What are the features of a whale shark?
Characteristics. The whale shark's flattened head sports a blunt snout above its mouth with short barbels protruding from its nostrils. Its back and sides are gray to brown with white spots among pale vertical and horizontal stripes, and its belly is white.
What shape is a whale shark?
blunt squareWhale Sharks have a wide flat head, shaped like a blunt square, with a very wide mouth in front and small eyes on the sides.
What is the function of the whale shark?
The whale shark is a filter feeder – one of only three known filter-feeding shark species (along with the basking shark and the megamouth shark). It feeds on plankton including copepods, krill, fish eggs, Christmas Island red crab larvae and small nektonic life, such as small squid or fish.
Is a whale sharks a cartilaginous?
Unlike whales, sharks are not mammals but belong to a group of cartilaginous fishes. The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) earns the name “whale” solely because of its size.May 6, 2013
What are whale sharks adaptations?
The whale shark is well adapted to its environment. Its monumental size is its greatest protection and adults have little to fear from natural predators except for humans. It has a very efficient feeding mechanism and its somewhat opportunistic diet provides a broad base of food supply.
Can whale shark swallow human?
Okay, so whale sharks won't swallow you. But what about toothed whales? They do sometimes swallow prey whole, so you could fit down their esophagus. Sperm whales sometimes swallow squid whole, so it could definitely manage a human.Feb 25, 2013
Do whale sharks jump out of the water?
In addition to whale sharks, we see a large sea turtle and flying fish. There are also several giant black-and-white manta rays with wingspans of about 15 feet. They dart around, often in packs, swimming fast with their alienlike mouth open. One of them jumps out of the water and slams down on its back.Dec 2, 2015
Do whale sharks lay eggs or give birth?
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest species of shark. Although these animals produce eggs, they don't lay them. Instead, the young hatch while still in the female's body and are born as miniature adults. This is known as ovoviviparity.
Do whale sharks have tongues?
Do sharks have tongues? Sharks have a tongue referred to as a basihyal. The basihyal is a small, thick piece of cartilage located on the floor of the mouth of sharks and other fishes.Aug 9, 2021
Do whale sharks have teeth?
Although its mouth can stretch to four feet wide, a whale shark's teeth are so tiny that they can only eat small shrimp, fish, and plankton by using their gill rakers as a suction filter.
Why is a whale shark called a whale shark?
A whale shark is a fish and breathes via its gills. The name whale shark comes from the fact these animals are so large (as big as whales) and that they filter feed (like baleen whales such as the humpback). However, they have cartilage instead of bone – making them a true shark.
Did whale sharks ever have teeth?
Whale sharks have teeth, but they are vestigial and they don't use them. A whale shark's teeth are known as “vestigial” structures.Dec 28, 2021
What is the whale shark?
The whale shark is one of three large filter-feeding sharks; the others are the megamouth shark ( Megachasma pelagios) and the basking shark ( Cetorhinus maximus ). The whale shark forages for food at or near the surface of the ocean.
Where are whale sharks found?
Whale sharks are found in marine environments worldwide but mainly in tropical oceans. They make up the only species of the genus Rhincodon and are classified within the order Orectolobiformes, ...
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...
How big do basking sharks get?
…the basking shark and the whale shark ( Rhincodon typus ), which grow to 12 and 18 metres (40 and 60 feet) respectively, subsist on minute planktonic organisms and on small schooling fishes.
How big is a squid?
Most specimens that have been studied, however, weighed about 15 tons (about 14 metric tons) and averaged about 12 metres (39 feet) in length . The body coloration is distinctive. Light vertical and horizontal stripes form a checkerboard pattern on a dark background, and light spots mark the fins and dark areas of the body.
Where do squid come from?
They are found in the western Atlantic Ocean from the coast of New York in the United States to central Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. In the eastern Atlantic they occur from the coasts of Senegal, Mauritania, and Cape Verde to the Gulf of Guinea.
Do whale sharks harm humans?
Interactions with humans. Whale sharks do not pose a danger to humans. Many individual whale sharks have been approached, examined, and even ridden by divers without showing any sign of aggression. They may, out of curiosity, approach and examine people in the water.
What are some interesting facts about whale sharks?
Fun Facts about the Whale Shark! Whale sharks are one of the most beloved and famous species in the world and yet relatively little is known about them. Nonetheless, there are still many fun facts and biological concepts that can be explored.
What are the spots on a whale shark?
Whale sharks have a unique appearance, with dark grey skin and white spots and lines on their topsides. Interestingly, these spots have been observed to be unique to each individual and can act as an identifying feature. Just like fingerprints are used to confidently identify humans, the spots on a whale shark can be used in the same way. Although not likely to be useful in solving crimes, this ability to identify individuals helps scientists to study the species as they move throughout the oceans and are observed in various locations.
Why are whale sharks endangered?
Due to a lack of understanding of the species’ life cycle and behavior, there is currently no reliable estimate of the global whale shark population. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species considers the whale shark to be endangered as it is a common victim of by-catch in fisheries and is often the victim of vessel strikes. When combined with its long life-span and relatively late onset of sexual maturity, it is not difficult to see why there are concerns about the sustainability of the species.
What is the largest shark in the world?
The Basics. The Whale Shark is the largest species of extant shark. Unlike most sharks, they are planktivores: slow-moving filter feeders that feed exclusively on microscopic plankton.
How do whale sharks feed?
Whale sharks spend much of their time following plankton blooms around the ocean, feeding on them by drawing large amounts of water into their mouths as they move slowly, often near the ocean’s surface . Specialized gills then filter out the tiny organisms from the water and into the whale shark’s digestive system.
