Sharks

How Many Feet Long Are Sharks

Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. Updated: January 16, 2017
How Many Feet Long Are Sharks

Are you passionate about sharks? Many people share an admiration for these intelligent, powerful and spectacular ocean animals. In this OneHowTo article we will show you how many long sharks are, detailing the characteristics of some of the best known species. More than 300 different species of sharks belong to this family of animals. You will learn about species such as whale sharks, great white sharks, and tiger sharks plus many more! Read on and learn a little more about your favorite animal.

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Contents

  1. Whale shark
  2. Basking shark
  3. Great white shark
  4. Tiger shark
  5. Blue shark
  6. Grey shark

Whale shark

They are the largest sharks and the longest fish in the world. Despite being a member of the shark family, this animal looks and behaves in a similar way to whales, hence its name. They are a very peaceful species that can live perfectly well alongside humans so it is not uncommon to see pictures of divers with this huge animal.

They can be physically distinguished by white patches found on the top part of their bluish-grey body. They are impressive in size. This shark has an average size of 39 feet and 4 inches (12 meters) and weighs about 21 tonnes; although there have been some documented sightings of this shark species measuring as long as 59 feet (18 meters).

How Many Feet Long Are Sharks - Whale shark

Basking shark

This species is known as the 'basking shark', their name comes from the fact that they behave as if they are basking, gliding through the ocean slowly and peacefully. They are the second longest sharks and, like the whale, they do not eat meat but instead feed on plankton in a distinctive way by opening their mouth wide, catching plankton and organic matter from the water.

Their most peculiar feature is their enormous mouth. This species of shark has a very wide jaw to enable them to carry on feeding whilst swimming peacefully through water. The size and weight of this species varies because different types have been sighted. However, the size of a basking shark is generally from 20 to 26 feet (6 to 8 meters) and their mouths can reach up to 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter when fully open.

How Many Feet Long Are Sharks - Basking shark

Great white shark

This species of shark, feared so much by humans, is known by this name because the lower part of the animal or its 'belly' is this color. They are the only species that have outlived the Carcharodon genus, a prehistoric species of shark known as 'megalodon', and can reach lengths of more than 66 feet (20 meters). Their ferocious appearance, large size and aggressiveness have been characteristics that many film producers have portrayed of this animal, as a symbol of ferocity and fear.

They are aggressive sharks with a huge jaw and rows of sharp teeth. Such physical characteristics make them one of the most feared ocean species. If you want to know how many feet long a white shark is there is a lot of data recorded but, as a general guide, an adult white shark is 13 to 22 feet (4 to 7 meters) in length. Nevertheless, there have been sightings of much larger specimens. In 1870, one measured 36 feet (11 meters) in Australia and, in 1930, one was found measuring 37 feet (11.3 meters) in Canada.

How Many Feet Long Are Sharks - Great white shark

Tiger shark

This shark is known as a "tiger shark" because, just like the big cat, its body has different colored stripes making it very similar to the Asian mammal's fur. Although not as famous as the great white shark, tiger sharks are more aggressive and eat everything in their way. Even items of waste such as car parts or metal bars have been found in their stomachs.

They are the fourth largest shark on the planet and have a medium sized girth of 7 to 9 feet (2 or 3 meters) when they become adults. Females are larger than males and more aggressive, especially because they care for the young until they can fend for themselves.

How Many Feet Long Are Sharks - Tiger shark

Blue shark

This shark's main feature is its long nose. Their name derives from their metallic blue bodies, and depending on how much they are exposed to sunlight, the tone can darken or lighten. Blue sharks are usually around 8 feet long (two and a half meters)and weigh about 80 kilos, so they are smaller than the other species mentioned. However, there are exceptions since some have been found to measure more than 13 feet (4 meters), weighing more than 220 kilos. As a general rule, they are around 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters).

How Many Feet Long Are Sharks - Blue shark

Grey shark

This is a large shark and although their demeanor is less aggressive than those mentioned above, appearances can be deceiving and they are very aggressive sharks. Its name comes from their grey-colored bodies, but may have more bluish or whitish-colored body parts such as their fins or belly.

The average length of a grey shark ranges between 3 and 4 feet (a meter and a meter and a half), and as with the above example, females are larger than males reaching up to 6 feet (2 meters).

How Many Feet Long Are Sharks - Grey shark

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