Despite humanity looking at the ocean for as long as humans have strived to be curious, we still don’t know a lot about it. This is partly due to how large the oceans are, which also means there’s space for some colossal life in its own right. Here are some of the biggest fish in the oceans.
Whale Shark
Despite having the name “shark,” the whale shark is quite different from its sharp-teethed counterparts. The whale shark can reach around 60 feet long and weigh about 20 tons. They eat through a filter method similar to that of some whales and are not normally aggressive towards humans.
Basking Shark
Basking sharks are another filter feeder that is nearly as big as the whale shark. They can grow up to 40 feet long and keep their mouths open as they swim to catch small marine life like plankton to sustain themselves.
Great White Shark
The great white shark is one of the most famous marine animals in the world. They have appeared in media for decades and can grow to around 20 feet long. They are an apex predator in the ocean and can be found in subtropical and temperate waters.
Tiger Shark
The tiger shark is an enormous shark species in its own right, growing up to around 12 feet and feeding on nearly anything that they can find. Tiger sharks can mostly be found in subtropical and tropical waters, but they have also been found in river estuaries where there’s a mix of salt and seawater.
Greenland Shark
The Greenland shark is a unique specimen found in the Arctic and North Atlantic waters. They can reach up to 20 feet and have a startlingly long life span. Because the scavengers move slowly, they conserve much of their energy, which may allow them to live for hundreds of years.
Megamouth Shark
The megamouth shark is another filter feeder that lives deep below the surface of the ocean. They can grow to around 18 feet long and have only been known about since 1976. They have an enormous mouth to feed on plankton and are very elusive.
Ocean Sunfish
The ocean sunfish holds the title of the largest bony fish in the world, weighing up to an incredible 2000 pounds. They have a unique body shape which is very flat. Despite their size, they only feed on small marine life including jellyfish.
Sixgill Fish
The sixgill shark can grow up to around 15 feet long and have been in the ocean for longer than many other marine life. They are thought to have existed unchanged for millions of years in the deep waters of the ocean. Their name comes from their mouth which has six rows of sharp, comb-like teeth.
Sawfish
The sawfish is most notably known for its strange-looking snout, which it uses to move debris and search the sea floor for food. They can grow up to seven meters long and are a critically endangered species due to overfishing and habitat loss.
Manta Ray
The giant oceanic manta ray is the largest manta ray in the world at 15 feet long and weighing over three tons. They are not aggressive towards humans and like many other fish on this list. filter feet on plankton and other tiny marine life. They are a very intelligent species with unique adaptations like cephalic lobes.
Beluga Sturgeon
The Beluga Sturgeon is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, reaching lengths of up to 24 meters long and weighing around 2 tons. They inhabit the waters of the Caspian and the Black Sea and are popular for their caviar – which has led to them becoming endangered.
Sharptail Mola
The sharptail mola is a relative of the ocean sunfish and can reach nearly 10 feet long and weigh over 2 tons. They have unique body shapes, like the sunfish, and each small invertebrat lives in its habitat. They can be found worldwide in temperate environments.
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