Menschenhai vs Eisbär

Carcharodon carcharias compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

• Menschenhai is 2.4x heavier than Eisbär.
• Menschenhai lives longer (70 years vs 25 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Menschenhai	Eisbär
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Chondrichthyes (Knorpelfische)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Lamniformes (Makrelenhaiartige)	Carnivora (Raubtiere)
Family	Lamnidae (Mackerel Sharks)	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Carcharodon (Great White Sharks)	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Carcharodon carcharias	Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

Menschenhai and Eisbär share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordatiere)

Conservation Status

Menschenhai

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Eisbär

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Menschenhai	Eisbär
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	70 years	25 years
Average Length	5.0 m	2.4 m
Average Weight	1.1 t	450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Menschenhai

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, and temperate grasslands and steppes, among 9 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Neotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Chile, Norway, Portugal, and Taiwan. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Eisbär

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Menschenhai

The largest predatory fish on Earth, great white sharks can reach 6 meters and 2,000 kg, inhabiting cool coastal and offshore waters in all major oceans. Apex predators employing ambush attacks from below, primarily on marine mammals, large fish, and seabirds. Despite their fearsome reputation, unprovoked attacks on humans are extremely rare. Vulnerable, with populations declining from finning, bycatch, and targeted fishing despite legal protections in many jurisdictions.

Eisbär

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway