Is the whale shark bigger than blue whale?

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus), also known as the gentle giant of the ocean, is indeed one of the largest fish in the world.

However, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) holds the title for being the largest animal ever recorded.

So, blue whales are significantly larger than whale sharks.

1. Size: Blue whales can reach lengths of up to 100 feet (30.5 meters) and weigh up to 400,000 pounds (181,437 kilograms). In contrast, whale sharks typically reach lengths of around 40 feet (12.2 meters) and weigh up to 47,000 pounds (21,319 kilograms).

2. Mass: Blue whales are estimated to have a maximum mass of around 400,000 pounds (181,437 kilograms), while whale sharks have a maximum recorded weight of around 47,000 pounds (21,319 kilograms).

3. Feeding: Blue whales are filter feeders, using baleen plates to strain small organisms like krill and plankton from the water. Whale sharks are also filter feeders but have a unique feeding mechanism involving their large mouths, which can be up to 5 feet wide (1.5 meters) and contain several thousand small teeth.

4. Habitat: Blue whales are found in all major oceans, while whale sharks are found in warm tropical and subtropical waters.

In conclusion, blue whales are larger than whale sharks in terms of both length and weight. Blue whales are the undisputed champions in terms of size among all animals that inhabit the Earth.