Here is a list of the 10 largest shark species, ranked by average size:
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus): The largest shark and fish species, known to reach lengths of up to 40 feet (12 meters) or more.
- Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus): The second-largest shark species, with an average length of about 20 to 26 feet (6 to 8 meters).
- Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias): One of the most iconic shark species, averaging between 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 meters) in length, but can grow larger.
- Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier): A large and powerful predator, typically measuring around 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) in length, but can reach larger sizes.
- Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus): A slow-growing and long-lived species, with reported lengths of up to 24 feet (7.3 meters) or more.
- Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios): A rare and enigmatic species, averaging around 13 to 16 feet (4 to 5 meters) in length.
- 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.
- Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus genus): Both bluntnose sixgill sharks (Hexanchus griseus) and bigeye sixgill sharks (Hexanchus Nakamura) can grow up to about 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) in length.
- Thresher Shark (Alopiidae family): The common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) is the largest species in the thresher family, typically measuring around 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) in length.
- Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis): Silky sharks can reach lengths of about 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.6 meters) on average.
These rankings are based on average lengths reported for each species. It’s important to note that individual sharks can vary in size, and exceptional individuals may exceed these average measurements.