Whale Shark
(Rhincodon typus)
The Whale Shark is a large shark found in every tropical and warm-temperate ocean. The Whale Shark is the largest known vertebrate fish species growing up to a length of 62 ft (19 m) and weighing up to 46 tons. The Whale Shark has skin that is dark gray with a white belly marked with white spots and stripes, which are unique to each individual.
The Whale Shark has a very large mouth up to 5ft (1.5 m) wide containing around 3,000 tiny teeth. The Whale Shark doesn’t use these teeth to chew its food, but instead uses an adaptation known as filter feeding. Filter feeding is when the Whale Shark swims forward while opening their mouth to let water, small shrimp, fish and plankton come in. Their bodies then filter out the food, and release the water and any debris back into the ocean. The Whale Shark is capable of processing over 1600 gallons (6,000 L) of water every hour while filter feeding.
The process of filter feeding is also highly susceptible to plastic pollution being entangled or being ingested within the Whale Shark. Whale Shark are also often accidentally caught in fishing gear as well as caught on purpose for their fins, which is a delicacy in Asia. For these and other environmental reasons the IUCN has listed the Whale Shark as endangered.
To learn more about Whale Sharks and conservation efforts click the link below.
https://www.destinationwildlife.com/whale-shark/conservation