So I saw a picture of a bite mark on a surf board that measured 17" across. I wonder how big that makes the shark.

__________________
Release the Kraken

I got between 8' and 12' so I'd guess at 10'. Only knowing the size of the bite and not the species, it's just a wild guess.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

An excellent question, but as head width varies with species, hard to answer.

Recovered teeth are a good clue to species.

Does anyone here know more?

...a three foot shark with a 17" head.


Oh, another chart used the space of the teeth marks around the circumference of the bite but of course we don't know that either.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Out of curiosity I checked Google and nearly went down a rabbit hole on the biology of shark bites...the average shark bite is 10.5". This is taking in all of the species, some have a larger bite radius than others. Shark bites are normally semi-circular which leads one to wonder is that 10.5" across or 10.5" radially following the curve of the biting surface. The largest fish I ever saw up close was an eight foot sturgeon, my size 14 shoe would fit in his mouth, not completely.

This guy got his board tagged off Maui, so Great White or a Tiger are the prime suspects.

__________________
Release the Kraken

She's in fossil or mockup Megalodon jaws.

The bite radius varies greatly, depending on species.

A 12-foot Hammerhead may have a smaller bite radius than a 7-foot Bull Shark.

Having surfed Hawaii, I agree that it’s likely a Tiger or White, my money being on Tiger. They are ‘garbage collectors’ and their eyesight isn’t the best in the surf area.


A few years ago, a juvenile White wandered into the harbor at Honokohau...swam around for a while, then left. You never know.

__________________
- Post No Bills -

Biologists have lots of formulae to determine size. Many are REALLY complicated. When I was studying for my BS in Marine Bio, I saw one but don't remember it. BTW: formula varies by species!

Greg-


Thanks. I thought that if anyone here knew, it'd be you.

One of my pet peeves is wild hog weight. When I guided. we had a cow scale on the ranch. Amazing how many hunters were off and by how much. I compare the hog's chest with the hunter in the pic. Be surprised how many kids were 300+ lbs.

Yes, the little known species named Mega-Mouth.

__________________
CSM, U S Army(Ret) 1963-1990