![]() The two dorsal fins are placed well back on the body. Five large, vertical gill slits are present just forward of and above the origin of the pectoral fin. ![]() The spiracles are behind the eyes at a similar distance. Its relatively small eyes (about the size of a golf ball) are located a short distance behind the angle of the jaw and at about the same level. ![]() It has a mouth full of small, sharp, almost scale-like teeth. Short barbels protrude from its nostrils. Unlike most sharks in which the mouth is on the undersurface of the head and set well back on the snout, the whale shark’s mouth is almost at the very front of its head. Its large mouth, which can be up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) wide, extends the full width of the head. The largest of the sharks, it is well proportioned and beautifully streamlined even with its large, broad, flat head. It prefers warm tropical water, in a range of 21 to 25 o C (69.8 to 77 o F), but is more content when the warm water is interspersed with cooler, nutrient-rich upwellings that provide a good source of food. The whale shark is considered to be a pelagic open water fish, but it is frequently seen in shallower inshore waters associated with lagoons, bays, and coral reefs. World wide in tropical and warm temperate waters most commonly between latitudes 30 o N and 35 o S in oceanic and coastal waters with the exception of the Mediterranean Sea. This information is available so you can learn more about the largest fish in the world and its conservation needs. The awesome whale shark is not exhibited at the Aquarium. This explains why there is so little information on females and reproduction.CLIMATE CHANGE: Not Applicable At the Aquarium Whale sharks also show sex and size segregation, with mostly young male sharks found in coastal feeding areas. They are active sharks, with tagging data showing average daily movements of 24-28km however, many of them show site fidelity. The majority of these sightings are at known aggregation sites where sharks gather together to exploit a rich food source, such as zooplankton or fish spawning. Sightings mostly occur in warm waters, between 26.5oC and 30oC. Whale sharks are found in coastal and pelagic habitats. Although individuals are highly mobile, certain aggregation sites are known to attract hundreds to thousands of individuals at one time. Research suggests 75% of the global whale shark population can be found in the Indo-Pacific, with the remaining 25% in the Atlantic Ocean. Two sub-populations have been identified: One in the Atlantic and one in the Indo-Pacific. ![]() Whale sharks are found across the globe in tropical and temperate waters, with the exception of the Mediterranean. NE Not Evaluated DD Data Deficient LC Least Concern NT Near Threatened VU Vulnerable EN Endangered CR Critically Endangered EW Extinct in the Wild EX Extinct Distribution They are also susceptible to being hit by vessels in shipping lanes which can cause fatalities. Although listed on Appendix II of CITES and protected across much of their range, they are still targeted by illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fisheries for their fins, oil and meat. This is thought to be the largest litter size of any shark!ĭespite their size, whale sharks are vulnerable to overexploitation with data suggesting a 63% decline in the Indo-Pacific over the last 75 years. She was found to be carrying 304 pups in different stages of development, all sired by the same male, suggesting female whale sharks have the ability to store sperm. Pregnant females are occasionally encountered but only a single pregnant female has ever been examined. Reproduction is through aplacental viviparity: embryos are supplied with nutrients from the yolk and stay within the mothers body until ready to hatch, but birthing sites are still unknown. Surprisingly, whale sharks have rows of tiny teeth inside their mouth, the function of which is still a mystery to scientists! Despite being a relatively well studied species, we know little about their reproductive biology. Whale sharks are filter feeders, using their huge gaping mouth to sieve sea water for prey, such as small fishes and crustaceans. The largest individual recorded was 20m in length and weighed 42 tonnes! This charismatic gentle giant attracts researchers and divers alike. The whale shark is the worlds largest living shark and the largest living fish in the sea.
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