SHARK VS SHARK

Shortfin makovsBluntnose sixgill

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

LivingIsurus oxyrinchus×LivingHexanchus griseus
QUICK VERDICT

Bluntnose sixgill is about 1.08× longer by these reference values.

These animals are effectively close in maximum-length terms, so measurement uncertainty can matter more than the apparent difference. Bluntnose sixgill's weight reference is about 1.04× heavier.

01

ON THE SAME SCALE

Human. Bus. Whale.
Pick your reference.

RELATIVE LENGTH · 0–24 METERS
AShortfin makoreported to about 4.45 m / 14.6 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.

MeasureShortfin makoBluntnose sixgill
Length referencereported to about 4.45 m / 14.6 ftreported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft
Weight referencerecorded to about 570 kg / 1,257 lbpublished to 590 kg / 1,300 lb
Bite forceNo dependable maximum foundUnknownNo dependable maximum foundUnknown
HabitatOpen tropical and temperate oceansDeep temperate and tropical waters
DietFast fishes, squid and other sharksFishes, rays, seals and carrion
03

WHAT THE DATA CAN SAY

Size is not the whole animal.

Length and weight

Shortfin mako is represented by reported to about 4.45 m / 14.6 ft; Bluntnose sixgill by reported to 4.8 m / 15.8 ft. Record length and mass do not necessarily describe the same individual. Deepwater sampling is difficult, so upper records are sparse.

Bite evidence

Shortfin mako: No directly comparable maximum bite-force estimate is used. 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

Speed is its signature; the biggest animals are unusual and hard to verify. Its six gill slits mark an ancient branch of shark diversity.

04

TRACE THE CLAIMS

Sources and limits.

Shortfin makoFlorida MuseumBluntnose sixgillFlorida MuseumHow we standardize comparisonsRead the methodology →