Gargantuan Sharks: Their Size and Weight Might Surprise You!
The largest great white shark ever recorded was a massive 20-foot (6.1 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 (3.4-4 meters) in length, while their female counterparts, the more massive ones, reach 15-16 feet (4.5-5 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). Just imagine the sheer power behind these massive creatures.
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 (6.1 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. When they pulled their net up, they found the massive shark dead in the net. The cause of death was not determined, but it is possible that the shark became entangled in the net and drowned as a result.
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 (1.2 to 1.5 meters) and weigh around 60 to 80 pounds (27 to 36 kilograms). The size of the pups can vary depending on the size and age of the mother shark.
Great white shark pups are born fully formed and are able to swim and hunt for themselves from birth.
Story of “Deep Blue”- A Massive Legendary Shark
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. The video shows Deep Blue swimming gracefully through the water, dwarfing the divers who are swimming alongside her.
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 16.5 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.
Since her capture, Nukumi has become something of a celebrity in the shark community, and her story has been widely shared on social media and in the news. 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.
Myth or Reality: 40-Footers
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. However, you never know what the depths of the ocean might be hiding, so it’s always wise to keep an open mind when venturing into the aquatic unknown.
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! Isn’t that mind-blowing?
Specific Car Models
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. However, the shark’s girth and mass make it larger overall.
Another car that comes to mind is the 2023 Honda Civic, which is slightly longer than the Corolla at 182.7 inches. However, it’s still shorter than the great white shark. The shark’s weight is also significantly more than the Civic’s curb weight of around 2,900 pounds.
Finally, the 2023 Mazda3 is another small car that is comparable in size to the great white shark. It’s slightly shorter than the Corolla at 180.3 inches, but the shark is still longer. The Mazda3’s curb weight is also less than the shark’s weight, at around 2,800 pounds.
Even Larger Sharks are Likely!
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.
Learn more about sharks! Check out some of my most popular posts about sharks.
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