How big can a great white be?
The great white shark (scientific name: Carcharodon carcharias) is not the biggest shark (that title goes to the whale shark), but they are the largest predatory fish in the world
How big can a Great White Shark get?
It is really difficult to measure how large a shark – or any other fish actually is
Safety is one thing, the other thing is their incredible speed: great white sharks can accelerate to over 56 km/h (35 mph)
According to the Guinness World Records Book, full-grown adults are on average 43-46 meters (14-15 feet) in length, and generally, weigh 520-770 kg (1,150-1,700 lb)
But there are many (unconfirmed) claims of huge specimens up to 10 meters (33 feet) in length
Overall, the great white shark is the fifth largest living fish on earth
The great white shark, also known as simply the “great white”, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a species of large lamniform shark that can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans
It is the biggest shark and the largest predatory fish in the world
Naturally, newspapers and home photo albums are full of unconfirmed huge great white tales
And although few have been properly authenticated, there is a lot of circumstantial evidence to suggest that the largest great white sharks grow to more than 6 meters (20 feet) in length
Historically, a number of very large great white shark specimens have been recorded
For decades, many sources including the Guinness Book of World Records listed two great white sharks as the largest individuals: according to these sources, in the 1870s, a 109 meters (36 feet) great white was captured in southern Australian waters, near Port Fairy, and an 113 meters (37 feet) shark was trapped in a herring weir in New Brunswick, Canada, in the 1930s
Some researchers (understandably) question these measurements’ reliability, noting they were much larger than any other accurately reported sighting
This New Brunswick shark may have been a misidentified basking shark, according to these researchers, as the two have similar body shapes
The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second-largest living fish, after the whale shark, and one of three plankton-eating sharks besides the whale shark and megamouth shark
Related: Largest fish species in the world
E Randall examined the shark’s jaws and “found that the Port Fairy shark was of the order of 5 m (17 ft) in length and suggested that a mistake had been made in the original record, in 1870, of the shark’s length”
Top 14 Largest great white sharks ever recorded
Top 14 Largest great white sharks ever recorded
Top 14 Largest great white sharks ever recorded
1 The Cuba Shark (1945) [Claimed length: 64 meters/21 feet]
The great white shark caught off Cuba in 1945
A very large great white shark was caught off the coast of Cuba in 1945
Known as the “Cojimar Specimen”, it allegedly weighed 7,000 pounds (3,175 kg) and was 21 feet (64 meters) in length
Most sources cite this shark as the largest great white shark ever recorded
Aidan Martin of the ReefQuest Center for Shark Research, suggests the shark fell short of its stated size
Martin instead concluded it measured around 16 feet (49 meters) in length, with a weight that’s hard to determine just based on a single photo
2 Malindi, Kenya shark (1996) [Claimed length: 64 meters/21 feet]
On July 16, 1996, a huge pregnant female white shark was caught by local fishermen in Malindi, Kenya
It was estimated at 64 meters/21 feet in length, but, before its length was verified by any authority, it was cut into pieces
But, later, based on a section of five vertebrae from this shark, scientists suggested [Cliff et al, 2000] the shark was actually closer to just 57 meters (187 feet)
3 Ledge Point Shark (1987) [594 meters/19 feet 6 inches]
According to the American ichthyologist and a leading authority on coral reef fishes, also a shark expert John Ernest Randall (May 22, 1924 – April 26, 2020), the largest reliably measured and verified great white shark was 5944 cm (19 feet 6 inches) in length
It was a female and caught off near Ledge Point, Western Australia in 1987
Its estimated weight was 2 tons
4 Sandun (China) shark (2008) [61 meters/20 feet]
On March 15, 2008, in Sandun, China, Fishermen captured an oversized great white shark allegedly measuring an estimated 10 meters (33 feet)!
A 10-meter share should be at least 95 tons
Scientists conclude that based on its weight, the shark was most likely around 6-61 meters in length
5 Canada Shark (1983) [61 meters/20 feet]
Canada great white shark (1983), the world’s largest accurately measured great white shark ever
According to the Canadian Shark Research Center, the world’s largest accurately measured great white was 20 feet (61 meters) in length
This was a female caught in 1983 near Canada’s Prince Edward Island
A large female, the shark was a rarity in the northern seas
Unfortunately, before further measurements could be taken, the remains of the shark were taken away and buried by the officials of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (a federal institution that is responsible for safeguarding and managing Canada’s seas, fisheries, and ocean resources)
6 Deep Blue, the largest great white shark ever caught on camera [61 meters/20 feet]
This enormous great white shark named “Deep Blue” was spotted near Isla Guadalupe, off the coast of Mexico, and is probably the largest great white shark ever to be filmed and believed to be one of the largest great white sharks ever seen
The massive predator was first featured in August by the Discovery Channel in a documentary when researchers tagged the gigantic fish
Researchers believed Deep Blue was pregnant
The shark is thought to be around 50 years old and estimated at 20 feet (61 meters)
Great whites can live to around 70 years old in the wild
But today, sharks aren’t living nearly as long as they used to – and in turn, not growing as large as they once did
7 Mallorca shark (1969) [62 meters/20 feet 4 inches]
In February 1969, a large female great white shark was caught off Mallorca, Spain
It was initially reported ad 8 meters (26 feet 3 inches)!
