There are many different species of sharks in the oceans, but have you ever asked yourself which ones were the biggest. I think you will be in for a surprise as we countdown the 15 biggest sharks in the world.
LEMON SHARK
The Lemon Shark is the best known and most researched of all sharks. Unlike most sharks, the Lemon can handle captivity for extended periods of time.
Therefore, scientists have had the opportunity to observe their behavior like no other shark.
An adult Lemon Shark is usually about 11 feet in length and about 420 pounds in weight. It is named for its unusual and bright yellow or brown pigmentation and color.
The Lemon Shark loves the tropical and subtropical waters in coastal areas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They stay in moderately shallow water, normally going no deeper than 260 feet.
They are often found in shallow waters near coasts and islands, by coral reefs, mangroves, bays, and sometimes even river mouths.
Because this shark is a bottom dweller, they often track their prey by churning up the ground for bony fish, rays, crustaceans, and sometimes even seabirds. This is a very social species.
They are often seen in groups and have a structured hierarchy system based on size and sex.
They generally don’t show any aggressive behavior with each other and coordinate in groups for hunting purposes in places the hierarchy is strictly followed.
This species is known for migrating from area to area and often wander hundreds of kilometers through the Ocean to reach mating locations.
GOBLIN SHARK
Goblin sharks have been living in the oceans for 125 million years but because they live at such depths they’re rarely ever encountered, and we know very little about them.
Some Goblin sharks usually grow up to 13 feet long and they are easily recognized by their flat snouts, nail-like teeth, and their pink-colored skin.
They are probably the strangest looking species of shark you will ever see and could easily be that next monster created for that B-horror movie you watch on Friday nights.
They are only found at depths below 330 feet and are thought to be very slow swimmers.
In the environment where they live speed isn’t as important as it is higher up and they scour the seafloor for crustaceans’ squids and fish.
That’s the reason why their snouts are so long. They contain special electrical receptors that they use to identify and track their prey because they often swim in the darkness.
They quietly approach their target from behind and can snap their jaws in a quick motion that gives little opportunity for escape.
It’s fortunate that Goblin Shark live in the deep depths of the oceans simply because if they lived beyond, where humans can swim, an attack by one of these predators would be particularly nasty.
