Sharks swimming in the ocean are beautiful but can have a ferocious reputation. The truth about some of the largest sharks in the world is that they are not all to be feared. Some of the largest sharks are quite friendly.
Aside from whales, sharks are some of the largest creatures lurking in the ocean. The largest shark in the ocean lends its name from the whale. The Whale Shark is the largest shark species in the water and can reach 40 feet in length on average with the largest recorded being 41 feet long. Besides being extremely large in length these sharks are actually quite friendly towards humans and do not have to be feared.
Another shark that is just about as large as the Whale Shark is the Basking Shark. These creatures get their name from basking in the warm sunlight near the surface of the water. The Basking Shark also reaches lengths of about 40 feet like the Whale Shark. Besides being about the same size these sharks share another similarity. Despite their intimidating size these large sharks are not aggressive toward humans, they are actually quite friendly. These sharks do not have the desire to eat humans and feed mostly on plankton.
A smaller but also benevolent shark toward humans is known as the Sleeper Shark. The species that should be in fear of the Sleeper Shark are giant squid. The sleeper shark feeds almost exclusively on these giant squid and would not prey on a human. Though the sleeper shark is smaller than the Whale and Basking Sharks it is not tiny. The Sleeper Shark can grow to over 20 feet in length and weigh 800 pounds.
The shark that does spark fear in most humans in the Great White Shark. Though this shark is not as large as the Whale or Basking Shark it is a ferocious shark that will feed on almost anything including sea birds and humans. This shark can reach lengths of over 20 feet and can weigh over 2,500 pounds. The female Great Whites are generally larger than the males.
Tiger Sharks are similar to Great Whites in that they also reach over 20 ft in length at maturity and are also known for their dangers to humans in the water. Tiger Sharks also eat almost anything and will attack a human for food in the water.