But, an examination of a surviving photograph of this specimen revealed that it more likely measured between 62 – 64 meters (20 feet 4 inches to 21 feet)
Related: 10 amazing great white shark facts
8 Ganzirri, Sicily shark (1961) [Claimed length: 64 meters/21 feet]
The only photo of the 1961 Sicily shark, was taken by the local fisherman Domenico Sorrenti
Based on this photo, scientists estimated its length between 645 meters and 666 meters (212 feet to 219 feet)
On June 19, 1961, a large female white shark was harpooned by a fisherman named Domenico Sorrenti, off Ganzirri, Sicily, Italy
Its length was estimated at 64 meters/21 feet
The shark wasn’t properly measured and all that remains today is a single photograph, taken by Sorrenti himself
Based on this photograph, scientists estimated its length between 645 meters and 666 meters (212 feet to 219 feet) [see sources 1]
So the shark’s length estimated by Sorrenti was most likely accurate
But, the estimated weight of 1,500 kg was far too low for a shark of this size – it should be at least 2 tons
9 The great white shark caught by Vic Hislop in 1985 [Claimed length: 66 meters/21 feet 8 inches]
A huge 21′ 8″ (66 meter) great white shark was caught by the Australian shark hunter Vic Hislop in 1985
This may be the biggest white shark ever caught
He also claims to have caught a bigger one than the one pictured, but couldn’t land it
Contrary to the current belief that the great whites are not natural man-eaters, Hislop believes that the great white sharks can develop a taste for humans and that once one does, it will travel from beach to beach devouring humans whenever it feels hungry
I’ve often caught sharks and removed human hands and feet from their stomachs
Hislop claims many of the missings did not drown but were devoured by the great whites and other sharks
Hislop says “Once a shark has tasted humans he will attack over and over again
Please note that Vic Hislop’s claims are not accepted by the field scientists
The Taiwan Shark (1997) [Claimed length: 7 meters/23 feet]
This huge great white shark was caught off Hualien County, Taiwan, on 14 May 1997: It was reportedly (unconfirmed) almost 7 m (23 ft) in length with a mass of 2,500 kg (5,500 lb)
On May 14, 1997, a huge great white shark was caught in a set net off Hualien County, Taiwan
The gross weight of this animal was 2500 kilograms (5,500 pounds) and the total length is claimed at 67 to 70 meters (~22 feet)
This length, however, is unconfirmed, and note that forced perspective is used in its only existing photo
Still, it is considered possibly one of the largest great white sharks ever recorded
Kangaroo Island great white shark (1987) [Claimed size: 7 meters/23 feet]
On April 1, 1987, a huge great white was captured near Kangaroo Island in Australia
It was estimated at least 7 meters (23 feet) long
According to Wikipedia, the shark size estimation methods proposed by J
E Randall suggest that the Kangaroo Island specimen was 58-64 meters (19-21 feet) long
K Fergusson also used shark size estimation methods proposed by J
E Randall to suggest that the MALTA specimen was 53-57 meters (17-19 feet) long
However, photographic evidence suggested that these specimens were larger than the size estimations yielded through Randall’s methods
Compagno-reviewed the cases of the KANGA and MALTA specimens in 1996 to resolve the dispute by conducting a comprehensive morphometric analysis of the remains of these sharks
Scientists re-examined photographic evidence in an attempt to validate the original size estimations and their findings indicated that estimations by P
The Marino Bay (Australia) Shark (2016) [Claimed length: 7 meters/23 feet]
In 2016, an Australian crew encountered and photographed what may be the largest great white shark ever seen (if their estimate is valid): approximately 23 feet (7 meters)
The shark was spotted just 300 feet off the shore of Marino Bay, South Australia
According to Shark Alerts South Australia, the non-profit organization, “the crew (of the shark patrol helicopter) used their Jet Boat to compare the size which is around 6 meters (20 feet) and the shark was bigger”
“The size issue from photos like this is always challenging
Istanbul shark (1965) [Claimed length: 7 meters/23 feet]
On December 28, 1965, a huge great white shark was caught near Maiden’s Tower, Istanbul, Turkey
It was measured at 7 meters and weighed an estimated 3 tons
The large great white shark was caught near Maiden’s tower, Istanbul, Turkey in 1965
There are also other reports of exceptionally large great white sharks from Turkey:
A large specimen was caught in the Sea of Marmara in 1916, after becoming entrapped in a fishing net it was shot in the head three times by fishermen (Deveciyan, 1926)
A female, caught by fishermen Niyazi Dalgın and Cemil Ünalır off Princes’ Islands, Marmara Sea (Istanbul)
