When we hear the word “shark” the image of a giant ocean creature automatically strikes our thoughts. In this article, we are focusing on the most enormous creatures of the ocean – The Baking sharks and The Whale sharks. Well, both species are somehow related to each other like both are filter feeders, both live deep in the oceans, and are known to be non-aggressive species of sharks. Despite their resemblance, these species also differ from each other in several ways. In this article, we are going to elaborate on the different facts which make them different from each other.
Basking Shark Vs Whale Shark
Both Basking sharks and Whale sharks belong to Class Chondrichtytes and are the biggest species of sharks but the two species differ from each other in many ways which are given below:
| Parameters | Basking sharks | Whale sharks |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | named as Cetorhinus maximus | called as Rhincodon typus |
| Family | belongs to Cetorhinidae | Belongs to Rhincodontidae |
| Genus | Cetorhinus | Rhincodon |
| Habitat | widely distributed in the temperate waters | wide in range in the warm tropical zones |
| Colour | Greyish to brownish skin with mottled | Dark grey with spots |
| Head Shape | stereotypical shape of head | flatter in shape head |
| Teeth | Roughly 1,500 small and curved teeth. | 300 rows of small teeth in each jaw |
| Length | Up to 30 feet | Up to 59 feet |
| Weight | Normally 10,000 pounds | About 43000 pounds or 21.5 tonnes |
| Swim Speed | 2.5- 4 mph | 3 mph |
| Diet | Zooplankton are favorite | Small invertebrates are favorite |
| Gestation Period | About 2 to 3 years | About 11 to 12 months |
| Pups | Give birth to 6 pups | Give birth to 300 young pups |
| Lifespan | around 50 years | nearly 130 years |
| Conservational Status | Vulnerable | Endangered |
Conclusion
Basking sharks and Whale sharks are not nasty predators both of them prefer to live without bothering their environment. Both are filter feeders and vicious hunters. But despite their similarities, these species differ from each other in many ways. We attempted to highlight the key difference between them so that you will better understand the two giant creatures of the ocean.
