21 May, 2012 (updated 3 minutes ago).
| Whale shark Temporal range: 60–0 Ma [1] |
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| Whale shark from Taiwan in the Georgia Aquarium | |
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| Size compared to an average human | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Orectolobiformes |
| Family: | Rhincodontidae J. P. Müller and Henle, 1839 |
| Genus: | Rhincodon A. Smith, 1829 |
| Species: | R. typus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhincodon typus A. Smith, 1829 |
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| Range of whale shark | |
| Synonyms | |
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The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow-moving filter feeding shark and the largest extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 metres (41.50 ft) and a weight of more than 21.5 tonnes (47,000 lb), and there are unconfirmed reports of considerably larger whale sharks. Claims of individuals over 14 metres (46 ft) long and weighing at least 30 tonnes (66,000 lb) are not uncommon. The whale shark is the sole member of the genus Rhincodon and the family, Rhincodontidae (called Rhiniodon and Rhinodontidae before 1984), which belongs to the subclass Elasmobranchii in the class Chondrichthyes. The species originated about 60 million years ago.
The whale shark is found in tropical and warm oceans and lives in the open sea with a lifespan of about 70 years.[3] Although whale sharks have very large mouths, as filter feeders they feed mainly, though not exclusively, on plankton, which are microscopic plants and animals. However, the BBC program Planet Earth filmed a whale shark feeding on a school of small fish. The same documentary showed footage of a whale shark timing its arrival to coincide with the mass spawning of fish shoals and feeding on the resultant clouds of eggs and sperm.[1]
The species was distinguished in April 1828 after the harpooning of a 4.6 metres (15.1 ft) specimen in Table Bay, South Africa. Andrew Smith, a military doctor associated with British troops stationed in Cape Town, described it the following year.[4] The name "whale shark" comes from the fish's physiology, being as large as many whales[5] and also a filter feeder like many whale species.
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The whale shark inhabits all tropical and warm-temperate seas. They are known to migrate every spring to the continental shelf of the central west coast of Australia. The coral spawning of the area's Ningaloo Reef provides the whale shark with an abundant supply of plankton. Primarily pelagic, seasonal feeding aggregations occur at several coastal sites such as the southern and eastern parts of South Africa; Gladden Spit in Belize; Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia; Great Rann of Kutch in India; Útila in Honduras; Donsol, Pasacao and Batangas in the Philippines; off Isla Mujeres and Isla Holbox in Yucatan, Mexico; Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia; Nosy Be in Madagascar Off Tofo Reef near Inhambane in Mozambique, and the Tanzanian islands of Mafia, Pemba, Zanzibar and, very rarely, Eilat, Israel. Although typically seen offshore, it has been found closer to land, entering lagoons or coral atolls, and near the mouths of estuaries and rivers. Its range is generally restricted to about ±30° latitude. It is capable of diving to depths of at least 1,286 metres (4,219 ft),[citation needed] and is migratory.[3] On 7 February 2012, a large whale shark was found floating 150 kilometres (93 mi) off the coast of Karachi, Pakistan. The length of the specimen was said to be between 11 and 12 metres (36 and 39 ft), with a weight of around 7,000 kilograms (15,000 lb).[6][7]
In 2011 the largest aggregation of whale sharks ever recorded was reported from the Yucatan coast of Mexico, in which more than 400 animals gathered in one place to feed on spawn from the little tunny, Euthynnus alleteratus.[8]
As a filter feeder it has a capacious mouth which can be up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) wide and contains 10 filter pads and between 300 and 350 rows of tiny teeth.[9] It has five large pairs of gills. Two small eyes are located towards the front of the shark's wide, flat head. The body is mostly grey with a white belly; three prominent ridges run along each side of the animal and the skin is marked with a "checkerboard" of pale yellow spots and stripes. These spots are unique to each individual and are useful for counting populations. Its skin can be up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) thick. The shark has a pair each of dorsal fins and pectoral fins. Juveniles' tails have a larger upper than lower fin while the adult tail becomes semi-lunate (crescent-shaped). Spiracles are just behind the eyes.
