Largest Fish in the World
20 fish · 560–1,800 cm
Body length in fish is measured as total length (TL) — from the tip of the snout to the end of the caudal fin. For species with forked tails, fork length (FL) is sometimes used instead. Maximum recorded lengths come from scientific surveys, museum specimens, and verified angler catches published in ichthyological literature.
Cartilaginous fish (sharks and rays) dominate the upper ranks, but bony fish like the oarfish and ocean sunfish also reach extraordinary sizes. Understanding maximum size helps fisheries biologists set harvest limits and conservation priorities.
How we ranked these
Ranked by maximum recorded total length in centimeters. Measurements are sourced from FishBase, peer-reviewed ichthyological studies, and verified museum specimens.
Rhincodontidae (Whale sharks) · Saltwater
El tiburón ballena es la mayor especie de pez viviente, alcanzando longitudes de hasta 18 metros. A pesar de su enorme tamaño, es un apacible filtrador que consume plancton, huevos de peces y peces pe
Cetorhinidae (Basking Sharks) · Saltwater
Mobulidae (Manta & Devil Rays) · Saltwater
-
BelugaAcipenseridae (Sturgeons) · Freshwater & Saltwater
800.0 cm 3,200.0 kg Freshwater & SaltwaterSee details → -
Giant oarfishRegalecidae · Saltwater
800.0 cm 272.0 kg SaltwaterSee details → -
OarfifshRegalecidae · Saltwater
800.0 cm SaltwaterSee details → -
Comb sharkPristidae · Freshwater & Saltwater
760.0 cm 350.0 kg Freshwater & SaltwaterSee details → -
Common tiger sharkGaleocerdonidae · Saltwater
750.0 cm 807.4 kg SaltwaterSee details → -
Common sawfishPristidae · Freshwater & Saltwater
750.0 cm Freshwater & SaltwaterSee details → -
DindagubbaPristidae · Freshwater & Saltwater
730.0 cm Freshwater & SaltwaterSee details → -
Freshwater sawfishPristidae · Freshwater & Saltwater
700.0 cm 600.0 kg Freshwater & SaltwaterSee details → -
Largetooth SawfishPristidae · Freshwater & Saltwater
650.0 cm 591.0 kg Freshwater & SaltwaterSee details → -
Elfin sharkMitsukurinidae · Saltwater
617.0 cm SaltwaterSee details → -
Cornuda giganteSphyrnidae (Hammerhead sharks) · Saltwater
La cornuda gigante es la mayor de las nueve especies de tiburón martillo. Su distintivo cefalofoil (cabeza en forma de martillo) alberga una serie de electrorreceptores que le permiten detectar rayas
610.0 cm 580.0 kg SaltwaterSee details → -
Columbia sturgeonAcipenseridae (Sturgeons) · Freshwater & Saltwater
610.0 cm 816.0 kg Freshwater & SaltwaterSee details → -
EsturiónAcipenseridae (Sturgeons) · Freshwater & Saltwater
El esturión europeo es un pez anádromo en peligro crítico de extinción que puede vivir más de 100 años. Antaño abundante en los ríos europeos, ahora está restringido a una pequeña población en el estu
600.0 cm 400.0 kg Freshwater & SaltwaterSee details → -
6-gilled sharkHexanchidae · Saltwater
Hexanchus griseus, the bluntnose sixgill shark, is a large saltwater shark reaching up to 600 cm and weighing up to 590 kg. It inhabits deep ocean waters worldwide and is one of the largest predatory
600.0 cm 590.0 kg SaltwaterSee details → -
Jaquetón blancoLamnidae (Mackerel sharks) · Saltwater
El jaquetón blanco es el mayor pez depredador del mundo. Presente en aguas costeras de superficie de todos los océanos principales, puede detectar una sola gota de sangre en 100 litros de agua. A pesa
600.0 cm 1,905.0 kg SaltwaterSee details → -
Atlantic thresherAlopiidae (Thresher Sharks) · Saltwater
573.3 cm 348.0 kg SaltwaterSee details → -
Great Siberian sturgeonAcipenseridae (Sturgeons) · Freshwater & Saltwater
560.0 cm 1,000.0 kg Freshwater & SaltwaterSee details →