Basking shark vs Polar bear

Rhincodon typus compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

• Basking shark is Endangered while Polar bear is Vulnerable.
• Basking shark is omnivore while Polar bear is carnivore.
• Basking shark is 44.4x heavier than Polar bear.
• Basking shark lives longer (100 years vs 25 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Basking shark	Polar bear
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Chondrichthyes (ปลากระดูกอ่อน)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order	Lamniformes (อันดับปลาฉลามขาว)	Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)
Family	Rhincodontidae (Whale Sharks)	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Rhincodon (Whale Sharks)	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Rhincodon typus	Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

Basking shark and Polar bear share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)

Conservation Status

Basking shark

EN — Endangered

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Basking shark	Polar bear
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	100 years	25 years
Average Length	12.0 m	2.4 m
Average Weight	20.0 t	450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Basking shark

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate grasslands and steppes, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

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

Polar bear

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.

Basking shark

The world's largest fish, whale sharks can exceed 12 meters and 20 tonnes, inhabiting tropical and warm temperate oceans worldwide. Despite their massive size, they are harmless filter feeders, consuming plankton, fish eggs, and small fish by swimming open-mouthed through prey-dense water. They undertake vast seasonal migrations following plankton blooms. Endangered due to fishing, boat strikes, and the live fin trade, with population declining by approximately 50% over the past 75 years.

Polar bear

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.