Ever wondered which fish are the largest in the world? The fish is defined as a member of the Chordata type and the Vertebrata subtype. There are about 34,000 fish species in the world, and scientists are discovering new species every day. Although most fish are cold-blooded, there is at least one warm-blooded fish species. To compile this list, we only looked at the total body length of fish that live today. In compiling this list, only verified measurements carried out by a reputable organization were taken.
No. 11. Largest Fish: Southern Sunfish – 9ft
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest southern sunfish, also called pine cone sunfish, was 8 feet 11 inches long. Caught off the coast of Japan, this fish holds the record for the heaviest bony fish at 5,070 pounds. Southern sunfish can be found throughout the Southern Hemisphere, especially Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and South Africa. Southern sunfish have a unique habit of side-bathing in shallow waters. Scientists believe this habit encourages seabirds to eat parasites, which often invade their skin to keep them healthier.
No. 10. Largest Fish: Ocean Sunfish – 10’11 ”
The largest oceanic sunfish is 14 feet long and 10 feet wide. These fish live in tropical and temperate waters around the world, where they feed on small fish, fish larvae, squid and crustaceans. Ocean sunfish are unique in that they have a beak-like structure instead of a mouth. The beak cannot be completely closed. These fish do not know how to swim where they intend. The largest reported case was caught off the coast of Japan.
No. 9. Largest Fish: Reef Manta Ray – 18ft
The largest reef manta ray was 18 feet long, and these fish usually grow up to 16 feet. They are found in the subtropical parts of the Indo-Pacific region, but they have been observed in various locations in the Western Atlantic and the eastern Pacific. These rays have unique head fins at the front of their bodies that they can roll up when they want to swim, or turn around to help move water containing food into their mouth.
Learn more about mantas.
No. 8. Largest Fish: Tiger Shark – 18ft
A team of researchers recorded a video of an 18-foot tiger shark off the coast of French Polynesia. Even larger tiger sharks have been reportedly caught, but none have been confirmed. Tiger sharks are the second most aggressive shark in the ocean. This shark usually lives around the equator, but has been seen in the waters off the coast of Japan and New Zealand. During the day they stay closer to the coast, and at night they swim to greater depths. Tiger sharks are opportunistic and eat pretty much anything.
Learn more about tiger sharks.
# 7. Largest fish: Kaluga – 18.25 feet
Kaluga is a sturgeon fish that lives most of its life in the Amur River, located between China and Russia. These fish, which can grow up to 18.25 feet in length, are very aggressive. There are unconfirmed reports that they overturned boats and tried to harm anglers. They spend part of their lives living near freshwater gravel beds and spend part of their lives in salt water. These fish are unique in that they can move part of the mouth towards the face to catch fish. Overfishing of their eggs has almost led to the extinction of this fish.
No. 6. Largest Fish: Giant Ocean Manta Ray – 20.3 ft
The largest giant manta ray in the ocean was 20.3 feet long, according to researchers at Duke University. Typically, the largest of these are found near Ecuador, but this manta ray can be found in warm waters around the world. Their reproduction rate is much slower than that of most other fish. Females weigh much more than males. The heaviest giant ocean manta ray ever recorded weighed over 5,998 pounds. Although manta rays were thought to have migrated long distances, researchers at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in San Diego, California, found that manta rays like to stay at home. People living off the coast of Indonesia often traveled less than 149 miles a year, while those living off the coast of Mexico traveled about 373 miles.
No. 5. Largest Fish: Greenland Shark – 23ft
The Greenland shark can grow up to 23 feet in length. It has the longest life span of any known living vertebra. This fish can live for over 500 years, and scientists believe it does not reach sexual maturity until it is 150 years old. This shark actively hunts seals off the coast of Canada, but usually eats other fish and often catches its prey in its sleep. A large bu
cc
al cavity allows him to suck prey into his mouth, where he often swallows it whole.
Learn more about Greenland sharks
No. 4. Largest Fish: Great White Shark – 23.3 ft
Two Great White Sharks over 23.3 feet in length were caught, one of which was caught in Malta and the other off Kangaroo Island in Australia. Usually, great white sharks feed on larger marine animals and may only need one large meal per month. These sharks are unique because they have a capillary network between their swimming muscles. By constantly swimming, they can use this net to raise their body temperature above the ambient temperature. These sharks, which are found all over the world, migrate frequently. Although great white sharks often migrate over shorter distances, such as between Mexico and Hawaii, great white sharks in South Africa migrated over 675 miles to Australia. Scientists still don’t understand why they migrate.
Learn more about great white sharks.
Number 3. Largest fish: Beluga sturgeon 23.5 feet
Belugas up to 23.5 feet long were caught. It feeds mainly on other fish and is one of the largest marine predators. If he cannot get enough fish, he will eat baby seals and waterfowl. This species lives mainly in the Caspian and Black Seas, but swims in fresh water for spawning. The female beluga is about 20% larger than the male. Their numbers have declined significantly due to overfishing and poaching due to their caviar, which is more often called beluga caviar.
Learn more about beluga sturgeon.
# 2. Largest Fish: Swimming Shark – 32ft
The largest fish ever recorded was 32 feet long, according to researchers at Duke University. Although they are mainly found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, they have been found in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, as well as in the Indian Ocean. They live close to the coast, where they feed on planktonic crustaceans during the warmer months, but migrate further out to sea when temperatures begin to drop. Swimming sharks are filter feeders that can open their mouths up to 6.5 feet wide.
Learn more about giant sharks.
# 1. Largest fish: Whale shark – 61.7 feet
The largest whale shark in the world is 61.7 feet long, according to the Georgia Aquarium. These sharks are filter feeders, despite the fact that they have more than 300 small teeth in the lower and upper mouth openings. They live in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Although whale sharks often weigh over 41,000 pounds, they can only eat zooplankton like fish eggs and krill because they have a very tiny throat. The mouth of a whale shark can be up to 4 feet wide. Newborn whale sharks are usually around 23 inches long. In addition to being the largest fish, they also have one of the longest life spans because they often live 130 years.
Learn more about whale sharks.
Next: Jumping Spiders: 5 Incredible Facts!