Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
- Group: Shark
- Typical depth: 0–1928 m
- Max size: 17 m
- For divers: safe
- IUCN status: EN
The largest fish alive, the whale shark nears eighteen metres yet feeds on some of the smallest prey in the sea, filtering plankton and tiny fish as it cruises. Gentle and harmless to people, it roams the open ocean but often comes close to shore, even into lagoons and atolls. It is endangered.
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Elasmobranchii › Orectolobiformes › Rhincodontidae › Rhincodon
Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 105847.
FAQ
- How deep does the Whale Shark live?
- The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) is typically found at 0–1928 m.
- Is the Whale Shark dangerous to divers?
- The Whale Shark is harmless to divers.
- How big does the Whale Shark get?
- The Whale Shark grows to about 17 m.