SHARK VS SHARK

Cookiecutter sharkvsBluntnose sixgill

Length, weight and bite evidence—plus context from a human, city bus and blue whale. Every number below carries its uncertainty with it.

LivingIsistius brasiliensis×LivingHexanchus griseus
QUICK VERDICT

Bluntnose sixgill is about 8.6× longer by these reference values.

Bluntnose sixgill uses a 4.8 m upper reference, compared with 0.56 m for Cookiecutter shark. Bluntnose sixgill's weight reference is about 118× heavier.

01

ON THE SAME SCALE

Human. Bus. Whale.
Pick your reference.

RELATIVE LENGTH · 0–24 METERS
ACookiecutter sharkabout 0.56 m / 22 in
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.

02

THE NUMBERS

Side by side.

MeasureCookiecutter sharkBluntnose sixgill
Length referenceabout 0.56 m / 22 inreported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft
Weight referencelarge-adult reference about 5 kg / 11 lbpublished to 590 kg / 1,300 lb
Bite forceNo dependable maximum foundUnknownNo dependable maximum foundUnknown
HabitatDeep tropical and subtropical oceansDeep temperate and tropical waters
DietPlugs of tissue from larger animals plus small preyFishes, rays, seals and carrion
03

WHAT THE DATA CAN SAY

Size is not the whole animal.

Length and weight

Cookiecutter shark is represented by about 0.56 m / 22 in; Bluntnose sixgill by reported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft. Weight is a rounded comparison reference. Deepwater sampling is difficult, so upper records are sparse.

Bite evidence

Cookiecutter shark: Bite shape is documented; a comparable force maximum is not. 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 bite removes a round plug; size alone does not predict ecological impact. Its six gill slits mark an ancient branch of shark diversity.

04

TRACE THE CLAIMS

Sources and limits.

Cookiecutter sharkSmithsonian OceanBluntnose sixgillFlorida MuseumHow we standardize comparisonsRead the methodology →