Great white sharks captivate with their size and predatory prowess. Their maximum dimensions often spark questions. Understanding the biggest great white shark ever recorded involves distinguishing between verified facts and popular tales, and various measurement methods. This article explores known facts and the challenges in definitively answering this question.
Understanding “Biggest”
The term “biggest” for great white sharks primarily refers to length and weight. A shark might be the longest but not the heaviest, or vice versa, due to body condition and age. Measurements differ depending on whether the shark is alive, free-swimming, caught, or measured posthumously. Scientifically confirmed measurements, often under controlled conditions, provide a more reliable benchmark than anecdotal sightings.
Confirmed Record Holders
Female great white sharks are larger than males, with mature females typically measuring 4.6 to 4.9 meters (15 to 16 feet). Some of the largest verified females can reach 6.1 meters (20 feet) and weigh an estimated 1,905 kilograms (4,200 pounds). The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recognizes a great white caught by Alf Dean in Australian waters in 1959 as the heaviest on record, weighing 1,208 kilograms (2,663 pounds). This shark was approximately 17 feet long.
A well-documented specimen is a female from Ledge Point, Western Australia, reliably measured at 6.0 meters (19.7 feet) in 1987 by expert J. E. Randall. In 1988, the Canadian Shark Research Centre confirmed a female caught off Prince Edward Island to be 6.1 meters (20 feet). “Deep Blue,” a female great white shark estimated around 6.1 meters (20 feet) long and potentially over 50 years old, gained widespread attention after being filmed near Guadalupe Island, Mexico. While her exact size has not been directly measured, estimations place her weight at over 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds).
Unverified Accounts and Legends
Beyond confirmed records, numerous stories and claims of exceptionally large great white sharks circulate. These accounts often describe sharks larger than verified maximums, but typically lack definitive proof or were later re-evaluated. For instance, a specimen caught off Cuba in 1945 was initially alleged to be 6.4 meters (21 feet) long and weigh over 3,175 kilograms (7,000 pounds), but later studies indicated it was closer to 4.9 meters (16 feet).
The “Malta Shark,” reportedly caught by Alfredo Cutajar in 1987 near the Blue Grotto, is another such legend, described as over 7 meters (23 feet) long and weighing more than 3 tons. Historical records from Malta also speak of a “silfjun,” a whale-sized shark, dating back to the 16th century. A great white shark reportedly trapped in a herring weir in New Brunswick, Canada, in the 1930s was widely claimed to be 11.3 meters (37 feet) long and even listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, this shark was later identified as a misidentified basking shark, a filter-feeding species with a similar body shape but known to reach larger sizes.
The Difficulty of Measurement
Accurately measuring great white sharks, particularly in their natural habitat, presents challenges. Their elusive nature and dangers of close proximity make precise measurements of free-swimming animals difficult. Researchers sometimes use methods like comparing a shark’s size to a known reference point, such as a 3.3-meter (10.8-foot) cage during cage-diving expeditions, to estimate length. Even with these techniques, variations in angles and the shark’s movement can introduce inaccuracies.
Measuring caught or deceased sharks also has limitations. Handling large, heavy specimens can lead to measurement errors, and decomposition can affect weight. Early measurement techniques were often less rigorous, contributing to exaggerated claims. Ethical considerations of interfering with these protected animals further restrict opportunities for direct measurement in the wild. While visual estimations are commonly used, they may not always be perfectly accurate, highlighting why definitive answers about the largest great white remain elusive.