How do you know if a whale shark is old?
The space between the rings is compared with the rate of growth of whale sharks to determine their age. This method has demonstrated that whale sharks generally live from about 70-100 years of age, but may even reach as many as 130 years of age in some cases. However, some debate still exists on whether these visible bands are formed annually or biannually, leaving some uncertainty around the estimated age range of whale sharks. A 2020 study seems to have determined that, indeed, the rings are created annually and the whale sharks do live to impressive ages.
Is a whale shark a threat to humans?
Despite its size and title, whale sharks are not generally a threat to humans. In fact, they are quite docile and in many parts of the world tourists often safely swim alongside them as they feed on microscopic plankton, their only food item. Whale sharks are the largest extant shark species.
How big do whale sharks get?
They typically grow to about 10-12 m (33-40 ft), but may reach 18 m (60 ft) in length. They can weigh up to 15 tons. Of course no one really knows for sure, because there isn’t much known about the size of whale sharks at maturity.
What do whale sharks eat?
Aside from plankton, common whale shark foods include small fish, algae, cephalopods (like squid), jellyfish, and shrimp.
Why are whale sharks called oviparous?
Some researchers believed they were egg-layers (“oviparous”) because egg cases were observed in the oviducts of females during autopsies. Others claimed they were live-bearers (“ Viviparous “).
What is the largest fish in the ocean?
The Whale Shark. The Whale Shark is the largest fish in the entire Ocean! The “whale” part in its name describes his length which is comparable to whales. They are also “filter feeders” like whales. Basically, they swim through the water and use their immense gills as a filter, capturing plankton and vegetation as it swims.
Where do sharks migrate?
One shark traveled 13,000 km over a three-year period! Each spring they migrate to the continental shelves around Australia, possibly to feed on the plankton (tiny marine animals and plants) that occur there in great numbers.
Why is the WWF important?
However, it also brings increased attention to the study of these mysterious creatures, which is a positive outcome. Conservation groups like the WWF work with tour operators to raise awareness of whale shark movements and promote safer boating practices, to hopefully avoid collisions with sharks.
What is the biggest shark in the world?
Basically, they swim through the water and use their immense gills as a filter, capturing plankton and vegetation as it swims. The Whale Shark is also called the Rhinocdon typus and it is an enormous shark. It’s actually the biggest shark and fish in the world!
How big is a whale shark?
Firstly, the shark holds many records for its sheer size within the animal kingdom. There have been common reports that these fish can be over 46 feet long and weighing at least 66,000 pounds. As you can tell, these creatures are massive!
What do whale sharks eat?
It feeds on plankton, which includes copepods, krill, and fish eggs. The whale shark diet also consists of clouds of eggs during mass spawnings of fish and corals.
What are some of the most fascinating creatures in the animal kingdom?
Some are plant eaters, some are meat-eaters, and some eat both. Probably one of the most fascinating creatures in the animal kingdom has to be the whale shark.
How do sharks feed?
Instead, feeding occurs in two ways. The first method is ram filtration, where the animal opens its mouth and swims forward, pushing water and food into the mouth.
What is the second method of feeding?
The second method is called active suction feeding, where the animal opens and closes its mouth, sucking in huge amounts of water which are then expelled through its gills . In both types of consumption, the filter pads are used to separate the food from the water.
Is a whale shark harmless?
Probably the most fascinating statistic is that they are completely harmless to humans. That’s right, the whale shark diet is extremely unique given its size in the ocean.
Overview
Description
Whale shark mouths can contain over 300 rows of tiny teeth and 20 filter pads which it uses to filter feed. Unlike many other sharks, whale sharks' mouths are located at the front of the head rather than on the underside of the head. A 12.1 m (39.7 ft) whale shark was reported to have a mouth 1.55 m (5.1 ft) across. The head is wide and flat with two small eyes at the front corners. The spiraclesare …
Distribution and habitat
The whale shark inhabits all tropical and warm-temperate seas. The fish is primarily pelagic, and can be found in both coastal and oceanic habitats living in the open sea but not in the greater depths of the ocean, although it is known to occasionally dive to depths of as much as 1,900 metres (6,200 ft). It is migratory and has two distinct subpopulations: an Atlantic subpopulation, from Maine and the Azores to Cape Agulhas, South Africa, and an Indo-Pacific subpopulation whic…
Growth and reproduction
Growth, longevity, and reproduction of the whale shark are poorly understood. There was uncertainty as to whether vertebrae growth bands are formed annually or biannually, which is important in determining the age, growth, and longevity of whale sharks. A 2020 study compared the ratio of Carbon-14 isotopes found in growth bands of whale shark vertebrae to nuclear testingevents in the 1950-60s, they found that growth bands are laid down annually. The study found a…
Diet
The whale shark is a filter feeder – one of only three known filter-feeding shark species (along with the basking shark and the megamouth shark). It feeds on plankton including copepods, krill, fish eggs, Christmas Island red crab larvae and small nektonic life, such as small squid or fish. It also feeds on clouds of eggs during mass spawning of fish and corals. The many rows of vestigial teeth pla…
Relationship with humans
Despite its size, the whale shark does not pose any danger to humans. Whale sharks are docile fish and sometimes allow swimmers to catch a ride, although this practice is discouraged by shark scientists and conservationists because of the disturbance to the sharks. Younger whale sharks are gentle and can play with divers. Underwater photographers such as Fiona Ayersthave photographe…
See also
• List of sharks
• List of threatened sharks
• Sharks portal
External links
• Whale Shark Photograph-identification Library
• Whale Shark And Oceanic Research Center
• Maldives Whale Shark Research Program
• Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants of the Seas