Bull shark is about 1.88× longer by these reference values.
Bull shark uses a 4 m upper reference, compared with 2.13 m for Whitetip reef shark. Bull shark's weight reference is about 17× heavier.
ON THE SAME SCALE
Human. Bus. Whale.
Pick your reference.
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.
WHAT THE DATA CAN SAY
Size is not the whole animal.
Length and weight
Bull shark is represented by reported to 4 m / 13 ft; Whitetip reef shark by reported to 2.13 m / 7 ft. The 4 m figure is a reported maximum; typical mature animals are smaller. The species is usually smaller than its reported maximum.
Bite evidence
Bull shark: The upper value is a theoretical posterior bite for the largest specimen in a 73–285 cm study series—not a universal adult bite. Whitetip reef shark: No standardized maximum is used.
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 freshwater range is exceptional among large coastal sharks. Its slim body lets it hunt inside reef crevices.
TRACE THE CLAIMS