WHALE SHARK

(RHINCODON TYPUS)

Whale sharks are found in marine environments worldwide but mainly in tropical oceans.

The whale shark is enormous and capable of reaching a maximum length of about

18 metres. Prey includes zooplankton, shrimp, fish, mollusks, squid, and even small tuna.

While the whale shark is usually solitary, it is sometimes found in schools of up to hundreds of individuals.

Scientists estimate that the life span of the whale shark ranges from 60 to 100 years.

Since 2016, it has been placed on the endangered species list of marine animals.