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Giant manta ray vs Great white shark

Giant manta ray vs great white shark
Giant manta ray is larger on weight
Giant manta ray is somewhat greater than great white shark on weight — about 1.4×.

A giant manta ray and a great white shark can be compared on 2 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

Side by side

Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.
Giant manta ray Great white shark
Weight 1,000–2,000 kg 520–2,000 kg
Typical lifespan 40–50 yr 50–73 yr

What the numbers say

  • Giant manta ray is somewhat greater than great white shark on weight — about 1.4×.
  • Great white shark is 1.6× giant manta ray on typical lifespan.

Weight compared.

Giant manta ray 1,000–2,000 kg
Great white shark 520–2,000 kg

Giant manta ray

The largest ray, a plankton filter feeder with the biggest brain of any fish.

Great white shark

The largest predatory fish, and the species responsible for most unprovoked shark bites on humans.

This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

Common questions

Which is bigger, giant manta ray or great white shark?
Giant manta ray is somewhat greater than great white shark on weight — about 1.4×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do giant manta rays and great white sharks compare on typical lifespan?
Giant manta ray: 40–50 yr. Great white shark: 50–73 yr. Great white shark is 1.6× giant manta ray on typical lifespan.

Related pages

Sources

  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA (Public domain (US Government))

How these figures are compiled and checked