Whale Shark The largest of all sharks and the largest living fish, the whale shark is one of the most dramatic views of the ocean. Its large size, distinctive patterns and its enormous mouth make it instantly recognizable and can be commonly seen wandering near the surface in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Their diet is based mainly on plankton, but also regularly feed on small schooling fish and squid. Unlike basking sharks, which simply filter vast amounts of water as they swim, whale sharks actively suck their prey before filtering efficiently and are sometimes seen in groups, feeding on high concentrations of food. Regularly appear in the same places at specific times of the year, probably to capitalize on plankton blooms and events such as coral spawning. These sharks have become the focus of the ecotourism industry in some parts of the globe, particularly in the west coast of Australia, where divers take the opportunity to swim with these gentle giants. Whale sharks are protected by law in some countries, but are regularly hunted as a food source in others, such as Taiwan and the Philippines. About 100 sharks of this species are killed each year in Taiwan, which raises concerns about the future of this fish that grows slowly and reaches maturity late in life.
The whale shark is a species of elasmobranches Orectolobiformes Rhincodontidae family. It is the largest fish in the world with approximately 12 m in length. This particular shark is the only member of the genus Rhincodon and the same name. The whale shark lives in warm tropical and subtropical waters. It is believed throughout the earth for 60 million years. The belly of the whale sharks is completely white, while its back is a gray color, darker than most sharks, with lots of dots and horizontal and vertical lines of white or yellowish, in a way that resembles a chessboard. These spots represent a unique pattern on each specimen, so they are used to identify and to sense its population.
Their skin may get to be 10 inches thick and their body is streamlined elongated and robust and has several longitudinal ridges on the head and back. Its head is broad and flat and the sides are placed two small eyes behind which are the spiracles. His huge mouth can reach up to 1.5 meters wide enough to accommodate a seal swimming on its side and its jaws are many rows of small teeth. This species despite its enormous size does not pose any danger to humans. It's a very summoned to fame with the people-eating sharks. They are actually quite affectionate and are often playful with divers. There are even reports although unconfirmed whale sharks come to the surface face up to the diver will scratch the belly and remove the parasites. Divers and tourists can swim next to this giant shark exercise safely except the occasional unintentional blow to the long tail of the animal.

Maximum Size: Unknown, but probably up to 20 meters / 12,000 kg

Location: Water temperate and tropical seas accept the Mediterranean Sea which is believed to be predominantly a migratory species.

Diet: plankton, small fish, squid.

Reproduction: Viviparous. The number of offspring varies: a specimen Taiwan had a 300, the highest number ever found in a single shark.