The whale shark is classified as a cartilaginous fish.
It belongs to the class Chondrichthyes and the order Orectolobiformes.
Let’s learn more about it from teketrek.
The whale Shark specification
Size: The whale shark is considered one of the largest shark species in the world.
Length: They can reach lengths of 12 to 15 meters.
Weight: weighing around 15,000 kilograms.
Color: The whale shark is characterized by a pattern on its body consisting of blue, brown, and dark gray colors.
The whale shark has several distinctive physical features that set it apart from other species.
Body: The presence of small spines along its body on both sides, extending to the tail, known as keel.
Gill: The presence of five gill slits on each side of the head. These are large and contain sponge-like cells that act as filters during feeding.
Fins: The whale shark has fins that are divided into a large front dorsal fin, a smaller rear dorsal fin, and a small anal fin.
The head: It has a broad, flat head
Mouth:a large mouth that can open up to approximately one and a half meters. The mouth contains around 270 rows of tiny teeth.
Eyes: The whale shark has eyes that are considered large and resemble golf balls, although they are relatively small compared to the size of the whale shark.
Facts about The Whale Shark
The physical characteristics of the whale shark enable it to swim rapidly and efficiently.
The Whale Shark is very slow in swimming, moving at speeds not exceeding 4 kilometers per hour.
It migrates over long distances, covering up to 12,874 kilometers over three years.
The whale shark has a very long lifespan, estimated to be around 70 to 100 years.
After giving birth, the mother leaves her offspring and focuses on self-protection.
Only 10% of whale sharks reach adulthood and live to maturity.
The whale shark retains eggs inside its body until they hatch.
The eggs hatch internally rather than in the water like other fish species.
Whale sharks spend most of their time in the surface layer of the ocean.
They can dive to depths of around 2,000 meters in search of food.
Whale sharks are solitary creatures and do not prefer living in groups.
It isn’t non-aggressive and pose no threat to humans.
Whale sharks have many amazing facts and interesting information that sets them apart from other fish species.
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Whale Shark Habitat
Whale sharks tend to live in warm regions and can be found in tropical waters around the world.
Whale sharks can be found in New York, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean.
What do whale sharks eat?
The whale shark is a carnivorous fish, with its favorite meal being plankton, small plants, and animals.
It also consumes any small fish that come in its path.
The whale shark also feeds on other small prey such as anchovies, krill, sardines, jellyfish, mackerel, as well as shrimp and squid.
While swimming, the whale shark engulfs anything in its path such as plankton, plants, algae, and more.
It then filters the mixture to expel water and unwanted debris.
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Reproduction stages of the whale shark
Studies suggest that the reproductive method of the whale shark is still unknown, but females give birth to fully grown offspring that live freely in the water.
Females give birth to around 300 small fish. They go through a long childhood period and become mature for reproduction around the age of 25.
FAQs about Whale Sharks
Are Whale Sharks smart?
The whale shark is one of the most docile sharks in existence and poses no danger to humans. Despite scientists’ disapproval of this activity, they often allow divers to interact with them. Additionally, these intelligent animals have demonstrated the ability to learn.
Do Whale Sharks bite?
Whale sharks are filter feeders and are unable to bite or chew. They can process more than 6,000 liters of water per hour through their gills to capture plankton and small fish.
Why are whale sharks special?
Whale sharks (*Rhincodon typus*) are the largest sharks and, in fact, the largest of all fish species alive today. They feed primarily on plankton and travel vast distances to find sufficient food to sustain their enormous size and to reproduce. Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans around the world.
Are whale sharks predators?
No, whale sharks are non-predatory, they are filter feeders and cannot bite or chew. They can process over 6,000 liters of water per hour through their
How many Whale Sharks are left?
Researchers are uncertain of the exact population of whale sharks, but estimates suggest that around 130,000 to 200,000 whale sharks currently inhabit the oceans. However, it is known that their numbers are declining due to human demand for their fins, meat, and oil.
Do people eat whale sharks?
It’s illegal—whale sharks are a protected species under both Chinese and international law.
What is the greatest threat to whale sharks?
It is thought that the most
significant threat to whale sharks
is habitat loss or degradation in
the form of overfishing of reef fish,
coastal development, land-based
Fishing for their meat and fins, harassment, and boat strikes also pose serious threats to whale sharks.
Is whale shark bigger than blue whale?
While the whale shark is undeniably a large animal, it is significantly smaller than the blue whale (*Balaenoptera musculus*), the largest animal on Earth. The largest blue whale ever recorded reached an astonishing 33 meters in length.
What are whale sharks afraid of?
The whale shark is highly adapted to its environment, with its immense size serving as its greatest form of protection. Adult whale sharks have little to fear from natural predators, with humans being the primary exception.
Is A whale shark aggressive?
No, whale shark isn’t aggressive.
Is a whale shark still a shark?
Yes, whale shark is a shark.
In conclusion, despite its massive size, the whale shark poses no threat to humans.
It swims alongside fishermen and appears very peaceful.
However, whale sharks can exhibit aggressive behavior if approached by divers.
According to estimates by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, whale shark numbers have decreased by 63% in the Pacific Ocean over 75 years.
In the Atlantic Ocean, their numbers have decreased by 30%. The whale shark has been classified as endangered by many experts.
References:
Wikipedia
