The Most Unusual Shark, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the shark you think is the most unusual!

Updated on May 5, 2024 06:58

Sharks, often misunderstood creatures of the marine world, come in surprising varieties beyond what popular media typically showcases. Ranking the most unusual types helps to highlight the diversity and adaptability of these fascinating animals. Such lists not only inform but also cultivate a deeper appreciation for the lesser-known members of the shark family. By participating in the ranking, users contribute to a broader understanding and awareness of these unique creatures. Each vote can shift perceptions and increase education on the ecological roles and conservation needs of unusual sharks. This dynamic voting system also keeps the content fresh and reflective of current trends and new discoveries.

What Is the Most Unusual Shark?

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88
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Hungarian Snow · CC BY-SA 2.0

Goblin Shark

Kinzoh Mitsukuri

Goblin Shark is known for its long snout and protruding jaws, the Goblin Shark is often referred to as the "vampire shark." It is a deep-sea dwelling species that is rarely encountered by humans.
The Goblin Shark, scientifically known as Mitsukurina owstoni, is a rare and fascinating deep-sea shark species. It is often referred to as a living fossil due to its unique and primitive features.

Max Length: Up to 13 feet (4 meters)

Weight: Up to 460 pounds (210 kilograms)

Color: Pale pink to greyish-white

Distinct Feature: Prominent elongated snout

Jaws: Protrusible, allowing it to extend and capture prey
Goblin Shark in other rankings
- Position 9 of 10 in Most beautiful shark
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37
votes
This illustration was made by Citron You must credit this : Citron / CC-BY-SA-3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Frilled Shark

Frilled Shark is a primitive shark species that is often referred to as a "living fossil." It has a unique appearance with rows of needle-like teeth and a long, eel-like body.
The Frilled Shark is a unique and elusive species of shark known for its unusual appearance and behavior. It belongs to the family Chlamydoselachidae and is often referred to as a 'living fossil' due to its ancient lineage and primitive characteristics. Unlike most sharks, the Frilled Shark has a long and slender body with a distinctly eel-like appearance. It has a distinct fringed or 'frilled' appearance around its gills, which give it its name. The first known specimen of the Frilled Shark was discovered in the early 19th century off the coast of Japan.

Scientific Name: Chlamydoselachus anguineus

Size: Up to 2 meters (6.6 feet)

Weight: Up to 2 meters (6.6 feet)

Habitat: Deep waters, typically between 100 and 1,500 meters (330 and 4,920 feet)
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24
votes
OpenCage · CC BY-SA 2.5

Megamouth Shark

Megamouth Shark is named for its massive mouth, the Megamouth Shark is a rare and elusive species that was only discovered in 1976. It is a filter feeder that feeds on plankton and small fish.
The Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios) is a rare and peculiar species of deepwater shark. It gets its name from its massive, gaping mouth, which can reach up to four feet wide. This shark was discovered in 1976 and remains one of the least understood shark species due to its elusiveness and limited sightings.

Scientific Name: Megachasma pelagios

Average Length: Around 15 feet (4.5 meters)

Weight: Approximately 2,600 pounds (1,180 kilograms)

Diet: Mainly filter-feeder, consuming plankton and jellyfish

Habitat: Deep ocean waters, often found at depths between 500 and 1,000 feet (150 to 300 meters)
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6
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Sawshark

Sawshark is as its name suggests, the Sawshark has a long, serrated snout that is used to catch prey. It is a slow-moving species that is found in deep waters around the world.
The Sawshark, also known as a sawshark rays, is a unique type of shark characterized by its long, saw-like snout, which is lined with sharp spines called rostrum teeth. This snout is used for hunting and self-defense, allowing the sawshark to slash and impale its prey with precision. It primarily inhabits the sandy bottoms of coastal waters and deep-sea habitats, where it feeds on fish, crustaceans, and other small marine creatures. The sawshark has a slender body, typically measuring around 5 to 6 feet in length. Its long, serrated snout can reach up to a third of its total body length.

Scientific Name: Pristiophoridae

Average Length: 5 to 6 feet

Snout Length: Up to one-third of body length

Rostrum Teeth: Sharp, saw-like spines along snout

Habitat: Coastal waters and deep-sea regions
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10
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Wobbegong Shark

Wobbegong Shark is known for its highly camouflaged appearance, the Wobbegong Shark is a type of carpet shark that is found in the waters around Australia and Indonesia. It is a bottom-dwelling species that can blend in with its surroundings to avoid predators.
The Wobbegong Shark, also known as the carpet shark, is a unique species of shark that belongs to the Orectolobidae family. They are known for their intricate camouflage patterns and slow-moving nature, making them highly effective ambush predators.

Scientific Name: Orectolobidae

Common Name: Wobbegong Shark

Habitat: Reef systems in the Indo-Pacific region

Size: Average length of 1.2 to 1.5 meters (4 to 5 feet)

Weight: Up to 25 kilograms (55 pounds)
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10
votes
Petter Lindgren · CC BY-SA 3.0

Thresher Shark

Thresher Shark is the Thresher Shark is known for its long, whip-like tail that it uses to stun prey. It is a highly skilled hunter that is found in the open waters of the world's oceans.
The Thresher Shark is a unique species of shark known for its exceptionally long tail. This tail can make up almost half of the shark's total length, which typically ranges from 14 to 20 feet. The Thresher Shark gets its name from its distinctive, scythe-like upper caudal fin, which it uses as a powerful weapon to stun and capture prey. This shark has a streamlined body, large eyes, and a small, rounded mouth. It is also known for its unique hunting behavior of using its tail to create powerful shock waves to immobilize its prey.

