Here is a ranking of the 10 biggest shark species based on average length:
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus): The largest shark and fish species, reaching lengths of up to 40 feet (12 meters) or more.
- Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus): The second-largest shark species, known for its massive size, reaching lengths of up to 33 feet (10 meters) on average.
- Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios): A rare and elusive shark species, averaging around 15 to 18 feet (4.5 to 5.5 meters) in length.
- Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier): Known for their size and power, tiger sharks can reach lengths of about 13 to 16 feet (4 to 5 meters) on average.
- Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias): A widely recognized shark species, averaging between 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 meters) in length, though larger individuals have been recorded.
- Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus): A slow-growing and long-lived species, Greenland sharks can reach lengths of up to 20 feet (6 meters) or more.
- Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrnidae family): Various species of hammerhead sharks can reach lengths ranging from 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters), depending on the specific species.
- Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus): These deep-sea sharks can grow up to about 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) in length.
- Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus): Known for their incredible speed, shortfin mako sharks typically measure around 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.6 meters) in length.
- Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus): Sand tiger sharks can reach lengths of about 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) on average.
Please note that these sizes are averages, and individual sharks may vary in size. Additionally, there may be some overlap in lengths between different species, as individual specimens can be larger or smaller.