Whale Shark Fish Species, Types, Diet, Facts, Size, Habitat, Lifespan, Reproduction, Attacks, Facts can be checked from here and List of all types of Whale Shark is here.
Contents
Whale Shark
The whale shark is the slow moving shark from the family Rhincodontidae and the largest known extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 m and weight about 21.5 t. The whale shark holds many records for size in the animal kingdom, most notably being by far the largest living nonmammalian vertebrate.
What is Whale Shark | |
The species was distinguished in April 1828 after the harpooning of a 4.6 m specimen in Table Bay, South Africa. The whale shark is often seen in the open waters of the tropical oceans and is rarely found in the water below 21 degree Celsius. | |
Whale Shark Characteristics | |
Scientific Name | Rhincodon Typus |
Other Names | Basking Shark, Whaleshark |
Average Size | 9.8 m (32 feet) |
Average Weight | 10 Tons |
Average Life Span | 20-30 years |
Attacks per year | Almost 10 |
What does a Whale Shark look like? | |
Whale sharks are the largest living fishes in the deep sea. The whale sharks are often seen in the tropical waters which have the temperature above 20 degrees Celsius. The average length of the whale shark can be 9.8 m. These are rarely seen on the beaches and don’t have preferred to eat the humans. This is done due to some mistaken identity. Only 10 species of sharks are dangerous to humans. | |
Whale Shark Facts | |
| |
Whale Shark Attack | |
The whale sharks are not usually attacking the human beings. Only 10 species of the sharks are dangerous for the humans. The attack of the sharks only occurs only due to the misunderstanding. The whale sharks are not attacks on humans. With a diet limited to tiny microorganisms, humans are not optioned in their diet menu. These gentle giants are very docile. | |
Whale Shark Life Span | |
The sharks are surviving from the age of the dinosaurs. Today, the average lifespan of the whale shark is 20 to 30 years. The lifespan is based on the environment and habitat as well. ![]() | |
Whale Shark Diet | |
The whale sharks are a very unique creature which is known as the filter feeder. The whales prefer to eat plankton, which includes krill, copepods, and fish eggs. The whale shark also eats eggs during spawning of other fishes and corals. | |
Whale Shark Size | |
The whales are the largest animal found in the aquatic life. The largest whale yet found of 12.65 m in the deep sea. Although the average size of the whales is rage between 8 – 10 m. | |
Baby Whale Shark | |
The only specimen of the baby shark caught in 1996 for study. A female whale shark can give birth to almost 300 young ones which measure approximately 16-24 inches in length. The young ones of whales can grow 49 cm per year in their length. The growth of the young ones depends on the habitat and the availability of the food for the young ones. | |
Whale Shark Habitat | |
The whale shark easily adapts the environment and mostly found in the warm temperate seas. The fish is primarily pelagic, living in the open sea but not in the greater depths of the oceans. Although it is known to occasionally dive to depths of as much as 1800 m. these are high migratory in search of food and mates. | |
Whale Shark Reproduction | |
A female whale was captured in the July 1996 which was pregnant with 300 pups indicated that whales are ovoviviparous. The eggs remain in the body and the females give birth to live young that have the length of 40 to 60 cm. These pups are not all born at once, but rather the female retains sperm from one mating and produces a steady stream of pups over a particular period. |
If you want to know more about the Shark Species then explore this site to know more.
Get more interesting facts on Fish Species