It was also estimated at 7 meters/23 feet
It was also estimated at 7 meters/23 feet
A very large shark caught in the Bosphorus Strait was reported to have measured 8 meters/26 feet and 3 inches in 1926
Allegedly this shark also weighed an estimated 4,500 kg
Malta shark (1987) [Claimed length: 723 meters/237 feet]
The photos of the great white shark specimen that was caught off Filfla, Malta on April 17, 1987
On April 17, 1987, Alfredo Cutajar caught a big female great white off the coast of Filfla, Malta that was reportedly measured to be 723 meters (237 feet) long and weighed 2,880 kg (6,349 lbs)
This time, Cutajar claimed that the shark was 701 meters (23 feet) and Abela confirmed that
He said that he had accurately measured the shark twice, as it lay on the floor, at 23 feet 5 inches (714 meters)
In 2001, again, Cutajar said that it was 701 meters (23 feet) in length
Later, based on a set of its jaws, Spanish shark researchers Joan Barrull and Isabel Mate estimated that the Malta shark was between 6,68-681 meters (2192-2234 feet) in length
McCosker, authors of the book The Great White Shark (1991), have also largely discounted the claim of the Maltese fisherman
Great White Sharks’ relationship with humans
Despite that they are being responsible for by far the largest number of recorded shark attacks on humans, many scientists believe that they do not prey on humans
In the Mediterranean Sea, there have been 31 confirmed attacks against humans in the last two centuries, most of which were non-fatal
Accordingly, in most recorded attacks, great whites broke off contact after the first bite
However, some researchers have hypothesized that the reason the proportion of fatalities is low is not that sharks do not like human flesh, but because humans are often able to escape after the first bite
Related: Man Who Befriended a Great White Shark – Not a True Story
In the 1980s, John McCosker, Chair of Aquatic Biology at the California Academy of Sciences, noted that divers who dove solo and were attacked by great whites were generally at least partially consumed, while divers who followed the buddy system were generally rescued by their buddy
Tricas, an author and professor at the University of Hawaii, suggest that a standard pattern for great whites is to make an initial devastating attack and then wait for the prey to weaken before consuming the wounded animal
Humans’ ability to move out of reach with the help of others, thus foiling the attack, is unusual for a great white’s prey
Related: How long do great white sharks live?
De Maddalena, A, Zuffa, M, Lipek, L, Celona A
“An analysis of the photographic evidence of the largest great white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758), captured in the Mediterranean Sea with considerations about the maximum size of the species” Annales, Series Historia Naturalis, 11 (2): 193-206
Great white shark on Wikipedia
Largest Great White Shark on Discoverycom
Largest Predatory Fish on Guinness World Records Book
What Are the Biggest Great White Sharks Ever Recorded?
“This Might Be The Largest Great White Shark Ever Caught On Camera” on The Dodo
“What Are the Biggest Great White Sharks Ever Recorded?” on owlcationcom
Mediterranean Great White Sharks – A Comprehensive Study Including All Recorded Sightings
By Alessandro De Maddalena and Walter Heim
Study: “An analysis of the photographic evidence of the largest great white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1754), captured in the Mediterranean Sea with considerations about the maximum size of the species”
Alessandro de Maddalena, Marco Zuffa, Lovrenc Lipej, Antonio Celona
“First records of white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, from Mauritius, Zanzibar, Madagascar, and Kenya” South African Journal of Science, 96 (7): 365-367
“Maximum size of the white shark” on the Devian Art website
Gargantuan Sharks: Their Size and Weight Might Surprise You!
The largest great white shark ever recorded was a massive 20-foot (61 meters) long beast
This colossal creature was caught off the coast of Canada in 1988 and weighed an astonishing 4,200 pounds (1,905 kilograms)
Read on for more about this shark and other massive great white sharks discovered over the decades
Full Grown Great Whites
So, how big is a mature great white shark?
A full grown great white shark reaches an impressive size
On average, male great whites grow to about 11-13 feet (34-4 meters) in length, while their female counterparts, the more massive ones, reach 15-16 feet (45-5 meters)
When it comes to weight, adult male great whites can weigh between 1,500-2,400 pounds (680-1,100 kilograms), while the larger females average between 2,400-3,300 pounds (1,100-1,500 kilograms)
How Big Was the Largest Great White Shark Ever Recorded?
