Do you like to go swimming in the ocean? If you’ve ever seen a scary movie like Jaws, you may be a little bit nervous about what sea creatures might be lurking below the surface. Could a huge, man-eating shark be waiting out there just beyond the breaking waves?
The good news is that the answer is…probably not! Sure, you hear about shark attacks from time to time, but they’re actually a really rare event. At most beaches around the world, the probability of fun hovers around 100%, and the chance of a shark attack hovers just above 0%.
Sharks have fascinated kids and adults alike for many years. These fearsome ocean predators move through the water with amazing speed. Their razor-sharp teeth can strike fear into the hearts of anyone who sees them up close.
If you’ve seen enough movies or television shows about sharks, you might be under the impression that all sharks are humongous. That’s not really true. There are many different types of sharks and some of them aren’t very big at all.
But, of course, there are some giant sharks, too. And that’s what today’s Wonder of the Day is all about. So exactly how big is the largest shark?
The answer depends upon whether you’re talking about the largest shark alive today or the largest shark to have ever lived on Earth. Those are two different sharks of different sizes.
The largest shark to have ever lived on Earth is thought by scientists to have been the megalodon. Its name comes from the Greek words meaning “big tooth.” The megalodon is an extinct species of shark that roamed the waters of Earth over 1.5 million years ago.
Not only was it the largest shark to have ever lived on Earth, scientists believe it’s probably one of the biggest, most powerful predators of all time. Megalodon fossils have been found that lead scientists to believe the giant shark could have reached a total length of over 50 feet with a body mass of over 50 tons!
Today, the largest shark roaming the oceans is the huge whale shark. Unlike the megalodon, whale sharks are not predators. Instead, they’re slow-swimming giants that eat mainly plants and plankton.
Although not the size of the megalodon, whale sharks are still really big. They can grow to be over 40 feet long and weigh over 15 tons, which makes them the largest fish in the world. They are gentle creatures that will often allow swimmers to catch a ride with them as they swim along coral reefs.
(38 votes, avg. 4.13 out of 5) 
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That is really interesting! I like today’s wonder. I have never heard of the Megalodon, but that sounded really big and powerful. I have seen pictures of whale sharks, and they are huge. Thank you for today’s wonder! it was great.
Are you trying to get up to a thousand wonders? 
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That video was so awesome! Very cool.
Thanks so much, Berkleigh! We are glad that you learned something new about sharks, and even added Megalodon to your vocabulary!
White sharks are fascinating– we were surprised to learn that they eat plants and plankton! Hooray for WONDERing! We can’t wait to reach 1,000 Wonders– we hope to see you soon!
I wonder how fast a Megalodon swam.
What a SUPER Wonder, Tyler! We are glad you shared your comment with us– those prehistoric creatures are very cool to learn about!
I’m really interested in sharks I hope there are more wonders in the future about sharks!
That’s WONDERful news, The Great Wonder Shark! Thanks for sharing your comment and WONDERing with us! HOORAY!
I loved today’s wonder of the day. The video was awesome too. I think my favorite shark is the whale shark like they showed on the video. But, I still think I am going to stay away from sharks!
Hi there, Emily! We’re so glad you enjoyed our shark Wonder! We hope you keep WONDERing… but we agree with you: keep your distance from sharks!
Wow that was impressive!
Sincerely, Danielle
Danielle, we are so glad you’ve been WONDERing with us all day! HOORAY for great Wonder Friends like you! Thanks for sharing your comment and WONDERing about those large, incredible sharks!
Have you ever heard of the mega great white shark? It is extinct but… it was over 60 feet long.
WOW, thanks for filling us in, Braxton! We’re happy that you’ve been WONDERing on your own about the great white sharks of the past! We think it would be incredible to see that shark in person! YOWZA!
Hello wonderopolis I think today’s wonder was spectacular. My mom is always terrified of sharks and won’t go in the ocean because of sharks; she says it’s because of the movie Jaws so when I showed her your video she totally freaked out. I said that they’re actually harmless, but when I showed her a megladon she just walked out of the room. This wonder made my top ten favorite wonders.
Thanks for letting us know how much you enjoyed our shark Wonder, Colin! We bet it’s a lot of fun to share this Wonder with others, but we all have fears of our own (just like your mom). Thanks for telling us where this Wonder ranks in your top ten list– HOORAY!
Cool, I want to ride on a whale shark!!!!!
Sounds like fun!
We bet that would be one wild ride, Wonder Friend! We Wonder what your favorite part of our Wonder was?
What a great wonder! We loved learning about the whale shark!
HOORAY, we’re so glad our Wonder Friends from Room 16 are WONDERing with us today! Thanks for sharing your comment! We Wonder what your favorite new fact about the whale shark is?
That is a cool video.
Thanks so much, Kailey! We’re glad you enjoyed our Wonder video! Have a SUPER day!
Did you Delete “Your Mother’s” comment for use of mild language?
Hi there, Wonder Friend. We appreciate all comments on Wonderopolis, but we are a safe place filled with learning, Wonder and positive words. We hope you’ll comment again on our Wonder with what you’ve learned or enjoyed! Thanks for sharing your comment- we value your opinion!