The whale shark is largest non-cetacean animal in the world. The average size of adult whale sharks is estimated at 9.7 metres (31.82 ft) and 9 tonnes (20,000 lb).[11] The largest verified specimen was caught on 11 November 1947, near Baba Island, in Karachi, Pakistan. It was 12.65 metres (41.50 ft) long, weighed more than 21.5 tonnes (47,000 lb), and had a girth of 7 metres (23.0 ft).[11] Stories exist of vastly larger specimens – quoted lengths of 18 metres (59 ft) and 45.5 tonnes (100,000 lb) are not uncommon in the popular shark literature – but no scientific records support their existence. In 1868 the Irish natural scientist Edward Perceval Wright obtained several small whale shark specimens in the Seychelles, but claimed to have observed specimens in excess of 15 metres (49.2 ft), and tells of reports of specimens surpassing 21 metres (68.9 ft).
In a 1925 publication, Hugh M. Smith described a huge animal caught in a bamboo fish trap in Thailand in 1919. The shark was too heavy to pull ashore, but Smith estimated that the shark was at least 17 metres (56 ft) long, and weighed approximately 37 tonnes (82,000 lb). These measurements have been exaggerated to 43 tonnes (95,000 lb) and a more precise 17.98 metres (58.99 ft) in recent years. A shark caught in 1994 off Tainan County, southern Taiwan reportedly weighed 35.8 tonnes (79,000 lb).[10] There have even been claims of whale sharks of up to 23 metres (75 ft) and 100 tonnes (220,000 lb). In 1934 a ship named the Maurguani came across a whale shark in the Southern Pacific Ocean, rammed it, and the shark consequently became stuck on the prow of the ship, supposedly with 4.6 metres (15.1 ft) on one side and 12.2 metres (40.0 ft) on the other.[12] No reliable documentation exists for these claims and they remain "fish-stories".
The whale shark is a filter feeder – one of only three known filter feeding shark species (along with the basking shark and the megamouth shark). It feeds on macro-algae, plankton, krill, Christmas Island red crab larvae,[13] and small nektonic life such as small squid or vertebrates. It also feeds on small fish and the clouds of eggs and sperm during mass spawning of fish shoals.[1] The many rows of vestigial teeth play no role in feeding. Feeding occurs either by ram filtration, in which the animal opens its mouth and swims forward, pushing water and food into the mouth, or by active suction feeding, in which the animal opens and closes its mouth, sucking in volumes of water that are then expelled through the gills. In both cases, the filter pads serve to separate food from water. These unique, black sieve-like structures are presumed to be modified gill rakers. Food separation in whale sharks is by cross-flow filtration, in which the water travels nearly parallel to the filter pad surface, not perpendicularly through it, before passing to the outside, while denser food particles continue to the back of the throat.[14] This is an extremely efficient filtration method that minimises fouling of the filter pad surface. Whale sharks have been observed "coughing" and it is presumed that this is a method of clearing a build-up of particles from the filter pads. Whale sharks migrate to feed and possibly to breed.[3][15][16]
The whale shark is an active feeder, targeting concentrations of plankton or fish. It is able to ram filter feed or can gulp in a stationary position. This is in contrast to the passive feeding basking shark, which does not pump water. Instead, it swims to force water across its gills.[3][15]
Despite its size, the whale shark does not pose significant danger to humans. Although massive, whale sharks are docile fish and sometimes allow swimmers to catch a ride,[17] although this practice is discouraged by shark scientists and conservationists. Younger whale sharks are actually quite gentle and can play with divers. In July 2011, several sources reported, with photos, an incident of a diver who, allegedly, was nearly sucked into the mouth of a whale shark (but escaped unharmed) off the coast of Isla Mujeres, Mexico.[18]
