Some gigantic creatures are roaming the ocean’s depths, and one is scarier. One of the most feared creatures is the shark, and while they can be terrifying, they are pretty remarkable, too. There are many species, from the tiniest shark to the biggest predator of its kind; these are the largest sharks in the Atlantic that you sure don’t want to run into on your next dive.
1. Great Hammerhead Shark
As the largest of all hammerhead species, it can grow up to an impressive 20 feet (6.1 meters) in length and weigh over 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms). They have a unique head shape for more than just looking intimidating; they have a hammer-shaped head, or cephalofoil, that enhances their ability to detect prey through specialized electrical receptors.
They prefer to snack on stingrays, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks, which they often pin down with their heads to eat. They might seem like powerful creatures, but with more than 90% mortality upon capture and pressures from climate change, this iconic species is now endangered.
2. Great White Shark
These are some of the most well-known sharks that roam the ocean, and it’s for good reason, too. Averaging 14 to 20 feet in length and weighing between 1,500 to 4,000 pounds, these massive sharks are one of the largest predatory fish in the ocean. They have distinctive dark dorsal coloration contrasting against a white underbelly and are easily recognizable by their rows of serrated, triangular teeth that can grow up to 3 inches long.
These predators prefer to hunt for seals, sea lions, and various fish species and have been known to scavenge on whale carcasses occasionally. In the past few years, their populations have been increasing, with researchers noting that the ocean is “teeming with life like we haven’t seen since the ’40s or ’50s.”
3. Greenland Shark
This isn’t just one of the largest sharks in the ocean but also one of the most fascinating. These sharks can grow to lengths of up to 24 feet (7.3 meters) and weigh as much as 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms). They might be large, but they are well-known for their sluggish movements. They can live to be around 200 years old, making them the longest-living sharks in the world.
These sharks eat various foods, including fish, marine mammals, and even the occasional polar bear or reindeer. They aren’t just deadly in the ocean; they are lethal on a plate, too, if not cooked properly. These sharks are toxic when fresh due to high trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) levels.
4. Basking Shark
These gentle giants aren’t one bit as terrifying as they might seem. These slow-moving filter feeders can grow up to 36 feet (11 meters) in length and weigh as much as 4.3 tons (3.9 metric tons). Due to their size and general appearance, they might seem incredibly intimidating, but they are virtually harmless to humans, making them quite the encounter for divers.
These sharks exclusively feed on plankton and can filter 4 million pounds (1,814 metric tons) of water through their gills every hour. Their name was inspired by their silly habit of swimming near the ocean’s surface, making it seem like they were basking in the sun. Highly migratory, basking sharks travel across ocean basins in search of plankton blooms, often forming groups of up to 100 sharks.
5. Whale Shark
This shark reigns supreme when it comes to sharks and is the most beautiful of all sharks. These gentle giants can grow to an astonishing length of up to 61.7 feet and weigh around 11 tons, making most ocean life seem incredibly small in comparison. These sharks are filter feeders and only feed on plankton or small fish, making them harmless to humans.
They have a unique appearance with a distinctive broad, flat head and a unique pattern of light spots and stripes on a dark background. While they are generally solitary creatures, they occasionally gather in large numbers in plankton-rich areas, creating spectacular feeding aggregations that have become popular attractions for eco-tourism.
6. Megamouth Shark
These mysterious sharks, discovered in 1976, can grow up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) in length and weigh over 2,700 pounds. True to their name, these sharks have enormous, circular mouths measuring up to 4 feet (1.3 meters) across, which they use to filter plankton and jellyfish as they swim with their mouths wide open.
These sharks can be found at depths of up to 15,000 feet below the ocean’s surface. They have soft, flabby bodies and exhibit vertical migrations, rising closer to the surface at night. Less than 100 sightings have been made, making them quite rare.
7. Shortfin Mako Shark
These speedy swimmers can swim over 46 mph, making them one of the fastest sharks in the ocean. They are incredible hunters and prefer to snack on squid, tuna, and swordfish. They can also grow up to 13 feet (4 meters) in length and weigh over 1,200 pounds (570 kilograms). They are often seen as a prize catch for sports fishermen as they are known for their aggressiveness and strength.
This highly migratory species inhabits temperate and tropical waters, ranging from the surface to depths of nearly 1,000 meters. Despite its resilience, the shortfin mako is classified as endangered by the IUCN due to overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
8. Bluntnose Sixgill Shark
This shark’s descriptive name gives you a good idea of its appearance without seeing it. This giant shark can grow to be around 26 feet long and weigh over 1,100 pounds, dwelling in waters of over 8,000 feet below the surface. These sharks have a blunt snout, fluorescent blue-green eyes, and six-gill slits that set them apart from other sharks, as mentioned in their name.
These shy sharks prey on fish, squid, seals, and even smaller sharks, thriving in low-oxygen environments where other predators cannot survive. These remarkable sharks are rarely seen by humans and have a slow reproductive rate, giving them a threatened state and a call for conservation efforts to come into effect.
9. Pacific Sleeper Shark
These sharks grow an average of 14 feet long, but some adults have been spotted to grow well over 23 feet. They can mostly be found dwelling in the ocean’s depths, often exceeding depths of 6,600 feet: these bottom-dwelling fish, squid, crabs, and even marine mammals like seals.
ts slow growth, late maturity, and low productivity make it a rare sight for humans. Most encounters occur as bycatch in fishing operations. These sharks are sure to be a sight to see if you ever have the opportunity to see one in the wild.
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