SHARK VS SHARK

Goblin sharkvsMegamouth 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×LivingMegachasma pelagios
QUICK VERDICT

Megamouth shark is about 1.15× longer by these reference values.

Megamouth shark uses a 7.1 m upper reference, compared with 6.17 m for Goblin shark. Megamouth shark's weight reference is about 5.8× 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
BMegamouth sharkreported to about 7.1 m / 23 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 sharkMegamouth shark
Length referencephoto-based estimates to 5.4–6.17 m / 18–20 ftreported to about 7.1 m / 23 ft
Weight referencelarge specimen reported near 210 kg / 463 lbreported near 1,215 kg / 2,679 lb
Bite forceNo dependable maximum foundUnknownNot meaningfully establishedUnknown
HabitatDeep continental slopes worldwideDeep tropical and subtropical oceans
DietFishes, squid and crustaceansKrill and other plankton
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; Megamouth shark by reported to about 7.1 m / 23 ft. The longest figures come from regression estimates based on photographs. Sparse specimens make a true maximum difficult to establish.

Bite evidence

Goblin shark: Jaw speed and protrusion are not the same measurement as bite force. Megamouth shark: This filter feeder lacks a comparable maximum-bite study.

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. Known from relatively few encounters, it still carries major uncertainty.

04

TRACE THE CLAIMS

Sources and limits.

Goblin sharkFlorida MuseumMegamouth sharkFlorida MuseumHow we standardize comparisonsRead the methodology →