The shark is seen by divers in many places, including the Bay Islands in Honduras, Thailand, the Philippines, the Maldives, the Red Sea, Western Australia (Ningaloo Reef, Christmas Island), Taiwan, Panama (Isla Coiba), Belize, Tofo Beach in Mozambique, Sodwana Bay (Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park) in South Africa, the Galapagos Islands, Isla Mujeres and Bahía de los Ángeles in Mexico, the Seychelles, West Malaysia, islands off eastern peninsular Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Oman, Fujairah, and Puerto Rico.[17]
Two whale sharks are featured as the main attraction of Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and as of 2005, three whale sharks are in captivity at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan. The Ioworld Aquarium in Kagoshima, Japan, also features a single adult whale shark as a major attraction. One is also on display in the Taiwan, Kenting National Museum of Biology and Aquarium and 5 are on display at the Yantai Aquarium in China. Four whale sharks, two males, Taroko, and Yushan,[19] and two females, Alice and Trixie, live in the Georgia Aquarium, in Atlanta, USA. Two male whale sharks, Ralph and Norton, died in captivity at the Georgia Aquarium on 11 January 2007, and 13 June 2007, respectively. The two females were added on 3 June 2006 and two more males in 2007. All six whale sharks were imported from Taiwan, where whale sharks are dubbed tofu sharks because of the taste and texture of the flesh; the fishery from which they came has since closed. Two whale sharks live at Polar Ocean World in Qingdao, China. One whale shark was at the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai, but was released in March, 2010.[20]
Neither mating nor pupping has been observed in whale sharks.
The capture of a female in July 1996 which was pregnant with 300 pups indicates that whale sharks are ovoviviparous.[3][21][22] The eggs remain in the body and the females give birth to live young which are 40 to 60 centimetres (16 to 24 in) long. There is evidence that the pups are not all born at once, but rather that the female retains sperm from one mating and produces a steady stream of pups over a prolonged period.[23] It is believed that they reach sexual maturity at around 30 years and the life span is an estimated 70[3] to 100 years.[24]
On 7 March 2009, marine scientists in the Philippines discovered what is believed to be the smallest living specimen of the whale shark. The young shark, measuring only 38 centimetres (15 in), was found with its tail tied to a stake at a beach in Pilar, Philippines, and was released into the wild. Based on this discovery some scientists no longer believe that this area is just a feeding ground; it may also be that this site is a birthing ground as well.[25]
The whale shark is targeted by commercial fisheries in several areas where they seasonally aggregate. The population is unknown and the species is considered vulnerable by the IUCN.[2] It is listed, along with 6 other species of shark, under the CMS Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks.[26] In 1998, the Philippines banned all fishing, selling, importing and exporting of whale sharks for commercial purposes,[27] followed by India in May 2001,[28] and Taiwan in May 2007.[29] They are currently listed as a vulnerable species; however, they continue to be hunted in parts of Asia, such as Taiwan and the Philippines.
In 2006, Resorts World Sentosa announced its plans to bring in whale sharks for their marine life park. This was met with opposition from seven notable conservation societies. In 2009, the plan was shelved in favour of a search for other alternatives.[30][31]
In 2010, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill resulted in 4,900,000 barrels (780,000 m3) of oil flowing into an area south of the Mississippi River Delta, where one-third of all whale shark sightings in the northern part of the gulf have occurred in recent years. Sightings confirmed that the whale sharks were unable to avoid the oil slick which was situated on the surface of the sea where the whale sharks feed for several hours at a time. However, no dead whale sharks have been found.[32]
Known as a deity in a Vietnamese culture, the whale shark is called "Ca Ong", which literally translates as "Sir Fish".[33]
In Mexico, and throughout much of Latin America, the whale shark is known as "pez dama" or "domino" for its distinctive patterns of spots. However, they go by "Sapodilla Tom" in Belize due to the regularity of sightings near the Sapodilla Cayes on the Belize Barrier Reef.
