Every diver want to see one and many dive shops flourish around its habitat. However, National Geographic reported that in 2003 scientists realized that the fish was actually a Mola alexandrini ocean sunfish. In 1934, a whale shark that rammed onto a ship in the south Pacific Ocean was estimated to be about 55 ft long. The basking shark has been labeled as a vulnerable species by the IUCN. ". Great White Shark. The populations of this species are widely distributed in the tropical and temperate oceans with larger populations living around the islands in the central Pacific Ocean. Although the manta ray has few predators in the water, humans are responsible for a steep decline in their population due to irresponsible fishing practices. The Masturus lanceolatus is a mola species that lives in the world’s tropical and temperate marine waters. One of the largest fish in the world, the Mekong giant catfish grows to 10 feet (3 meters). Despite their massive size, the fish are rarely a threat to humans. The fish is found in the oceanic waters of the Southern Hemisphere where it preys on salps. At a first superficial glance, given its size, the whale shark might seem a dangerous animal for humans, while we reiterate it is a completely harmless species. The most interesting aspect of this fish is that it looks like half of a fish. Giant Oarfish is the longest bony fish on Earth. The great white shark is the apex predator in its ecosystem but occasionally killer whales are known to kill these sharks. It can be found around the world, as it swims in arctic and temperate waters. While all these three species are cartilaginous fishes, the largest bony fish is the ocean sunfish, and it comes in at number six on our list of the world's biggest fish. Although they have few natural predators, they are subjected to great threats due to human activities like fishing. The fish is generally found in the tropical and subtropical marine waters but are absent in the East Pacific and the West Atlantic. Bycatch losses, vessel strikes, low multiplication rate are only some of the factors threatening the future survival of the species. Most shark-related attacks on humans are associated with this shark species since it lives in coastal areas where encounters with humans are more frequent. The whale shark is found in the warm tropical oceans’ open waters. The Great White Shark is not only one of the biggest fishes but also the most popular shark in the world. 5. It weighs 2.5 tons (4,000-7,000 pounds) and sometimes more. The great white shark can be found all around the world. The species is labeled as an endangered species by the IUCN. Native to the Mekong, it is critically endangered. Although many people credit the blue whale as the biggest fish in the world, it is the whale shark which actually qualifies for the title. The conservation status of the species is yet to be evaluated. Adults of this species weigh around 2.3 tons and can grow up to a maximum length of 10.8 ft. Due to their unique shape, the fish can attain a height equivalent to their length. The second biggest living fish in the world is the Basking Shark. Satellite tracking of whale sharks have reported two specimens to be anywhere between 49 ft and 59 ft long. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com. The biggest basking shark recorded was caught in a herring net in 1851. They feed on massive quantities of sea jelly. The fish can attain a length of about 11 ft and weigh as much as 2 tons. The third-largest fish on our list is generally 15 to 20 feet long. They are considered to be the heaviest bony fish. The Rhincodon typus, which can grow up to 41.5 ft and weigh as much as 21.5 tons, is the biggest fish species living today. By Deb Goncalves on September 1 2020 in Environment. Fish are a paraphyletic group that describes aquatic vertebrates while excluding tetrapods, and the bony fish that often represent the group are more closely related to cetaceans such as whales, than to the cartilaginous fish such as sharks and rays. This fish is quite popular with scuba divers and the food that they enjoy eating is mostly planktons. The whale shark or Rhincodon typus, the world's largest fish, is … The Mola alexandrini has a “prominent head shape, lending it the common name the ‘bump-headed sunfish,’” according to Live Science. These fish can live for up to 70 years. Whale Shark (12.65 meters /41.50 feet) – the largest fish in the world. It is also the largest extant non-mammalian vertebrate species of our planet. The sharptail mola feeds on a wide variety of species including annelids, sponges, fishes, etc. This migratory shark species is found throughout the temperate oceans of the world. 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