Whale sharks may not be the first species that comes to mind when you think of a shark. They are huge, graceful, and beautifully-colored. They are not really voracious predators, but feed on some of the tiniest creatures in the ocean. Below are some fun facts about whale sharks.
1. Whale sharks are the world's largest fish.
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One of the most notable facts about whale sharks is that they are the world's largest fish. At a maximum length of about 65 feet and weight of 75,000 pounds, a whale shark's size rivals that of large whales.
2. Whale sharks feed on some of the ocean's tiniest creatures.
Even though they are huge, whale sharks feed on tiny plankton, small fish, and crustaceans. They feed by gulping mouthfuls of water and forcing that water through their gills. Prey gets trapped in dermal denticles and a rake-like structure called the pharynx. This amazing creature can filter over 1,500 gallons of water an hour.
3. Whale sharks are cartilaginous fish.
Whale sharks, and other elasmobranchs such as skates and rays are cartilaginous fish. Instead of having a skeleton made of bone, they have a skeleton made of cartilage, a tough, flexible tissue. Since cartilage doesn't preserve as well as bone, much of what we know about early sharks comes from teeth, rather than fossilized bone.
4. Female whale sharks are larger than males.
Whale shark females are usually larger than males. This is true for most other sharks, and for baleen whales, another type of animal that is large but eats small organisms. How can one tell male and female whale sharks apart? Like other shark species, males have a pair of appendages called claspers which are used to grasp the female and transfer sperm when mating. Females do not have claspers.5. Whale sharks are found in warm waters around the world.
The whale shark is a widespread species - they are found in warmer waters, but in several oceans - the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian.6. Whale sharks can be studied by identifying individuals.
Whale sharks have a beautiful coloration pattern, with a bluish-gray to brown back, and a white underside. This is an example of countershading, and may be used for camouflage. They also have light vertical and horizontal striping on their sides and back, with white or cream-colored spots. These also may be used for camouflage. Each whale shark has a unique pattern of spots and stripes, enabling researchers to use photo-identification to study them. By taking photos of whale sharks (similar to the way whales are studied), scientists can catalog individuals based on their pattern and match subsequent sightings of whale sharks to the catalog.