In Africa, the names for the whale shark are very evocative: "papa shillingi" in Kenya came from the myth that God threw shillings upon the shark which are now its spots. In Madagascar the name is "marokintana" meaning "many stars".
Javanese also reference the stars by calling it "geger lintang," meaning "stars in the back". In the Philippines, it is called "butanding" and "balilan",[34] while in Madurese, it is known as "kikaki".
The whale shark is featured on the reverse of the Philippine one hundred peso bill.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Whale shark |
How does the whale shark feed its colossal 10-ton appetite? See all National Geographic videos: video.nationalgeographic.com
The new, extended, HD version of this video is at www.youtube.com Thailand's Richelieu Rock is a "hot spot" for whale shark sightings and on 4th March 2005 I was lucky enough to capture the World's largest fish in all its glory. This female whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is missing the top of her tail and would be easy to identify again. The music is "Freefall Into The Blue" by Mark Ellison. I was diving with www.SantanaPhuket.com More Similan Islands videos on http Full transcript of the commentary: "At Thailand's Richelieu Rock, a whale shark makes a rare appearance. This is no whale but rather the world's largest fish. Whale sharks can grow up to 12m long, although unconfirmed reports circulate of giants of up to 18m long. This female is about the average size of 8m. There is little to match the awe inspired by an encounter with a whale shark, and for many divers this is the pinnacle of their underwater experience. Their 3000 tiny teeth are rarely used. When feeding they hold their mouths open and feed on plankton, fish eggs and small marine creatures. Ridges down the whale shark's back are reminiscent of those on leopard sharks' backs and like the leopard shark, the whale shark is harmless to humans. She has lost the top part of her tail, perhaps due to an attack by a predatory shark when she was a youngster, or possibly a collision with a boat's propeller. The shark's fins act like the ailerons on an aircraft's rudder and wings, helping steer it gracefully through the ...
Off the coast of Venezuela, we encounter the whale shark - the biggest of all the fish in the ocean. In this clip, a shoal of bait fish are using the whale shark as a protective shield. However, unexpected developments are about to take place when we encounter some yellow-finned tuna...
Venezuela Whale Shark Attenborough
My special thanks to James Griffith for providing me with the beautiful underwater footage of the Grayton Beach Whale Sharks to make this movie. Without his wonderful video, I would only have...a nice soundtrack. Five Whale Sharks appeared just offshore from Grayton Beach, Florida in the first week of August in 2009. They remained in the local waters for two days. Many of the people chartering the Grayton Beach fishing boats and one group of divers photographed and swam with the whales during the two-day event. A Whale Shark is not a whale (mammal) but is a gentle, non-dangerous, filter-feeding shark that is the largest living fish species. James Griffith, a local firefighter/diver in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida captured the beautiful underwater video.The large school of bigger fish swimming with the whale shark are cobia. Update The Whale Sharks were back today (8/10/09). Update On 8/12/09 after three days of searching I finally saw the Whale Sharks of Grayton Beach live. I saw them, I photographed them and I touched the fin of one of them as it surfaced beside my boat. It was an amazing experience. What beautifully graceful creatures. Update 8/13/09 The Whale Sharks are still in the Grayron Beach area. Yesterday Cynthia Turner, Leslie Provow, Celeste Cobena and finally me, all had the marvelous experience of swimming with the Whale Sharks. What beautifully peaceful animals. We saw three different whale sharks yesterday and will be back looking for them again today. What ...
