Blue shark vs Bluntnose sixgill: Size, Weight & Bite Force

QUICK VERDICT

Bluntnose sixgill is about 1.26× longer by these reference values.

Bluntnose sixgill uses a 4.8 m upper reference, compared with 3.8 m for Blue shark. Bluntnose sixgill's weight reference is about 2.9× heavier.

ON THE SAME SCALE

Human. Bus. Whale.
Pick your reference.

RELATIVE LENGTH · 0–24 METERS

ABlue sharkabout 3.8 m / 12.5 ft

BBluntnose sixgillreported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft

REFAdult human1.8 m · about 80 kg

Length bars use upper comparison values and do not show body depth, tail proportion or typical adult size. A long thresher tail, for example, does not equal whale-shark body mass.

THE NUMBERS

Side by side.

MeasureBlue sharkBluntnose sixgill

Length referenceabout 3.8 m / 12.5 ftreported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft

Weight referencereported near 206 kg / 454 lbpublished to 590 kg / 1,300 lb

Bite forceNo dependable maximum foundUnknownNo dependable maximum foundUnknown

HabitatOpen temperate and tropical oceansDeep temperate and tropical waters

DietSmall fishes and squidFishes, rays, seals and carrion

WHAT THE DATA CAN SAY

Size is not the whole animal.

Length and weight

Blue shark is represented by about 3.8 m / 12.5 ft; Bluntnose sixgill by reported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft. Upper records are uncommon; most adults are lighter. Deepwater sampling is difficult, so upper records are sparse.

Bite evidence

Blue shark: No comparable maximum is used. Bluntnose sixgill: No standardized maximum is available.

Living versus extinct

Both species are living, but record-sized individuals are rare. These upper references should not be read as normal adult size.

Ecology changes the matchup

Its long fins and slender build matter more than raw bulk. Its six gill slits mark an ancient branch of shark diversity.

TRACE THE CLAIMS

Sources and limits.

Blue sharkFlorida Museum ↗Bluntnose sixgillFlorida Museum ↗How we standardize comparisonsRead the methodology →