The largest great white shark ever recorded was a female shark that measured 20 feet (61 meters) in length and weighed 4,200 pounds (1,905 kilograms)
This massive creature was caught off the coast of Canada in 1988
The shark was caught by a group of fishermen who were fishing for halibut in the waters off Prince Edward Island
The fishermen were shocked by the size of the shark and immediately contacted the Canadian Shark Research Center in Halifax, Nova Scotia
The researchers at the center were also amazed by the size of the shark and quickly made arrangements to transport it to the center for further study
The researchers determined that the shark was a female and estimated that it was between 25 and 30 years old
They also discovered that the shark had been pregnant with six pups, which were removed and studied before they were released back into the wild
The capture of this massive great white shark was a significant event in the scientific community, as it provided researchers with valuable information about the behavior and biology of these creatures
How Large Are Great White Shark Pups?
There is no information available on the exact size of the six pups that were removed from the pregnant female shark
However, it is estimated that great white shark pups are born at a length of around 4 to 5 feet (12 to 15 meters) and weigh around 60 to 80 pounds (27 to 36 kilograms)
Great white shark pups are born fully formed and are able to swim and hunt for themselves from birth
Deep Blue is a female great white shark that gained international attention in 2013 when she was filmed by a team of researchers off the coast of Mexico
At the time, Deep Blue was estimated to be around 20 feet long and weigh over 2 tons, making her one of the largest great white sharks ever recorded
Deep Blue was first identified in 1999 off the coast of Guadalupe Island, which is located about 150 miles west of the Baja California Peninsula
She was estimated to be around 18 feet long at the time, which made her a particularly large great white shark even then
Over the years, Deep Blue has been spotted several times by researchers and divers, and she has gained a reputation as a gentle giant among the shark community
She is known for her calm demeanor and her willingness to approach boats and divers, which has allowed researchers to study her behavior up close
In 2013, a team of researchers from the Discovery Channel filmed Deep Blue off the coast of Mexico, and the footage went viral online
Since then, Deep Blue has continued to capture the imagination of people all over the world, and she remains one of the most famous great white sharks in history
Story of “Big Blue” …Another Notably Large Shark
Another great white shark, given the name of “Big Blue,” was captured off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada in 1983
“Big Blue” was a female shark that measured 165 feet (5 meters) in length and weighed 2,664 pounds (1,210 kilograms)
She was captured by a team of researchers from the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, who were studying the migration patterns of great white sharks
“Big Blue” was named for her distinctive blue-gray coloration, which was unusual for a great white shark
She was fitted with a satellite tag and released back into the ocean, allowing the researchers to track her movements over the next several months
The data collected from “Big Blue” and other tagged sharks helped to improve our understanding of the behavior and migration patterns of great white sharks
“Big Blue” was a notably massive great white shark but she was not the largest ever recorded
Story of Nukumi, a Giant Female Great White Shark
Nukumi is a female great white shark that was first discovered by researchers off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada in October 2020
She is estimated to be around 50 years old and is one of the largest great white sharks ever recorded, measuring over 17 feet long and weighing over 3,500 pounds
Nukumi’s discovery was particularly exciting for researchers because it provided them with a rare opportunity to study a mature female great white shark
Female great whites typically reach sexual maturity around the age of 15, but they can live for up to 70 years, so studying a mature female like Nukumi can provide valuable insights into the behavior and biology of these animals
Nukumi was captured by a team of researchers led by OCEARCH, a non-profit organization that specializes in studying sharks and other large marine animals
The researchers used a specialized fishing vessel to lure Nukumi to the side of the boat, where they were able to attach a GPS tag to her dorsal fin and take a series of measurements and samples
Despite her size and strength, Nukumi was surprisingly calm during the capture process, and she was released back into the ocean unharmed after the researchers had finished their work
Her size and age make her a particularly fascinating subject for researchers, and her capture has provided valuable data that will help to further our understanding of these incredible animals
Now, you might be wondering about the rumors of a legendary 40-foot (12 meters) great white shark
While it’s true that some tales mention such behemoths, the scientific community has yet to confirm the existence of any great white in that size range
How Large is an Adult White Shark Compared to a Small Car?
Now, just to give you a clearer perspective, let’s compare the size of great whites to some familiar objects
A mature great white shark is around the same length as a small bus and weighs nearly as much as a small car!
When comparing the size and weight of a great white shark to specific car models, there are a few that come to mind
As mentioned earlier, the 2023 Toyota Corolla is comparable in size to the shark in terms of length
Another car that comes to mind is the 2023 Honda Civic, which is slightly longer than the Corolla at 1827 inches
However, it’s still shorter than the great white shark
Finally, the 2023 Mazda3 is another small car that is comparable in size to the great white shark
There is an exceptionally good possibility that even larger great white sharks are out there somewhere cruising the oceans, silently swimming and hunting beneath the waves
Great White Sharks – Lifespan, Lifecycle and Diet (Cool Facts You Won’t Believe)