Dwarf lanternshark vs Bluntnose sixgill: Size, Weight & Bite Force

QUICK VERDICT

Bluntnose sixgill is about 23× longer by these reference values.

Bluntnose sixgill uses a 4.8 m upper reference, compared with 0.21 m for Dwarf lanternshark. Bluntnose sixgill's weight reference is about 2950× heavier.

ON THE SAME SCALE

Human. Bus. Whale.
Pick your reference.

RELATIVE LENGTH · 0–24 METERS

ADwarf lanternsharkabout 0.21 m / 8.3 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.

THE NUMBERS

Side by side.

MeasureDwarf lanternsharkBluntnose sixgill

Length referenceabout 0.21 m / 8.3 inreported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft

Weight referencerough reference about 0.2 kg / 0.4 lbpublished to 590 kg / 1,300 lb

Bite forceNo dependable maximum foundUnknownNo dependable maximum foundUnknown

HabitatDeep Caribbean slopesDeep temperate and tropical waters

DietSmall crustaceans and fishesFishes, rays, seals and carrion

WHAT THE DATA CAN SAY

Size is not the whole animal.

Length and weight

Dwarf lanternshark is represented by about 0.21 m / 8.3 in; Bluntnose sixgill by reported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft. Tiny sample sizes make the exact maximum provisional. Deepwater sampling is difficult, so upper records are sparse.

Bite evidence

Dwarf lanternshark: No standardized maximum is available. 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

One of the smallest known sharks also produces light. Its six gill slits mark an ancient branch of shark diversity.

TRACE THE CLAIMS

Sources and limits.

Dwarf lanternsharkSmithsonian Ocean ↗Bluntnose sixgillFlorida Museum ↗How we standardize comparisonsRead the methodology →