Top 10 largest sharks. The largest sharks in the world (photos, videos). place. Hammerhead shark

You all probably know who sharks are. In our article we would like to give you more detailed information for these largest fish in the world. So, the most ancient representatives existed more than 450 million years ago. On this moment More than 450 species of sharks are known. The habitat of sharks is freshwater, and mainly sea ​​water. The size of sharks can vary greatly depending on the species: from 17 centimeters to 20 meters. We will tell you in this article what the largest representatives of this species are.

Mako shark is in tenth place. She is the largest, fastest and most aggressive predator of the herring shark family. On average, she is capable of developing 70 kilometers per hour in a throw. The jump from the water is 6 meters. A mako shark jumps 6 meters out of the water. The average body size is 3.5 meters. The largest individual that has been recorded is 4.5 meters. This shark poses a danger to humans, but, as a rule, it does not attack first. Interesting fact about mako shark embryos: already in the womb, babies fight for their lives, where only the strongest survive.

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The fox shark ranks ninth. The average size of this type of predatory shark is approximately 5 meters. The largest representatives reach 6 meters. The shark has this length due to its elongated caudal fin. to his long tail sharks actively use it during hunting - they use it as a whip. The hunting method is simple - first the sharks drive the fish into a school with their whip, and then they stun them. The fox shark is capable of jumping completely out of the water. Despite its size and the fact that it belongs to the order of predators, these sharks are shy and they do not attack people. Average duration The lifespan of this shark species is 20 years.

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The sixgill shark is in seventh place. This type sharks are the most close-up view marine predators of their family. The average size of these sharks is 4 meters. Weight Limit no more than 600 kg. She is not dangerous to people, but does not like excessive attention, and if there is interest in her, she tries to leave. This shark is inherently slow and clumsy, but during the hunt it is able to develop speed and make lunges towards escaping prey. Sixgill shark meat in various forms people can eat.

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Giant shark-hammer takes sixth place. The shark got its name from huge size bodies. Average length a predatory individual is 3.5 meters. The maximum recorded length is 7 meters. Average weight sharks 230 kg. Maximum weight about 600 kg. The diet of these sharks consists of crustaceans, bony and cartilaginous fish. They do not pose a danger to people, but nevertheless you need to stay away from them, because... they belong to the order of predatory fish.

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The tiger shark is in fifth place. The average length of a sea predator is 5 meters. Larger individuals were found up to 7 meters in size. The shark's weight does not exceed 600 kg. They are absolutely indiscriminate eaters and are ready to eat anything that moves: from small crayfish to large crocodiles, as well as whales. That is why this type of shark poses a great danger to humans. In order to reduce the number of dangerous marine predators, sharks are constantly caught and shot.

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The pelagic largemouth shark ranks fifth. This is a species of shark about which very little information has been collected, because... this species was discovered in 1976. It is only known that these individuals live deep in water. The maximum size of the shark is 5.7 meters.

4 White shark

White shark or as it is also called carcharodon is in fourth place. This shark is a killer. It is she who appears in horror films in which the plot includes a shark. Its jaws are very impressive in their size, as well as their power. This is perhaps the most dangerous of its relatives. The average length of these sharks is 4.5 meters. Average weight is about 800 kg. The maximum recorded size is 6 meters. Life expectancy is about 70 years. Despite its aggressiveness, strength and predatory nature, the white shark is an endangered species. At the moment, there are no more than 3,500 individuals in the world.

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The Greenland shark is in third place. These are the most big sharks living in northern waters. belongs to the most large sharks in the world living in northern waters. Its average size is 6 meters. Weight - 1000 kg. This type of shark is very slow due to the low water temperature. The shark moves at a speed of 2.5 km/h. The diet of northern sharks is varied: from small fish, such as herring and up to seal. It is worth noting that insidious sharks hunt seals during their sleep.