Scientific Name: Alopiidae

Average Length: 14 to 20 feet

Tail Length: Almost half of the total length

Upper Caudal Fin Shape: Scythe-like

Hunting Behavior: Uses tail to create shock waves
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8
votes
Greg Skomal / NOAA Fisheries Service · Public domain

Basking Shark

Basking Shark is the second-largest shark species in the world, the Basking Shark is a filter feeder that feeds on plankton. It is often seen swimming close to the surface of the water, making it a popular sight for divers and whale watchers.
The Basking Shark, also known as Cetorhinus maximus, is a giant filter-feeder shark that belongs to the family of Lamniformes. It is named after its behavior of basking at the surface of the water. They are known for their large size, unique appearance, and gentle nature.

Size: Up to 40 feet (12 meters) long

Weight: Up to 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms)

Appearance: Massive body with a long, pointed snout, large gill slits, and a crescent-shaped tail

Color: Dark gray to brownish-black on the upper body with a lighter belly

Diet: Planktonic creatures, including copepods, krill, and small fish
Basking Shark in other rankings
- Position 6 of 10 in Most beautiful shark
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16
votes
NOAA Observer Project · Public domain

Cookiecutter Shark

Stewart Springer

Cookiecutter Shark is named for the distinctive bite marks it leaves on its prey, the Cookiecutter Shark is a small species that is found in tropical waters around the world. It feeds on larger animals by taking circular bites out of their flesh.
The Cookiecutter Shark, also known as the cigar shark, is a unique species of shark characterized by its peculiar feeding habits and appearance. It gets its name from the cookie-cutter-shaped wounds it leaves on its prey. The Cookiecutter Shark was first described by Stewart Springer in 1964.

Scientific Name: Isistius brasiliensis

Class: Chondrichthyes

Order: Squaliformes

Family: Dalatiidae

Maximum Length: Around 22 inches (56 cm)
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7
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Gervais et Boulart · Public domain

Greenland Shark

Greenland Shark is one of the largest shark species in the world, the Greenland Shark is a slow-moving predator that is found in the cold waters of the North Atlantic. It is known for its long lifespan and slow growth rate, with some individuals estimated to be over 400 years old.
The Greenland Shark, also known as Somniosus microcephalus, is a species of shark that inhabits the cold waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans. It is a large, slow-swimming shark characterized by its unique appearance and fascinating adaptations.

Size: Greenland sharks can grow up to a length of 20 feet (6 meters), making them one of the largest shark species.

Longevity: They have a remarkably long lifespan and are considered one of the longest-lived vertebrates, with some individuals reaching an estimated age of over 400 years.

Diet: The Greenland Shark is an opportunistic feeder and has a versatile diet that includes fish, seals, small whales, squid, and scavenged remains.

Habitat: They are primarily found in the deep, cold waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic, often inhabiting depths of up to 7,200 feet (2,200 meters).

Temperature Tolerance: The Greenland Shark is adapted to survive in near-freezing waters, with a blood chemistry that allows it to withstand extreme cold temperatures.
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2
votes
J. Patrick Fischer · CC BY-SA 3.0

Port Jackson Shark

Port Jackson Shark is a small, harmless species that is found in the waters around Australia and New Zealand. It is known for its distinctive appearance, with a pattern of spots and stripes on its body.
The Port Jackson Shark, scientific name Heterodontus portusjacksoni, is a unique species of shark found in coastal waters of southern Australia. It is known for its distinctive appearance and interesting behaviors.

Size: Adults typically measure around 1.5 to 1.7 meters (5 to 6 feet) in length.

Coloration: It has a grey-brown to reddish-brown body with large, dark, irregular spots covering its entire body.

Head Shape: The Port Jackson Shark has a distinctive head shape with a high, rounded forehead and a large mouth with several rows of small, sharp teeth.

Spines: It possesses prominent, venomous dorsal spines located in front of each dorsal fin, which it can use for defense against predators.

Habitat: These sharks inhabit rocky reefs, kelp beds, and sandy or muddy bottoms in coastal waters, often found at depths ranging from 10 to 275 meters (33 to 900 feet).

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Ranking factors for unusual shark

Physical traits

Consider the physical characteristics that make the shark stand out, such as a unique body shape or coloration.
Habitat

Look at where the shark lives, such as deep sea or freshwater environments.
Behavior

Observe the shark's behavior, such as feeding habits and social interactions.
Evolutionary history

Consider the evolutionary adaptations the shark has undergone, such as bioluminescence or unique sensory organs.
Endangerment

Evaluate whether the shark is a threatened or endangered species, as this can make it more unique and important to conserve.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most unusual shark. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Shark is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2216 views
206 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Shark once every 24 hours. The rank of each Shark is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most unusual shark

Sharks are some of the most fascinating creatures on the planet, with over 500 species known to exist. While some of these species are well-known, such as the great white shark, others are lesser-known and even considered unusual. When it comes to the most unusual shark, there are a few contenders, including the goblin shark, the frilled shark, and the sawshark. These sharks have unique physical features and behaviors that set them apart from other species. The goblin shark, for example, has a protruding snout and jaws that can extend out to capture prey. The frilled shark, on the other hand, has a snake-like body and teeth that point backwards. And the sawshark, as its name suggests, has a long, saw-like snout that it uses to stun prey. Learning about these unusual sharks is not only fascinating, but it also helps us better understand the diversity of life on our planet.