Isn’t it cool how megalodons are 50 feet long and can weigh over 50 tons? I could imagine how scary it would be to see a megalodon up close one million years ago. I don’t understand why people are afraid of sharks when there is a greater chance of a coconut falling on your head.
Resurrection School Brantford
We’re so happy that you enjoyed our shark Wonder today, Resurrection School! The magalodon is one LARGE shark!
Thanks for WONDERing with us today, and keep up the great work!
I learned a lot about the two different sharks, the Megalodon shark and the Whale shark. The Megalodon used to be the largest shark in the whole world til it became extinct.
We’re glad to hear it, Ashlyn! Thanks for WONDERing about the world under the sea today!
ME AND MY friends in my class loved this video!
That’s SUPER news, Shyaunna! What a great way to Wonder together– we’re glad you all enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your comment!
COOL I thought shark attacks happen a lot now we don’t have to worry about sharks.
GREAT POST!
Hi there, Michael, thanks for WONDERing about sharks with us today! Sharks don’t really like humans, and they don’t care to deal with humans, unless they feel threatened or provoked. Thanks for sharing your comment, Wonder Friend!
That was so cool. But I thought that it was kind of weird. My sister is deadly afraid of sharks so she wouldn’t read it or watch the video. I love sharks though so I thought it was cool.
Hey there, Cassidy! Thanks for WONDERing with us about sharks! It’s okay if your sister isn’t too fond of sharks– we all have things that frighten us! However, we’re very glad you liked the Wonder video and you learned a new thing or two! COOL!
I cannot belive even if the great white shark is the 2nd biggest shark it is not that aggressive as the bull shark. I wonder why is that. Where do bull shark breed?
Hi there, Joseph! We’re so happy you’ve been doing even MORE research about sharks! Way to go! Keep WONDERing on your own, Joseph!
First of all I love sharks!! So when I saw the wonder what is the largest shark I knew the answer!!
But I didn’t know that the whale shark weighs over 50 tons!! Also I didn’t know that the whale shark can grow about 50 feet!!
This wonder was awesome!!
Hi there, Cate, we’re thrilled to know that this Wonder made you smile! Sharks are very interesting subjects to Wonder about… especially because they can grow to be so large! Thanks for sharing what you have learned today– we sure hope to Wonder with you again!
The megaloden is huge! That is really huge! I wonder if another shark will be the biggest.
Great question, Rebecca! We’ll have to keep WONDERing about new breeds of sharks… perhaps there will be an even larger shark in the future! Thanks for visiting us today!
Hi Wonderopolis I always thought the great white shark was the biggest but it is that is. Did you guys see any other vicious sharks?
Hey there, Gregory! We’re so glad you learned something new with us today! HOORAY! We didn’t see any other sharks, Gregory, but we were in their territory!
Dear wonderopolis,
My favorite shark is the great white shark, what’s your favorite shark?
Hey there, Phillip! Thanks for sharing your comment about sharks today! We LOVED WONDERing about the megalodon, or “big tooth” as we call it here at Wonderopolis. Even though the megalodon is no longer around, we are glad fossils exist to help us learn about that giant shark!
Cool I love sharks I wonder how sharks lose their teeth???????
Hey there, Wonder Friend! Thanks for sharing your comment about sharks– keep up the WONDERing! We’d love to hear what you find about sharks and their teeth! We Wonder if there is a shark tooth fairy?
The largest shark in the world is the whale shark it lives in the Atlantic ocean and the Pacific ocean. The whale shark only eats frail it doesn’t eat meat like other sharks. Frail is little tiny fish that live in the sea.
Way to go, Daniel, you did a spectacular job of sharing what you know about sharks! Thanks for describing their habitat, eating habits and size! Way to go, Wonder Friend!
The largest shark alive is the great white shark or the whale shark. The biggest shark that is dead is a megalodon.
Way to go, Wonder Friend Chayce! You did a fantastic job summarizing all that you have learned about sharks! NICE WORK!
I used to think that sharks would try to devour me but now I know that as long as you don’t mess with them they won’t hurt you.
Sharks, as well as other mammals and animals, usually don’t want to hurt humans. However, if they feel threatened, they may attack in order to protect themselves. Like you mentioned, we should leave sharks alone!
Man I am glad that not all sharks are preditors because I would not ever go swimming in the ocean but now I can.
We’re so happy to hear that you learned something new about sharks today, Mayce! We are glad to hear that you’ll be enjoying the ocean from now on! Thanks for WONDERing with us!
VERY COOL!!!! I learned something new… ” great whites AREN’T the biggest.”
Sweet, Ryan! We are so glad you learned all about different types of sharks! We wish we could see the megalodon in person, but we bet if we visit an aquarium or field museum, we can learn even more about the sharks’ ancestors!
How is there a whale shark?
The whale shark is the largest shark and fish that exists in our world today, Sam! And, boy, are they large! The whale shark is not a whale, but it has features that resemble a whale.
I loved this wonder! I have to say sharks are my favorite animal. I did know about Megladons because I have studied them but I don’t know why they are extinct so maybe you can answer my question to that?
Annie 402, we are so glad you have been visiting multiple Wonders with us! HOORAY! Scientists are still trying to uncover what happened to the megalodon, as many changes to Earth happened while they were living. Keep up the WONDERing, Annie!