Sharks
Whale shark
Rhincodon typus
Epipelagic zone · Mesopelagic zone · Bathypelagic zone
The largest fish in the world, a peaceful filter feeder that can reach the size of a school bus while feeding almost exclusively on plankton.
🗺️ Geographic range
All warm tropical and temperate seas, with seasonal gathering sites off the Philippines, Mexico and Western Australia.
📊 Population
Global population estimated by the IUCN to be declining by more than 50% over three generations, notably due to ship strikes and bycatch.
⚠️ Threats
Vessel strikes
Its habit of surface-feeding near shipping lanes exposes it to vessel strikes.
Source: IUCN — Red List of Threatened Species
Targeted and incidental fishing
Historically fished for meat, oil and fins; still caught incidentally in some fisheries.
Source: IUCN — Red List of Threatened Species
Habitat
- Indian Ocean · High seas / open water · Epipelagic zone · Permanent
🥚 Reproduction
Ovoviviparous: one captured female was carrying more than 300 embryos.
Behaviour
- Diet
- Plankton, small fish and fish eggs, filtered in large volumes.
- Hunting
- Passive or active filtration near the surface, sometimes in a vertical position.
- Communication
- None known.
- Social life
- Generally solitary, sometimes gathering in large numbers at seasonal feeding sites.
Physiology
- Anatomy
- A mouth that can reach 1.5 m wide, a unique pattern of white spots like a fingerprint.
- Respiration
- Gill respiration, through five pairs of huge slits.
- Vision
- Modest.
- Adaptations
- Extremely thick skin, up to 15 cm, among the thickest in the animal kingdom.
🔗 Web of marine life
Predators
⚡ Its extraordinary abilities
- The largest fish in the world, able to exceed 18 metres in length
- A spot pattern unique to each individual, like a fingerprint
🏆 Records
The largest living fish
Can exceed 18 metres in length, the size of a bus.
Source: IUCN — Red List of Threatened Species
🧭 Historical expeditions
If you cross paths with this animal…
Risk: None despite its impressive size: completely harmless.
Behaviour: Peaceful, sometimes tolerates the presence of divers.
Advice: Never touch or obstruct its swimming; keep a respectful distance.
💡 Did you know?
- Its spot pattern is unique to each individual, letting scientists identify them like fingerprints.
- One captured female was carrying more than 300 embryos, a record among sharks.
