SHARK VS SHARK

Megamouth sharkvsSand tiger shark

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

LivingMegachasma pelagios×LivingCarcharias taurus
QUICK VERDICT

Megamouth shark is about 2.2× longer by these reference values.

Megamouth shark uses a 7.1 m upper reference, compared with 3.2 m for Sand tiger shark. Megamouth shark's weight reference is about 7.6× heavier.

01

ON THE SAME SCALE

Human. Bus. Whale.
Pick your reference.

RELATIVE LENGTH · 0–24 METERS
AMegamouth sharkreported to about 7.1 m / 23 ft
BSand tiger sharkreported to about 3.2 m / 10.5 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.

MeasureMegamouth sharkSand tiger shark
Length referencereported to about 7.1 m / 23 ftreported to about 3.2 m / 10.5 ft
Weight referencereported near 1,215 kg / 2,679 lbreported to about 159 kg / 350 lb
Bite forceNot meaningfully establishedUnknownNo dependable maximum foundUnknown
HabitatDeep tropical and subtropical oceansTemperate and subtropical coasts
DietKrill and other planktonFishes, rays, squid and crustaceans
03

WHAT THE DATA CAN SAY

Size is not the whole animal.

Length and weight

Megamouth shark is represented by reported to about 7.1 m / 23 ft; Sand tiger shark by reported to about 3.2 m / 10.5 ft. Sparse specimens make a true maximum difficult to establish. Upper records vary by region and source.

Bite evidence

Megamouth shark: This filter feeder lacks a comparable maximum-bite study. Sand tiger shark: A reliable comparable maximum was not found.

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

Known from relatively few encounters, it still carries major uncertainty. Its protruding teeth look dramatic, but appearance alone does not reveal bite force.

04

TRACE THE CLAIMS

Sources and limits.

Megamouth sharkFlorida MuseumSand tiger sharkFlorida MuseumHow we standardize comparisonsRead the methodology →