Whale Shark
SharkRhincodon typus
Up to 18 meters
Detail Information
The gentle giant
The size of a bus
Whale sharks are widely known as the largest fish in the sea. The newborn pups measure less than a meter, but they can grow to more than 12 meters long, similar in size to a bus!
Although they have enormous size, whale sharks are also famous for their gentle nature. They are harmless to humans and are generally calm around drivers. However, swimmers and divers should avoid getting too close to or touching them, and always give them plenty of space.
Checkerboard pattern on their back
Whale sharks have dark grey to bluish or brownish backs covered with pale spots and horizontal and vertical markings, creating a distinctive checkerboard pattern. They also have thick, rubbery skin that is covered in tiny tooth-like scales called dermal denticles.
Filter feeding
Whale sharks feed on plankton, small crustaceans, and small fish. Although they have a huge mouth, their teeth are so tiny that they can neither bite nor chew. They feed by sucking and gulping water into their huge mouths, then filtering out food particles as the water passes through their specialised gill structures.
Long-distance travellers
Whale sharks generally prefer warm waters and can migrate seasonally in search of food. They can travel thousands of kilometres between feeding grounds. Whale sharks are generally solitary, but can gather in large groups when food is abundant.
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Subclass
- Elasmobranchii
- Order
- Orectolobiformes (carpet sharks)
- Family
- Rhincodontidae (whale shark family)
- Species
- Rhicondon typus