4.6 to 16 feet. The saw shark belongs to the order Pristiophoriformes, which has long blade snouts with sharp teeth. It has an average length of 170 centimeters or 5.6 feet.

Another interesting species is the angel shark or Squatina squatina, which is famous for its broad pectoral fins and flattened bodies. The average length of this kind of shark is 1.5 meters or 5 feet. It usually feeds on different types of mollusks, crustaceans and various kinds of fishes.

The Japanese angel shark or Squatina japonica is slightly longer than regular angel sharks because it can grow up to 2 meters or 6.56 feet. The bramble shark or Echinorhinus brucus is a nice species characterized by thorn-like denticles. It has a maximum length of 3.94 meters or 13 feet. In terms of weight, it can be as heavy as 500 pounds or 227 kilograms.