🐋 Sperm whale vs Whale shark 🦈
The sperm whale and the whale shark are about the same size. The whale shark is a bit heavier than the sperm whale.
| Row | 🐋 Sperm whale | 🦈 Whale shark |
|---|---|---|
| Top speed Neither has a checked number yet. | no checked number yet | no checked number yet |
| Weight The whale shark is a bit heavier than the sperm whale. | 15 to 45 tons14 to 41 tonnes1 | 40 tons36 tonnes2 |
| Lives The whale shark lives a bit longer than the sperm whale. | 60 years60 years1 | 60 to 100 years60 to 100 years2 |
| Eats The sperm whale eats meat; the whale shark eats tiny floating sea life. | squid, octopus and fish | plankton, krill and tiny fish |
| Lives in They can live in the same kind of place. | deep waters of oceans around the world | warm seas around the world |
Which one? Sperm whale or whale shark
🏁 Who would win the race?
We don't have a checked top speed for the sperm whale or the whale shark yet, so there is no race.
We only race. Real animals mostly avoid each other. A race is the only fair contest: who reaches the tree first, by top speed.
Compare two more
Getting the animals ready…
📤 Share this pair
The link carries only the two animals’ names: peabody.kids/animals/compare/sperm-whale-vs-whale-shark
Where these numbers come from
- NOAA Fisheries, checked 30 October 2026.
- NOAA National Ocean Service, checked 30 October 2026.