The megalodon, the largest shark ever lived, is believed to have lived 3.6 million years ago. Although it is now extinct, many other large sharks have sprung up after the megalodon. These include the whale shark, the largest fish in the world today. In the battle of old versus new, Megalodon vs Whale Shark, who will win?
That’s the question we’re going to answer today. We’ll examine these creatures and show you which of them has the best chance of surviving a battle with the other!
Comparing Megalodon and Whale Sharks
| Megalodon | whale shark | |
|---|---|---|
| size | Weight: 50 tons Length: Over 67 feet | Weight: 15-20 tons Length: 25ft-40ft |
| speed and movement type | – 11 mph – Heaving, side-to-side motion of body and tail for propulsion | – 10 mph |
| the senses | – Highly tuned sense of smell – Excellent visuals, especially in low-light environments – Hearing strong enough to hear splashing prey – Ampulla of Lorenzini helps detect living things. | – Lorenzini’s ampulla helps them locate other creatures through electric fields. – poor eyesight – great sense of smell |
| defense | – Huge size | – big body |
| offensive ability | – Jaws over 6.5 feet in diameter, possibly 9 feet – 250 teeth, each about 7 inches long – Bite force over 108,000N – High swimming speed | – 3,000 very small teeth – Will attack predators with its tail |
| predatory behavior | – Stealthy marauders who ambush their prey | – filter feeder like many whales |
What is the main difference between a megalodon and a whale shark?
The biggest difference between megalodon and whale sharks is their size and the shape of their heads. The megalodon is a huge shark weighing up to 50 tons and 9 feet in diameter with a triangular head containing 250 7-inch teeth. Whale sharks are very large, weighing up to 20 tons, with a large, flat head that when opened is almost as wide as the entire body and contains 3,000 tiny teeth used to filter food.
There is a big difference between a megalodon and a whale shark. We’ll have to examine these unique qualities and others to figure out how a battle between these animals will play out!
What is the key factor in the fight between the megalodon and the whale shark?
The biggest factor in the fight between the megalodon and the whale shark is similar to other fights. We have to consider size, combat power and defensive capabilities. We’ll study all of these traits and a few others to better understand how these creatures behave when they’re dying.
Assigning advantages to each animal will help us keep track of which animal has the advantage until the final analysis of their fights!
Megalodon vs Whale Shark: Size
The megalodon is much larger than the whale shark, weighing up to 50 tons and growing about 60 feet or more throughout its life cycle. Whale sharks are huge animals in their own right, weighing between 15 and 20 tons and reaching lengths of up to 40 feet!
In this case, the megalodon has a big advantage in size.
Megalodon vs Whale Shark: Speed and Movement
The megalodon can move at about 11 mph in the water by pushing its tail from side to side using undulating movements through the water. The whale shark has the same locomotion, but it only moves at 10 miles per hour.
The Megalodon has a speed advantage, but not by much.
Megalodon vs Whale Shark: The Senses
Both megalodon and whale sharks have great senses. The megalodon has a wonderful sense of smell, sight and hearing that help it identify splashing prey. The whale shark has many of the same senses, it just has poorer eyesight. Additionally, both organisms can use specialized organs that help them recognize electric fields around other fish.
The megalodon has slightly better senses because it has excellent eyesight.
Megalodon vs Whale Shark: Physical Defense
Most of the time, the megalodon relies on its relatively high speed and large size to stay safe. Leviathan is probably the only creature that can challenge it one-on-one. Whale sharks also use their size to scare off predators, which has to do with their defenses.
Megalodon has an advantage in physical defense.
Megalodon vs Whale Shark: Fighting Tips
When it comes to fighting, megalodons can be just as dangerous as great whites. The megalodon’s jaws are huge, up to 6.5 feet in diameter. They have 250 teeth to bite their enemies, many of which are 7 inches long! Their bite force is surprisingly high and they are fast enough to catch their prey!
Although whale sharks have 3000 teeth, they are very small and are used in the filter feeding process. Whale sharks are not aggressive stealthy predators. Their only real defense is hitting the enemy with their tail, which could kill them due to the sheer force of the blow.
Who would win in a battle between a megalodon and a whale shark?
The megalodon will decisively win the battle with the whale shark. This big fish has every reason to win and no reason to lose. Unlike the whale shark, it not only has size and speed advantages, but it is also a real killer.
Even if a whale shark knows it’s coming, it’s likely to expend more energy trying to shake off its jaws than trying to ram it with its tail. Megalodon and many other sharks tend to hunt by attacking the vital organs of the enemy’s chest.
The fight will begin with a stealth attack from below, with the megalodon delivering a huge, devastating bite to the whale’s chest. Just a few bites and the whale shark is in big trouble. Blood loss, organ damage, weight loss—these problems are too serious to overcome.
The megalodon will easily win the fight against the calm whale shark.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
