What is the largest shark species in the world?

The largest shark species in the world is the whale shark, Rhincodon typus. It is also the largest known living fish and the largest living animal that is not a cetacean, meaning a whale, dolphin, or porpoise.

Despite its enormous size, the whale shark is generally a gentle filter feeder. It swims with its mouth open, filtering plankton, krill, fish eggs, and small fish from seawater through specialized gill structures. Unlike predatory sharks such as great whites and tiger sharks, it does not rely on large prey or a powerful hunting bite.

Reliable size records are difficult because the largest animals are rarely measured precisely. Scientific estimates commonly place mature whale sharks around 12 metres or more, while larger historical reports are debated. Females generally grow larger than males, and the species’ growth rate and maximum size remain active research topics.

The name can cause confusion: a whale shark is not a whale. It is a cartilaginous fish, related to other sharks and rays, and its “whale” name refers to its whale-like scale and filter-feeding lifestyle.