The basking shark and megalodon shark are two of the largest shark species to swim in our planet’s waters. Although both these sharks are enormous, they are quite different. One still swims in our waters, while the other went extinct a few million years ago. We compare these two giants in size, behavior, diet, and more.
Comparing Basking Sharks and Megalodon Sharks
| Basking Shark | Megalodon Shark | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cetorhinus maximus | Otodus megalodon |
| Time Period | 35 million years ago – present | 23 – 3.6 million years ago |
| Length | Up to 36 feet | Up to 58 feet |
| Weight | Up to 4.5 tons | Up to 65 tons |
| Diet | Plankton | Fish, whales, and seals |
| Teeth | Tiny, hook-like, non-functional | Up to seven inches long, triangular, with serrated edges |
| Predators | Humans, orcas | Other predatory sharks may have preyed on young. |
Key Differences Between a Basking Shark and a Megalodon Shark
Basking sharks and megalodon sharks are some of the largest species of sharks that have ever existed. Fossil records indicate that the ancestors of the basking shark lived 35 million years ago, while the megalodon shark lived 23 to 3.6 million years ago. However, despite both evolving several million years ago, there are some notable differences between them, including size and diet. Let’s take a closer look.
Basking Sharks vs. Megalodon Sharks: Size
Basking sharks are one of the largest marine animals in the ocean today, growing up to 36 feet long. These sharks are also known to weigh up to 4.5 tons. Due to their size and weight, when a basking shark carcass washes up on shore, many people have mistaken it for a mythical sea creature.
Marine biologists estimate that megalodon sharks reached about 33.5 feet, with the largest achieving sizes of 58 feet long. Even more remarkable is that a small number of these creatures grew to 82 feet in length. Also, research estimates that the megalodon weighed between a massive 30 and 65 metric tons. Interestingly, female megalodon sharks were longer and heavier than their male counterparts.
There’s also a slight difference between the length of juveniles. Both species give birth to live young, with basking sharks giving birth to pups that are around five feet long after a gestation period of two to three years. Juvenile megalodons were a little longer, with fossils suggesting that they were around 6.5 feet long.
Basking Sharks vs. Megalodon Sharks: Behavior
Basking sharks are calm creatures and spend much of the summer season at the ocean’s surface, slowly swimming around. The shark’s name comes from their behavior as they appear to “bask” in the warm sun at the water’s surface.
These sharks generally move and live alone. However, they may occasionally swim with other basking sharks of the same sex. Still, only a handful of basking sharks tend to form a shoal.
Megalodon sharks were the opposite, being terrifying apex predators. Their size, enormous bite force, and strength made them ferocious hunters. Because of these impressive characteristics, they could hunt what they wanted, when they wanted, without fear.
Basking Sharks vs. Megalodon Sharks: Location
Basking sharks often live in coastal waters.
©Martin Prochazkacz/Shutterstock.com
Basking sharks are migratory animals. You can find this species basking in the British coastal waters, enjoying the summer sun between May and October. However, during the winter months, they migrate toward the warmer waters off the coast of North Africa. Although most basking sharks are migratory animals, some choose to stay in British and Irish waters all year round.
The megalodon sharks, unlike basking sharks, lived in almost every part of the ocean. They moved freely through the vast waters, only avoiding the colder North and South Poles. Besides, young megalodon sharks seem to have preferred living near coastal areas, while adults liked the open ocean spaces. Marine biologists have also identified many megalodon shark fossils near Denmark and New Zealand.
Basking Sharks vs. Megalodon Sharks: Diet
Basking sharks are among several species of sharks that are plankton feeders. When feeding, basking sharks swim with their mouths open to filter plankton. These animals also filter small crustaceans through their long, thin gill rakers. The water then exits through their gills while the food heads towards their bellies.
In comparison, megalodon sharks were the largest predators in the oceans during their time, which gave them access to a wide range of food. Megalodons would have eaten a wide variety of large prey, including whales and other sharks. It’s impossible to know exactly what their preferred hunting method was, but it’s easy to assume that they would have attacked with a large, powerful bite.
Basking Sharks vs. Megalodon Sharks: Teeth
Megalodons had huge, triangular-shaped teeth.
©Mulevich/Shutterstock.com
One of the biggest differences between these two species of sharks is their teeth. As we mentioned earlier, basking sharks are filter feeders. As a result, they have non-functional teeth. These teeth are tiny and look like small hooks, but they serve no purpose as the sharks don’t use them for catching prey.
In comparison, megalodons had huge teeth which were the largest of any shark species in the world, being up to seven inches long. The teeth were triangular in shape and had small serrations on them, making them perfect for biting and tearing flesh.
Also, megalodon sharks had one of the most impressive bites ever known to science. Their jaws were estimated to generate a bite force of 40,000 pounds per square inch.
Basking Sharks vs. Megalodon Sharks: Predators
Basking sharks are fortunate because they don’t have many predators. Historically, basking sharks were hunted extensively by humans, and they are also preyed on by orcas.
Due to their large size and fierce nature, adult megalodons likely had no predators. However, other large sharks may have preyed on juveniles.
