TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The ocean is full of mysteries, and among its most awe-inspiring inhabitants are the largest fish in the world. From filter-feeding sharks to oddly shaped sunfish and majestic rays, these gentle giants roam the depths—some growing nearly as big as a school bus.
List of the Biggest Fish in the World
Both World Atlas and HowStuffWorks have listed the biggest fish in the world, and Whale Shark sits at the very top. Other gigantic fish worth-knowing include:
1. Whale Shark
Taking the top spot, whale shark is widely regarded as the world’s biggest fish. This massive fish can grow up to 60 feet in length with an average weight of 19.8 to 23.2 tons.
Though gigantic, whale sharks are filter feeders and pose no threat to humans. They roam across tropical waters for where they eat plankton, and can live for up to 70 years.
2. Basking Shark
Coming second is another filter-feeding shark, basking shark. Growing up to 40 feet in length and 19 tons in weight, they generally swim near the surface with their mouths open to filter preferred prey.
As one of the few species that lives in temperate latitude, scientists have discovered that male and female basking sharks live in different places and meet only when mating. Today, basking sharks are entitled as vulnerable to extinction.
3. Great White Shark
With another level of fearsome reputation, the great white shark is often the center idea of famous movies like Jaws. As one of the largest predatory fish on the planet, the great white shark can grow to around 20 feet in length.
They swim throughout most of the world’s oceans, typically favoring cooler coastal waters, and can reach speeds of over 60 km per hour. The great white shark has around 300 sharp, triangular teeth, perfectly suited for hunting fish, rays, and marine mammals as it grows older and larger.
4. Tiger Shark
Growing to up to 18 feet, the tiger shark is one of the biggest fish in the world. As the name suggests, this type of shark has tiger-like, vertical bars covering the side of its body.
Swimming in tropical and subtropical waters, tiger sharks are cited among aggressive predators, preying on anything they find or capture. They prey on fish, seabirds, turtles, smaller sharks, or even scavenged dead animals.
5. Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
Giant oceanic manta ray is the world’s largest ray, reaching lengths up to 23 feet and weight of around 3 tons. They live in the tropical and subtropical oceans, gliding with their mouths open to filter tiny plankton. As giant oceanic manta rays are known to give birth only once every two to three years, have a wide range, and are sparsely distributed, little is known about their growth and development.
6. Ocean Sunfish
The Mola Mola, or ocean sunfish, has a uniquely bewildering shape. It is the closest relative to pufferfish and triggerfish, weighing over 2.5 tons and growing up to 10 feet in length.
Ocean sunfish typically swim at depths of 160 to 650 feet but often come near the surface to sunbathe and warm their bodies. Despite their strange appearance and massive size, their diet consists of non-human prey like jellyfish and salps.
7. Sharptail Mola
Sharptail mola is one of the six species of oceanic fish of the Molidae family. With a flattened, oval shape, they can grow up to 11 feet long and weigh as much as 2 tons. Swimming throughout the world’s temperate and tropical regions, sharptail mola primarily resides in the epipelagic zone yet rarely sighted. As to why there is less to minimal information about them to be acknowledged.
8. Hoodwinker Sunfish
First discovered in 2017, hoodwinker sunfish is one of the newest molas to be found after over 130 years. Its latin name ‘tecta’ means hidden or disguised, highlighting the elusive nature of its long-awaited discovery.
Hoodwinkers can grow to more than 9,8 feet in length and weigh up to 2,2 tons. They are primarily found in the temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere, near Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and southern Chile.
9. Beluga Sturgeon
An endangered species, the beluga sturgeon has existed for over 200 million years. Inhabiting the Black, Caspian, and Adriatic Seas, this living fossil has dinosaur-like body sizing of more than 200 feet long and 1,5 tons weigh. Beyond its endangered status, the beluga sturgeon is heavily targeted by humans for its eggs, which are made into beluga caviar—one of the most expensive ingredients in the world.
10. Reef Manta Ray
Feeding on plankton and small bony fish, reef manta ray is one of the biggest fish in the world. It can grow up to 16.4 feet in length and weigh as much as 1.5 tons. Reef manta rays are commonly found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, except for the eastern Pacific. Known for their graceful appearance, they attract tourists who are eager to see them in the wild.
From the mysterious depths to sunlit coastal waters, these biggest fish in the world remind us just how vast and awe-inspiring our oceans truly are. For a similar discovery, let’s take a look at the deadliest tiny animals.
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