SHARK VS SHARK

Greenland sharkvsBluntnose sixgill

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×LivingHexanchus griseus
QUICK VERDICT

Greenland shark is about 1.33× longer by these reference values.

Greenland shark uses a 6.4 m upper reference, compared with 4.8 m for Bluntnose sixgill. Greenland shark's weight reference is about 1.73× 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
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.

02

THE NUMBERS

Side by side.

MeasureGreenland sharkBluntnose sixgill
Length referenceconfirmed to about 6.4 m / 21 ftreported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft
Weight referencereported to about 1,023 kg / 2,255 lbpublished to 590 kg / 1,300 lb
Bite forceNo reliable published estimateUnknownNo dependable maximum foundUnknown
HabitatCold North Atlantic and Arctic watersDeep temperate and tropical waters
DietFish, carrion and marine mammalsFishes, rays, seals and carrion
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; Bluntnose sixgill by reported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft. Age and upper mass involve uncertainty; length is better documented. Deepwater sampling is difficult, so upper records are sparse.

Bite evidence

Greenland shark: TuffShark found no defensible species-level bite-force estimate to display. 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

The age estimate is extraordinary; a dependable bite-force figure is not available. Its six gill slits mark an ancient branch of shark diversity.

04

TRACE THE CLAIMS

Sources and limits.

Greenland sharkNOAA Ocean ServiceBluntnose sixgillFlorida MuseumHow we standardize comparisonsRead the methodology →