Size

Sharks vary in size dramatically. The smallest shark is the spined pygmy shark, which is less than 10 inches long as an adult. The largest shark is the whale shark, which spans more than 45 feet in length.

Considerations

There are 360 types of shark, each with its own unique characteristics. The Mako shark averages 5 to 8 feet in length, while the tiger shark can grow up to 20 feet long, with the average tiger shark measuring 10 feet long.

History

The largest shark in history was the prehistoric megalodon shark, which lived between 16 million and 1.6 million years ago. It is believed to have been between 40 and 100 feet long, with a weight of up to 60 tons.

Types

Home aquarium sharks are much smaller than their wild cousins and grow to be less than a foot long. Types of aquarium sharks include red tail sharks, rainbow sharks, torpedo sharks, silver sharks and blacktip sharks.

Misconceptions

A shark's size has nothing to do with how dangerous it is. The Mako shark is much smaller than the whale shark, but it is also a dangerous carnivore. The whale shark, on the other hand, eats mainly plankton and larger sea plants.

Source:

Shark School: FAQs

Enchanted Learning: Sharks

Enchanted Learning: Short Finned Mako Shark

Resource:

Enchanted Learning: Tiger Shark

Jawshark: Prehistoric Megalodon Shark

Thinkquest: Sharks