The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) earns the name “whale” solely because of its size. Just as the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest living mammal*, the whale shark is the largest species of any fish, known to reach more than 40 feet in length.
How big is the longest fish?
Whale sharks may grow up to 40 feet and weigh as much as 40 tons by some estimates. Whale sharks longer longer than about 39 feet are uncommon.
What is the 3 largest fish?
Largest extant fish
| Rank |
Animal |
Binomial Name |
| 1 |
Whale shark |
Rhincodon typus |
| 2 |
Basking shark |
Cetorhinus maximus |
| 3 |
Great white shark |
Carcharodon carcharias |
| 4 |
Tiger shark |
Galeocerdo cuvier |
What is the biggest fish not shark?
Ocean Sunfish
The Mola mola is the world’s largest living bony fish. Adults of this species weigh around 2.3 tons and can grow up to a maximum length of 10.8 ft. Due to their unique shape, the fish can attain a height equivalent to their length. These fish inhabit the world’s tropical and temperate oceans.
What is the longest fish of the world? – Related Questions
What fish is king of the sea?
The “King of the Ocean” is a title that applies to any number of more interesting marine animals, depending on whom you talk to. But for many, the Great White Shark is the undisputed ruler of the seas. Great White Sharks instill both terror and awe in most of us.
What is the fastest fish?
Most sources believe that the fastest species of fish is the Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus. According to Johnson and Gill (see below) the species has been clocked in excess of 110 km/h (68 mph) over short periods.
What fish is mistaken for a shark?
This distinctively shaped fish is a type of ray but is often mistaken for a shark. The front portion of the body is flattened and wide, resembling a ray, while the back portion of the body is very shark-like in appearance.
Is there a fish bigger than megalodon?
It is estimated that the Leedsichthys species is found to be approximately 16.5m long, which is quite larger than the average Megalodon.
What is bigger than a shark?
While the whale shark is certainly a big animal, it is considerably smaller than the blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, which is the biggest animal in the world. The largest blue whale ever recorded measured a staggering 33 metres in length.
What is the largest freshwater fish?
Sturgeon are the largest of the freshwater fish. The beluga sturgeon in Russia is the largest freshwater fish in the world. The white sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish in North America. White sturgeon have been reported to reach lengths of 15-20 feet and weights of nearly one ton.
What are the top 5 largest fish?
5 Biggest Fish in the Ocean
- Whale Shark. Without question, the biggest fish on the planet is the whale shark.
- Basking Shark. The second largest fish in the world is the basking shark, whose body ranges from very dark gray to grayish brown.
- Oarfish. Photo by Google Images.
- Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
- Manta Ray.
What are the deep 7 fish?
The “Deep 7” are seven fish species that live near the seafloor in deep water off the coast of Hawai’i: onaga, ‘ōpakapaka, ehu, kalekale, gindai, lehi and hapu’upu’u. These bottomfish are incredibly valuable both economically and culturally in Hawai’i.
What’s the most rarest fish in the world?
Indeed, the bottomless geothermal pool that gives the Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) their name — plus some frisky mating behavior that resembles puppies playing — is the narrowest geographic range of any vertebrate. And with only 175 total fish at last count, they’re the rarest fish on the planet.
What year will we have no fish?
No more fish
The world’s oceans could be virtually emptied for fish by 2048. A study shows that if nothing changes, we will run out of seafood in 2048. If we want to preserve the ecosystems of the sea, change is needed.
What is the prettiest fish?
Nine of the World’s Most Gorgeous Fish
- Clownfish. Clownfish in the Andaman Coral Reef.
- Mandarinfish. This stunning fish has so many tiny, beautiful details that you can’t take it all in when you first look at it.
- Clown Triggerfish. Clown Triggerfish.
- Betta Fish.
- Lionfish.
- Butterflyfish.
- Angelfish.
- Seahorse.
What is the 2nd rarest fish?
2. The Sakhalin Sturgeon. Known Number: Between 10-30 Sakhalin Sturgeon spawn each year in the Tumnin River. Specific Characteristics and Facts: The Sakhalin Sturgeon fish were sold in Japanese fish markets as recently as the 1950s.
What two fish have no jaws?
There are two categories of jawless fish: hagfish and lampreys. Hagfish usually feed on dead or dying fish. These fish can be found around the tunnels they dig in muddy bottoms, in moderate depths and cold waters. Scientists only know of about 20 species of hagfish worldwide.