SHARK VS SHARK

Goblin sharkvsLemon shark

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

LivingMitsukurina owstoni×LivingNegaprion brevirostris
QUICK VERDICT

Goblin shark is about 2.1× longer by these reference values.

Goblin shark uses a 6.17 m upper reference, compared with 3 m for Lemon shark. Lemon shark's weight reference is about 1.19× heavier.

01

ON THE SAME SCALE

Human. Bus. Whale.
Pick your reference.

RELATIVE LENGTH · 0–24 METERS
AGoblin sharkphoto-based estimates to 5.4–6.17 m / 18–20 ft
BLemon sharkcommonly to 3 m / 10 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.

MeasureGoblin sharkLemon shark
Length referencephoto-based estimates to 5.4–6.17 m / 18–20 ftcommonly to 3 m / 10 ft
Weight referencelarge specimen reported near 210 kg / 463 lbreported to 250 kg / 551 lb
Bite forceNo dependable maximum foundUnknownNo dependable maximum foundUnknown
HabitatDeep continental slopes worldwideShallow subtropical coasts and mangroves
DietFishes, squid and crustaceansFishes, rays and crustaceans
03

WHAT THE DATA CAN SAY

Size is not the whole animal.

Length and weight

Goblin shark is represented by photo-based estimates to 5.4–6.17 m / 18–20 ft; Lemon shark by commonly to 3 m / 10 ft. The longest figures come from regression estimates based on photographs. The values are upper-end figures, not a typical adult profile.

Bite evidence

Goblin shark: Jaw speed and protrusion are not the same measurement as bite force. Lemon shark: No standardized maximum is available for a fair cross-species comparison.

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 jaws shoot forward rapidly; maximum body size remains uncertain. Decades of field research make this one of the best-studied coastal sharks.

04

TRACE THE CLAIMS

Sources and limits.

Goblin sharkFlorida MuseumLemon sharkFlorida MuseumHow we standardize comparisonsRead the methodology →