SHARK VS SHARK

Epaulette sharkvsGoblin shark

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

LivingHemiscyllium ocellatum×LivingMitsukurina owstoni
QUICK VERDICT

Goblin shark is about 5.8× longer by these reference values.

Goblin shark uses a 6.17 m upper reference, compared with 1.07 m for Epaulette shark. Goblin shark's weight reference is about 70× heavier.

01

ON THE SAME SCALE

Human. Bus. Whale.
Pick your reference.

RELATIVE LENGTH · 0–24 METERS
AEpaulette sharkreported to 1.07 m / 3.5 ft
BGoblin sharkphoto-based estimates to 5.4–6.17 m / 18–20 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.

MeasureEpaulette sharkGoblin shark
Length referencereported to 1.07 m / 3.5 ftphoto-based estimates to 5.4–6.17 m / 18–20 ft
Weight referencelarge-adult reference about 3 kg / 6.6 lblarge specimen reported near 210 kg / 463 lb
Bite forceNo dependable maximum foundUnknownNo dependable maximum foundUnknown
HabitatShallow coral reefs of Australia and New GuineaDeep continental slopes worldwide
DietWorms, crustaceans and small fishesFishes, squid and crustaceans
03

WHAT THE DATA CAN SAY

Size is not the whole animal.

Length and weight

Epaulette shark is represented by reported to 1.07 m / 3.5 ft; Goblin shark by photo-based estimates to 5.4–6.17 m / 18–20 ft. Mass varies strongly with size and is shown only as a reference. The longest figures come from regression estimates based on photographs.

Bite evidence

Epaulette shark: No standardized maximum is used. Goblin shark: Jaw speed and protrusion are not the same measurement as bite force.

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

It can use its fins to walk across reef flats and tolerate low oxygen. Its jaws shoot forward rapidly; maximum body size remains uncertain.

04

TRACE THE CLAIMS

Sources and limits.

Epaulette sharkAustralian MuseumGoblin sharkFlorida MuseumHow we standardize comparisonsRead the methodology →