2 Giant shark

The giant (gigantic) shark is in second place. The length of the giant shark is 9 meters for males, and the female is slightly larger in size. Its length is on average 9.8 meters. Maximum weight - 4 tons. These sharks feed on plankton, and their migration is often driven by the movement of plankton. Following food, sharks are able to cover enormous distances. This type of shark has a peaceful nature; they are absolutely not dangerous to people, despite their size and threatening appearance, especially when the shark opens its mouth. At the moment, these sharks are extremely rare, due to previously unrestricted fishing.

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The whale shark rightfully takes first place in the ranking of the largest sharks. The average body size of this shark is 12 meters. The largest representative was recorded measuring 20 meters. Maximum weight - 36 tons. Life expectancy data from various sources range from 70 to 150 years. The tiger shark feeds on plankton. She does not eat her own kind, as well as large fish. The tiger shark is very slow and its maximum speed is 5 km/h. She is not aggressive, and she does not pose a danger to people. The only danger it can pose to ships is a blow from the tail or body from a sudden collision on the water.

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If we consider extinct species, then the undisputed winner in the ranking of the largest sharks in the world will be the megalodon. Fossil remains suggest that it reached at least 16 meters in length and could weigh about 50 tons. This superpredator fed on cetaceans and big fish. It was distributed everywhere and, due to its size, had no enemies.

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.

From the very big 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 existing shark, because its weight is more than 21 tons and its length is more than 12 meters. These mammals live in open ocean And warm waters. These predators mainly feed on plankton, but sometimes they can be found while hunting for larger 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.

The average weight of this shark of this species is 14515 kg, and its length varies from 9 to 11.6 meters.

Great white shark

The great 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. Meat Greenland sharks 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 medical supplies. The average weight of these predators is about 500 kg.

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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, giving the most high percent 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 bad reputation, which people endowed her with. 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 few natural predators, although killer whales are also said to prey on them. Larger 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 the point of view of danger, people are more likely to pose a danger to them than vice versa. Every year, between 10 and 20 million sharks are killed during fishing. 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 in 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 In Australia, at least two similar attacks have been 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 greattip shark is a capable killer with powerful jaws, a bold personality and often big size, the largest recorded specimen reached 4 meters (13 ft).

In addition, the longtip shark in the open ocean participated in a number of deadly attacks swimmers and divers, including several notorious 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.

It is obvious that people are no match compared to 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.

ISAF records rank it third in terms of number of attacks, but it is believed that many of the attacks bull sharks are suppressed 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 movie 1970's Jaws further demonized this shark and cemented the shark's reputation as a man-eater. Although without a doubt a 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 getting hit freight train and being stunned, the prey can die immediately from such a collision. 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. Last place surprises many people, yet there have been over 30 recorded attacks.

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

08/3/2015 at 18:09 · Johnny · 44 280

Top 10: biggest sharks in the world

More than 450 million years ago, the ancestors of modern sharks ruled the seas. The largest sharks in the world and today they continue to simultaneously delight and terrify with their size. These underwater inhabitants are extremely interesting creatures. It would be a misconception to consider them exclusively marine predators. Among them there are species that feed only on plankton and krill, and some of the sharks live in freshwater.

10.

- the largest and fastest predator from the herring shark family. Capable of developing in throwing high speed– more than 70 kilometers per hour. The mako shark jumps up to 6 meters out of the water, making it one of the most agile and dangerous marine predators. Considered extremely aggressive look. The average body size is 3.2 - 3.5 meters. The largest specimen caught was 4.45 meters long. The mako shark poses a danger to humans, but in most cases attacks on people were provoked. The embryos of these sharks attack each other in the womb and find out which of them can survive. They develop tiny but sharp teeth.

9.

It reaches more than 6 meters in length and is one of the most large predators kind. Most The length of its body is occupied by an elongated caudal fin. The way these sharks hunt is very interesting - they use their tail as a whip and with its help they first drive and then stun their prey. The fox shark can jump completely out of the water. Its large size makes it outwardly formidable, but in fact it does not pose a danger to humans, since it is quite shy.

