SHARK VS SHARK

Greenland sharkvsHorn shark

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

LivingSomniosus microcephalus×LivingHeterodontus francisci
QUICK VERDICT

Greenland shark is about 5.2× longer by these reference values.

Greenland shark uses a 6.4 m upper reference, compared with 1.22 m for Horn shark. Greenland shark's weight reference is about 102× heavier.

01

ON THE SAME SCALE

Human. Bus. Whale.
Pick your reference.

RELATIVE LENGTH · 0–24 METERS
AGreenland sharkconfirmed to about 6.4 m / 21 ft
BHorn sharkreported to 1.22 m / 4 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.

MeasureGreenland sharkHorn shark
Length referenceconfirmed to about 6.4 m / 21 ftreported to 1.22 m / 4 ft
Weight referencereported to about 1,023 kg / 2,255 lblarge-adult reference about 10 kg / 22 lb
Bite forceNo reliable published estimateUnknown128–338 N theoretical, depending on tooth positionModeled
HabitatCold North Atlantic and Arctic watersRocky eastern Pacific reefs
DietFish, carrion and marine mammalsUrchins, crabs and mollusks
03

WHAT THE DATA CAN SAY

Size is not the whole animal.

Length and weight

Greenland shark is represented by confirmed to about 6.4 m / 21 ft; Horn shark by reported to 1.22 m / 4 ft. Age and upper mass involve uncertainty; length is better documented. Weight is a rounded adult reference.

Bite evidence

Greenland shark: TuffShark found no defensible species-level bite-force estimate to display. Horn shark: Experiments also measured bites; the displayed range is the study's theoretical maximum from front to rear teeth.

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

The age estimate is extraordinary; a dependable bite-force figure is not available. Its rear teeth crush hard prey, and its bite mechanics have been tested directly and modeled.

04

TRACE THE CLAIMS

Sources and limits.

Greenland sharkNOAA Ocean ServiceHorn sharkHuber et al. (2005)How we standardize comparisonsRead the methodology →