Whale Shark - diving with gentlegiant by underwater studios
thailand whaleshark gentle giant
Hundreds of people gathered at a fish harbor in Pakistan's city Karachi on Tuesday to see a 40-feet long dead fish, a sight uncommon in the country during the past many years. The giant whale shark washed ashore on Tuesday but according to media reports it was spotted unconscious 10 days ago some 150 kilometers away from the fishery. A video of Geo News about the dead giant fish is available here. According to this video some fishermen had gone out fishing on Tuesday and had found the dead fish and brought it to Karachi Fish Harbor. The dead whale shark was lifted off the water with the help of more than two cranes, after earlier attempts had failed. In July 2010 a 17-foot whale shark was found on the shores of Hawksbay in Karachi, but Tuesday's fish was certainly more than double in size and weight. Later in the evening the Express Tribune newspaper reported that dead shark was sold at Rs 1.7 million (around $18888). The report also reads: "Two cranes were called in to fish the dead whale shark out of the water, which was approximately40 to 50-feet long and six-feet wide. Both cranes failed to pull out the fish and were sent back as at least three more cranes were required to carry out the task."
whale shark pakistan World's Biggest Shark
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The waters around Isla Holbox off Mexicos Yucatán Peninsula teem with plankton, a feast for giant whale sharks—10-meter giants that gather by the hundreds from June through September. These super-sized, but toothless filter feeders are the core of a local tourism industry, but over-development could threaten this delicate balance. Dr. Sylvia Earle narrates. Kip Evans - Producer and Director of Photography. 2010 Blue Ocean Film Festival non-broadcast winning Film.
Canon 5D MK II Footage Shot with Canon 5D 5D Shark
Whalesharks can bee seen underwater in Southern Leyte at certain times of the year. It is only allowed to snorkel with the whalesharks as scuba diving would disturb them, therefore snorkeling gives the animals more space to choose its own way underwater. It's a fantastic way to observe these gentle giants and a dream come true for most divers. The whaleshark is also featured in our latest underwater DVD, the living ocean.
whaleshark Philippines southern Leyte Padre Burgos
See closeup video of divers swimming with a whale shark during a National Geographic Expeditions cruise in Baja California.
National Geographic expedition cruise huge
White trying to capture the majestic whale shark, underwater filmmaker and photographer Tom Campbell knows how easily that magic moment can slip away.
National Geographic photographer photography photo
We came up on this huge whale shark while diving in Jupiter, FL. Fortunately we had a photog, Tkat, with us. Watch closely I do not touch the animal. Save the emails.
A shortened version of the film 'Shores of Silence' The film is an effort to create awareness and gather support to protect and conserve this species. The aim is to eventually help create policies to ban whale shark trade in India and find sustainable alternatives for the local fishing community. This film moved the government of India into bringing in legislation and banning the killing of the Whale Sharks on Indian shores. The Whale Shark was declared protected under the Indian Wildlife Act- 1972, bringing it at par with the tigers and the Rhino. This was a landmark move. It was the first marine species to be protected under the Indian law. In November 2002, at the international CITES meet in Chile, Santiago, a negative voting changed into an overwhelming positive after this film was shown to the delegates - bringing global protection of the Whale Shark and giving the largest fish in the world a new lease of life. The Film has also been greatly successful in bringing about change in the attitude of fisher folk Awards won: 1. THE GREEN OSCAR -Winner of the Worlds most Prestigious GREEN OSCAR / PANDA AWARD, Wildscreen Festival, Bristol, UK - 2000 2. The Citta Di Toronto at the Cinemambiente Awadrs - 2001 3. The 6th Sichuan TV Festival , China - 2001 4. The Honour of Knowledge Award at Baristlava, Slovakia - 2001 5. The Golden Jury Award, Worldfest, Houston- 2002 6. The Rolls Royce, Commonwealth Broadcasting Award, UK- 2002 7. Ecofilm, Award in the Category of Documentary ...
whale shark slaughter shocking animal
Here is a short trailer of underwater video footage filmed in Oslob, Cebu, Philippines. Underwater Videographer Klemens Gann filmed for the GMA 7 national Philippine TV team and their host Kiko Rustia for the TV series "Born to be wild". The series about the whale sharks of Oslob will be aired in the first week of january, so stay tuned and don't miss this exciting Whale shark TV show.
whale shark whaleshark oslob oslob whaleshark
The whale sharks where swimming around the boats... Wow what a sight great!