Did you know that there is a goblin shark? The second name is goblin shark. She is named so for unusual appearance and movable teeth that move forward during hunting.

7.

It is one of the largest marine predators of its family. 5.4 meters is the maximum recorded length. On average, the size of this shark is 3-4 meters. It does not pose a danger to humans, but it has a negative attitude towards touch and tries to move away from divers into the depths. Despite its apparent slowness and clumsiness, during a hunt, the sixgill shark is capable of making swift dashes after an escaping prey.

In Indonesia there lives a shark Hemiscyllium halmahera, which can move along the bottom with the help of fins. It belongs to one of six species of so-called “walking” sharks.

6.

It got its name for its impressive body size and is one of the largest sharks existing in the world. Maximum length – 6.1 meters. The average size of a hammerhead shark is 3.5 meters. It rarely attacks people, but is a potentially dangerous marine predator.

Did you know that scientists have discovered only two individuals of the “pocket” shark? The last specimen was found in samples collected by an expedition in 2010. The first specimen, the miniature Parina shark (Mollisquama parini), was caught in 1979.

5.

- one of the largest marine predators, which rightfully belongs to the largest sharks. Although the body size of individuals of this species reaches an average of 5 meters, scientists suggest that larger specimens exist. Their size can be more than 7 meters. Like the white shark, this species is the most dangerous to humans. Often in the stomachs of these marine predators parts are found human bodies. To protect people from attacks, tiger sharks are hunted in some countries.

5.

An honorable fifth place in the ranking of the largest sharks in the world is occupied by pelagic largemouth shark. It is also one of the most poorly studied species. This deep-sea inhabitant was discovered quite recently - in 1976. The maximum size of a caught individual reached 5.70 meters. Scientists have discovered only 60 largemouth sharks.

4. White shark

Carcharodon, or White shark, which is often called the “killer shark,” impresses not only with the enormous power of its jaws, but also with its size. This one is the most dangerous sea ​​predator is one of the largest sharks in the world. The average size of individuals of this species reaches 4.5 meters. There are several cases recorded in history when fishermen caught carcharodons more than 6 meters long. The white shark is an endangered species, with only 3,500 individuals left in the world.

3.

Belongs to the largest sharks in the world, living in northern waters. Its size can reach 6-7 meters, and its weight can be one and a half tons. Because of its slowness, according to scientists, it uses special tactics during the hunt, he catches seals when they are sleeping peacefully in the water. Arctic shark belongs to the most slow fish on the ground. Its speed does not exceed 2.7 kilometers per hour, which is due to the low temperature of its habitat.

2. Giant shark

Giant (giant) shark– the second place among the largest sharks in the world belongs to this species. Males a little fewer females, the size of the latter reaches 9.8 meters. Perhaps there are specimens up to 15 meters long. In the 19th century, fishermen's nets caught specimens about 12 meters long. Because of mass extermination large specimens are now extremely rare. The giant shark feeds on plankton, krill and small fish. It is not dangerous to humans, although it looks menacing when it opens its mouth wide. The giant shark allows divers to get close to it close quarters. But you should not touch it because of the sharp scales that can injure the skin.

1.

– the palm in size should be given to this species. It is one of the largest sharks in the world, as well as the largest modern fish. On average, the body length of a whale shark reaches 12-14 meters, but it is possible that there are individual representatives of the species bigger size– 18-20 meters in length. To feed this gigantic sea ​​life it is necessary to consume approximately 200 kilograms of plankton and small fish every day. The largest recorded weight of a whale shark was 36 tons.

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If we consider extinct species, then the undisputed winner in the ranking of the largest sharks in the world will be the megalodon. Fossil remains suggest that it reached at least 16 meters in length and could weigh about 50 tons. This super predator fed on cetaceans and large fish. It was distributed everywhere and, due to its size, had no enemies.

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