Whale Shark
Animal speciesAbout
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest living fish, reaching lengths of up to 18 meters and weighing up to 11,800 kilograms. It belongs to the family Rhincodontidae and is found in tropical and warm-temperate waters around the globe. Whale sharks are characterized by their distinctive pattern of light spots and stripes on a grayish-blue background. They are filter feeders, using their large mouths to intake vast amounts of water, which is then filtered through their gill rakers to capture plankton and small fish. Whale sharks face significant threats, including targeted fishing and habitat degradation. Their global population has declined by over 50% in the past 75 years, leading to their classification as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Despite protections in some regions, they are still caught as bycatch and targeted in certain fisheries. Whale sharks are also vulnerable to vessel strikes and pollution. Conservation efforts include listing them on CITES Appendix II and protecting them in several countries. Their migratory nature and large size make conservation challenging but crucial for their survival.
