Great White Shark Size Comparison: Just How Big Do These Predators Get?

Great white sharks are one of the most feared predators of the ocean and with good reason. These massive sharks are responsible for the most fatal attacks on humans, many unprovoked. Due to their large size, powerful jaws, and razor-sharp teeth, there’s a slim chance of surviving their attack. But how do these sharks compare to other ocean predators? Below is a Great white shark size comparison. Discover just how big these predators get.

Great White Shark Size

While large Great white sharks can grow to a size of 20 feet, most are much smaller. For example, females generally measure between 15 to 16 feet, and males range from 11 to 13 feet. They are roughly triple the size of a male adult human. Additionally, these sharks can weigh around 4,500 pounds and live up to 70 years old.

How Big is a Great White Shark Compared to a Car?

A modern-day sedan measures around 15.7 feet long, while an SUV can measure approximately 18 feet long. Therefore, a Great white shark is significantly bigger than your average SUV as they grow to around 20 feet long.

How Big Are Great White Sharks When They Are Born?

It takes a long time before female Great white sharks reach sexual maturity, 33 years to be exact. However, male Great whites don’t have to wait quite as long, as they reach sexual maturity at 26 years old. Female Great white sharks incubate their eggs inside their bodies and give birth to live pups, usually around 2 to 17 individuals. These pups measure approximately 4 feet long at birth.

Along with sexually maturing later in life, Great whites also reproduce slowly, as females only give birth about every three years. As a result, these massive sharks are vulnerable. While they don’t have many natural predators, human threats continue to dwindle their population numbers through bycatches and cruelty like shark finning.

Largest Great White Shark Ever Recorded

A massive female shark named Deep Blue is believed to be the largest Great white shark ever recorded. However, no one has been able to measure her officially because she is always on the move, making it hard to get an accurate measurement. Therefore, estimates are based on videos and photographs. As a result, Deep Blue is believed to measure between 20 to 21 feet and weighs around 5,000 pounds.

Is a Great White Shark Bigger than a Killer Whale?

Great Whites occupy cool coastal waters all over the globe. Orcas also inhabit most oceans. However, they prefer colder waters, primarily surrounding Alaska, Antarctica, and Norway. But they also occur in subtropical regions. Killer whales are superior to Great whites in weight, size, intelligence, and speed. These massive dolphins grow between 20 to 26 feet and weigh approximately 8,000 to 12 000 pounds.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Alexyz3d/Shutterstock.com