Shark vs. Whale — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
Sharks are a group of fish with cartilaginous skeletons, while whales are marine mammals belonging to the cetacean family.
Difference Between Shark and Whale
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sharks are cartilaginous fish, known for their sharp teeth and predatory nature. Whales are mammals, breathing air and nursing their young.
Sharks have gills for breathing underwater, while whales have lungs and must surface to breathe air.
The skin of sharks is covered with tiny tooth-like scales called denticles. Whales have smooth skin, often with a layer of blubber.
Sharks are found in diverse sizes and species, some being quite small. Whales include the largest animals on Earth, like the blue whale.
Sharks typically give birth to live young, known as pups. Whales, being mammals, also give birth to live young and nurse them.
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Comparison Chart
Classification
Fish with cartilaginous skeletons
Marine mammals in the cetacean family
Breathing
Gills for underwater breathing
Lungs, breathe air at the surface
Skin
Covered with denticles
Smooth skin with blubber
Size Variability
Range from small to large
Generally large, some being the biggest animals
Reproduction
Give birth to live young or lay eggs
Give birth to live young and nurse them
Compare with Definitions
Shark
A carnivorous fish known for its sharp teeth.
The great white shark is a fearsome predator.
Whale
A large marine mammal breathing air.
The humpback whale is known for its spectacular breaching.
Shark
Known for powerful swimming abilities.
The shark swam swiftly through the ocean.
Whale
Belongs to the cetacean family, including dolphins.
Whales and dolphins are both part of the cetacean family.
Shark
Often symbolizes danger or fear in popular culture.
The movie Jaws portrayed the shark as a terrifying creature.
Whale
Some species are endangered due to human activities.
The blue whale is an endangered species due to past whaling.
Shark
Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorpha (or Selachii) and are the sister group to the rays.
Whale
Known for complex vocalizations or "songs".
The song of the blue whale can be heard over long distances.
Shark
Any of numerous cartilaginous fishes of the subclass Elasmobranchii that are chiefly carnivorous and marine. Sharks have a streamlined torpedolike body, five to seven gill openings on each side of the head, a large oil-filled liver, and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales.
Whale
Many species migrate long distances.
Gray whales undertake one of the longest migrations.
Shark
(Informal)A person, such as a loan shark, who takes advantage of the misfortune of others for personal gain.
Whale
Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully aquatic placental marine mammals. They are an informal grouping within the infraorder Cetacea, which usually excludes dolphins and porpoises.
Shark
(Informal)A person unusually skilled in a particular activity
A card shark.
Whale
Any of various marine mammals of the order Cetacea; a cetacean.
Shark
To obtain by deceitful or underhand means.
Whale
Any of various larger members of this order, including the blue whale, humpback whale, and right whale, in contrast to the porpoises and dolphins.
Shark
To take advantage of others for personal gain, especially by fraud and trickery.
Whale
(Informal) An impressive example
A whale of a story.
Shark
(ichthyology) A scaleless, predatory fish of the superorder Selachimorpha, with a cartilaginous skeleton and 5 to 7 gill slits on each side of its head.
Whale
To engage in the hunting of whales.
Shark
The noctuid moth Cucullia umbratica.
Whale
To strike or hit repeatedly and forcefully; thrash.
Shark
A university student who is not a fresher that has engaged in sexual activity with a fresher; usually habitually and with multiple people.
Whale
To strike or hit (a ball) with great force.
Shark
Someone who exploits others, for example by trickery, lies, usury, extortion.
Whale
To strike or hit a person or thing repeatedly and forcefully
Whaled away at the plaster wall with a mallet.
Shark
A sleazy and amoral lawyer.
Whale
To swing at a ball with great effort, especially repeatedly.
Shark
An ambulance chaser.
Whale
To attack vehemently
The poet whaled away at the critics.
Shark
(informal) A relentless and resolute person or group, especially in business.
Whale
Any one of numerous large marine mammals comprising an informal group within infraorder Cetacea that usually excludes dolphins and porpoises.
Shark
(informal) A very good poker or pool player. Compare fish (a bad poker player).
Whale
(by extension) Any species of Cetacea.
Shark
A person who feigns ineptitude to win money from others.
Whale
(figuratively) Something, or someone, that is very large.
Shark
(rare) To fish for sharks.
Whale
Something, or someone, that is excellent.
Shark
Of a university student who is not a fresher, to engage in sexual activity with a fresher, or to be at a bar or club with the general intention of engaging in such activity.
Whale
(gambling) In a casino, a person who routinely bets at the maximum limit allowable.
Shark
(obsolete) To steal or obtain through fraud.
Whale
An investor who deals with very large amounts of money.
Shark
To play the petty thief; to practice fraud or trickery; to swindle.
Whale
A person who spends large amounts of money on things that are marketed to them.
Shark
To live by shifts and stratagems.
Whale
(intransitive) To hunt for whales.
Shark
(obsolete) To pick or gather indiscriminately or covertly.
Whale
To thrash, to flog, to beat vigorously or soundly.
Shark
Any one of numerous species of elasmobranch fishes of the order Plagiostomi, found in all seas.
Whale
Any aquatic mammal of the order Cetacea, especially any one of the large species, some of which become nearly one hundred feet long. Whales are hunted chiefly for their oil and baleen, or whalebone.
Shark
A rapacious, artful person; a sharper.
Whale
A very large person; impressive in size or qualities
Shark
Trickery; fraud; petty rapine; as, to live upon the shark.
Whale
Any of the larger cetacean mammals having a streamlined body and breathing through a blowhole on the head
Shark
To pick or gather indiscriminately or covertly.
Whale
Hunt for whales
Shark
To play the petty thief; to practice fraud or trickery; to swindle.
Neither sharks for a cup or a reckoning.
Shark
To live by shifts and stratagems.
Shark
Any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales
Shark
A person who is ruthless and greedy and dishonest
Shark
A person who is unusually skilled in certain ways;
A card shark
Shark
Play the shark; act with trickery
Shark
Hunt shark
Shark
A fish with a skeleton made of cartilage.
Unlike bony fish, a shark's skeleton is not made of bone.
Shark
A group with diverse species in the ocean.
The hammerhead is an interesting species of shark.
Common Curiosities
Can sharks live in fresh water?
Some, like the bull shark, can survive in both salt and fresh water.
Do all whales have teeth?
No, some whales like the blue whale have baleen instead of teeth.
Do sharks sleep?
Sharks have restful periods but don't sleep like mammals.
Do whales have a good sense of smell?
Whales generally have a poor sense of smell compared to other senses.
How long can whales hold their breath?
Some species can hold their breath for up to 90 minutes.
Are sharks warm-blooded?
Most are cold-blooded, but some like the great white can regulate their temperature.
Why are some whale species endangered?
Due to factors like hunting, pollution, and habitat disruption.
What distinguishes a shark from other fish?
Sharks have cartilaginous skeletons, distinct from bony fish.
What’s the biggest threat to sharks?
Overfishing and habitat loss are significant threats.
What do sharks eat?
Diet varies, including fish, seals, or plankton depending on the species.
Are sharks solitary creatures?
Many species are, but some can be found in groups.
Why do whales breach?
Breaching could be for communication, play, or to dislodge parasites.
How do whales sleep without drowning?
They rest one half of their brain at a time while remaining semi-conscious.
How do whales communicate?
Through complex vocalizations, clicks, and body language.
Can sharks detect blood in water?
Sharks have an acute sense of smell and can detect blood in very low concentrations.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
