Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
IUCN: EndangeredAbout Whale Shark
The whale shark is the world's largest fish species, growing up to 40 feet or more. Despite their intimidating size, these gentle giants are filter feeders that pose no threat to humans and are popular with divers and snorkelers worldwide.
Whale sharks are not whales at all—they're sharks, making them fish rather than mammals. Their name comes from their enormous size and filter-feeding behavior similar to baleen whales. Each whale shark has a unique pattern of spots, much like human fingerprints.
🌊 Habitat
Whale sharks inhabit warm, tropical and temperate ocean waters worldwide. They are highly migratory and can be found in both coastal and open ocean environments. Popular whale shark destinations include the Philippines, Mexico, Maldives, and Western Australia.
🦐 Diet & Feeding
As filter feeders, whale sharks consume plankton, fish eggs, small fish, and squid. They feed by opening their massive mouths (up to 5 feet wide) and filtering water through their gills. Despite having about 3,000 tiny teeth, they don't use them for feeding.
🐋 Behavior
Whale sharks are generally solitary but occasionally aggregate in large numbers at feeding sites. They are slow swimmers, typically moving at about 3 mph. They can dive to depths of over 1,900 meters but spend most of their time in surface waters where plankton is abundant.
👶 Reproduction
Whale sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning eggs hatch inside the mother and she gives birth to live young. A single female can carry up to 300 pups. Baby whale sharks are about 16-24 inches long at birth and are immediately independent.
🛡️ Conservation Status
Whale sharks are listed as Endangered due to fishing (both targeted and bycatch), ship strikes, and habitat degradation. They are protected in many countries, and whale shark tourism has become an important economic incentive for conservation in places like the Philippines and Mexico.
Fun Facts About Whale Shark
Whale sharks are fish, not whales—they're the largest fish species in the world
Each whale shark's spot pattern is unique, like human fingerprints
Their mouths can be up to 5 feet wide, but their throats are only about 4 inches across
Whale sharks can live for 70-100 years
Despite having about 3,000 teeth, whale sharks don't use them for eating