What theoretical weight could a 12-foot salmon shark approach if scaled isometrically from a 10-foot, 550-pound specimen?

Answer

Close to 950 pounds

While field measurements present practical challenges for accurately weighing the largest sharks, fisheries science can use scaling estimations based on consensus figures. If one assumes a rough isometric scaling relationship applied to a 10-foot salmon shark weighing 550 pounds, a 20% increase in length (moving to 12 feet) theoretically translates to an approximate 73% increase in volume and mass, calculated by raising the factor $1.2$ to the power of three ($1.2^3$). Applying this calculated percentage increase of about 73% to the initial 550-pound weight strongly suggests that a 12-foot salmon shark could theoretically weigh close to 950 pounds. This calculation highlights the potential for the largest individuals to significantly exceed the commonly cited 550-pound maximum, provided they maintain the dense, robust proportions of their smaller relatives.

What theoretical weight could a 12-foot salmon shark approach if scaled isometrically from a 10-foot, 550-pound specimen?

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