Whale Shark

Rhincodon typus

By Oteria Ludwig

The Whale Shark

Whale sharks are large, Whale sharks are large, slow moving filter-feeders slow moving filter-feeders that are the largest that are the largest known living fish in the known living fish in the ocean (as it is not a ocean (as it is not a whale). These docile whale). These docile behemoths prefer warmer behemoths prefer warmer waters, and are often waters, and are often located at the surface of located at the surface of the water in areas around the water in areas around the equator. Whale sharks the equator. Whale sharks are caught and butchered are caught and butchered in China and other Asian in China and other Asian countries, served as a countries, served as a delicacydelicacy.

Swim Whale Shark, Swim!

Basic StatsLength: up to 65 ftWeight: up to 15 tonsTeeth: Over 3,000, about 300 per

rowSocial Group: SolitarySwim Speed: 3 kphLife Span: 100-150 yearsFeeding Habit: Filter-FeedingMaturity Age: 30 yearsReproduction: ViviparousNicknames: Whale Shark, Basking

Shark, “Tofu Shark”

Appearance

The whale shark are large and have a flat The whale shark are large and have a flat head and mouth, which, when open, head and mouth, which, when open, can be over 1.5 meters wide. They can be over 1.5 meters wide. They usually have five large gills, and are usually have five large gills, and are covered in pale yellow spots and covered in pale yellow spots and stripes. They are usually gray with a stripes. They are usually gray with a white underbelly, and their spiracles white underbelly, and their spiracles are just beneath their eyes. Their are just beneath their eyes. Their mouth are filled with hundreds upon mouth are filled with hundreds upon hundreds of mostly useless, tiny teeth.hundreds of mostly useless, tiny teeth.

Habitat

Unlike most Orectolobiformes, which are usually benthic, the Whale Shark is a pelagic species. They are usually found around the equator, preferring waters of around 21-30º C, as they are usually brimming with plankton and other small organisms, which the whale shark feeds on. They are usually found near the water’s surface, and commonly come inshore to places such as lagoons. They can swim up to New York even, and are in all tropical and temperate seas excluding the Mediterranean. They appear around almost all Chinese shores.

Feeding

Rhincodon typus are filter-feeders, bringing in large quantities of water and filtering the water out though their gills. They usually feed on a wide variety of planktonic and nektonic organisms, phytoplankton, microalgae, and other creatures such as small squids. Not only that, but they also eat eggs of other fish. Because of their feeding habits, they are relatively harmless, except for accidentally getting hit by their giant tails.

BehaviorBehavior

• Whale Sharks are usually Whale Sharks are usually quite harmless to people, as quite harmless to people, as they have no interest in they have no interest in eating large bioforms. In fact, eating large bioforms. In fact, they are friendly to indifferent they are friendly to indifferent about divers, so it makes about divers, so it makes them easier to film, as shown them easier to film, as shown the the movie to the right. But the the movie to the right. But since there are solitary, they since there are solitary, they do not travel in any groups, do not travel in any groups, much like the blue whale, and much like the blue whale, and are very hard to locate for are very hard to locate for scientific purposes.scientific purposes.

Conserving Whale Sharks

• The Whale Shark is considered Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, along with Polar Bears, Great White Sharks, Red Panda, Cheetah, and the Spanish Imperial Eagle. They are targeted by Asian fishers during seasons, and Whale Shark Fins are often imported and sold in Hong Kong. In Taiwan, 100 whale sharks are taken annually.

Relation to the ChineseRelation to the Chinese

鲸鲨鲸鲨

jīng shājīng shā

They are served as a delicacy, their fins sold at a high price. They are served as a delicacy, their fins sold at a high price. An 8.5 ton 8.5 meter long whale shark, after being An 8.5 ton 8.5 meter long whale shark, after being butchered, was sold for 85,000 yuan. That's $11,300!butchered, was sold for 85,000 yuan. That's $11,300!

Even though China fishes whale shark and serves it for dinner, Even though China fishes whale shark and serves it for dinner, they have begun to take action to protect the gentle they have begun to take action to protect the gentle giants. Asian mega-cities such as Taiwan and Hong Kong giants. Asian mega-cities such as Taiwan and Hong Kong have begun to take measures to ensure that the whale have begun to take measures to ensure that the whale shark will still be around to see in years to come.shark will still be around to see in years to come.

Sources

Wikipedia - Whale Shark

ZOOM SHARKS: Whale Shark

Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Deparment: Whale Shark

Whale Shark.org

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