The blue whale, a marine mammal, and the extinct megalodon, a prehistoric shark, are often compared due to their immense sizes. Both were among the largest animals to inhabit Earth’s oceans, leading to natural questions about which was truly bigger. Examining their estimated dimensions clarifies their remarkable scale.
Understanding Blue Whale Scale
Blue whales are the largest animals known to have ever existed. An adult blue whale can reach a maximum confirmed length of 29.9 to 30.5 meters (98 to 100 feet) and weigh up to 190 to 200 tonnes (210 to 220 short tons). Some reports suggest lengths of up to 33 meters (108 feet) and weights exceeding 250 tonnes.
The heart of a blue whale can weigh up to 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds), comparable in size to a small car. Their tongue is also massive, weighing up to 4 tonnes (8,800 pounds), more than an African bush elephant. This immense size allows blue whales to consume up to 4 tonnes of krill daily during feeding seasons.
Estimating Megalodon’s Grandeur
The megalodon was an ancient shark, with its estimated size primarily derived from fossil evidence, particularly its large teeth. Since sharks have cartilaginous skeletons that do not readily fossilize, scientists rely on the statistical relationship between tooth size and the body length of modern sharks to extrapolate the megalodon’s dimensions.
Current scientific estimates for the megalodon’s maximum length range from 15 to 20.3 meters (49 to 67 feet). While some historical estimates were higher, modern techniques have refined these figures. Based on these lengths, the megalodon’s body mass is estimated to have ranged from 30 to 65 metric tons (66,000 to 143,000 pounds), with some studies suggesting a maximum of 94 tonnes (103 tons) for larger specimens. These are estimates, as complete megalodon skeletons have not been discovered.
The Ultimate Size Showdown
When comparing the two, the blue whale significantly surpasses the megalodon in overall size. Blue whales can reach lengths of up to 30.5 meters (100 feet) and weigh over 200 tonnes (220 short tons). In contrast, the largest megalodon estimates place its length at around 20.3 meters (67 feet) and its weight up to 94 tonnes (103 tons).
A blue whale can be about 10 meters (33 feet) longer and more than double the weight of even the largest estimated megalodon. While the megalodon was an impressive apex predator of its time, its size did not rival that of the modern blue whale.