The vast ocean world, filled with countless species of animals, ignites our desire to explore. From ferocious to bizarre creatures with unique abilities, they increasingly capture human curiosity.
We are familiar with luminous fish, shrimp that can punch with immense force, and many other fascinating facts. Today, we will introduce you to something even more special: information about the largest fish species on the planet.
Blue Whale
Scientific Name: Balaenoptera musculus
Weight: 140,000 kg (Adult) Encyclopedia of Life
Life Span: 80 – 110 years
Gestation Period: 11 months Encyclopedia of Life
Diet: Carnivorous Encyclopedia of Life
Length: Female: 25 m (North Atlantic population, adult), Male: 24 m (North Atlantic population, adult)
As we know, the Blue Whale is the largest animal on Earth, making it number one on this list. They inhabit the Indian Ocean and the southern Pacific, with a massive average weight of around 90 tons. However, they are not intimidating despite their enormous size; Blue Whales are filter feeders, consuming up to 40 million krill in a single day.
Sperm Whale
Scientific Name: Physeter macrocephalus
Weight: 35,000 – 57,000 kg (Adult)
Length: 12 m (Adult) Encyclopedia of Life
Life Span: 70 years
Gestation Period: 16 months Encyclopedia of Life
Diet: Omnivorous Encyclopedia of Life
The Sperm Whale, scientifically known as Physeter macrocephalus, belongs to the cetacean order (mammals), and naturally, they are also large in size. Their main habitat is in deep waters over 1000 m and in non-polar regions, ranging from tropical to temperate seas. Unlike whales, Sperm Whales often include giant squid, octopus, and rays in their diet.
Sunfish
Scientific Name: Cetorhinus maximus
Weight: 2,200 kg (Adult) Encyclopedia of Life
Conservation Status: Near Threatened (Declining) Encyclopedia of Life
The Sunfish, also known as Cetorhinus maximus, is enormous in size. However, like the Blue Whale, they are filter feeders, consuming small fish and up to 2,000 tons of invertebrates every hour. They are relatively sedentary, living near the surface and often found along coastlines, which is why they are known as “Sunfish” based on their behavior.
Oarfish
Scientific Name: Regalecus glesne
Length: Average about 17 m
Weight: 270 kg
The Oarfish, also known as the King of Herrings, is a long and flat fish that lives in deep ocean waters, making it very difficult to spot. They feed on plankton and are not dangerous. Little is known about this mysterious creature, as they are usually discovered when dead or when surfacing due to storm pressure. In Japan, it is believed that the Oarfish can predict earthquakes, surfacing just before seismic activity occurs.
Sunfish (Mola Mola)
Scientific Name: Mola mola
Length: 1.8 m (Adult)
Weight: 1,000 kg (Adult)
Speed: 3.2 km/h (Maximum, Adult)
The Sunfish, also known as the Moonfish, has the scientific name Mola mola and is a large, colorful species found in deep waters, similar to the Oarfish. They are called “Sunfish” because they are often seen floating on the ocean surface. They primarily inhabit tropical waters but can occasionally be found in temperate and even polar regions during warmer months. Their diet mainly consists of plankton and seaweed.
Whale Shark
Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus
Weight: 19,000 kg (Adult) Encyclopedia of Life
Length: Approximately 9–11 m
The Whale Shark, scientifically known as Rhincodon typus, is the largest species of shark (cartilaginous fish). They primarily inhabit tropical or warm temperate waters and migrate to coastal areas like the Ningaloo Reef during spawning. Despite their massive size, they are harmless as their diet mainly consists of plankton, squids, and small vertebrates, exemplifying the notion that “sharks pose no threat to humans.”
