Whale Shark

Rhiniodon typus

Phylum

Chordata

 Whale Shark

Class

Chondrichthyes

Order

Orectolobiformes

Family

Rhiniodontidae

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common names : Whale shark.
Diet : Plankton, nekton and some small fish i.e. sardines, mackerel and anchovies.
Reproduction : Once thought to be oviparous due to an egg with a near-term hatchling inside found at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists now believe that this egg was in fact aborted and that the Whale shark is ovoviviparous, giving birth to hundreds of live young.
Size : Maximum 14+ metres  Average female 8 metres Average male 9 metres

 

Distribution of Whale Shark Distribution : Worldwide throughout warm temperate and tropical waters. Sometimes found in deep waters, although it is not known just how deep they can swim. Usually seen by boats or snorkel divers in water with a surface temperature of between 21° and 25° C.

 

Danger to man : Harmless, although they have been known to ram boats, presumably by accident.
Economic Importance : Commercially fished in some areas.
Other Comments : The Whale shark is the largest fish, larger then many true whales. It is thought they can live between 100 and 150 years.