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Whale shark
The whale shark is a fish, not a whale. Discover how this enormous shark filters small animals from seawater and why its name can be misleading.
Discover the expedition atlasQuestions, adaptations and evidence
The whale shark is a fish, not a whale. Discover how this enormous shark filters small animals from seawater and why its name can be misleading.
Start with the questions below, follow the linked evidence, then try the discovery challenge with someone else.
Questions worth exploring
DodoHistory field notes · Sources checked
Is a whale shark a whale or a shark?
It is a shark, and the largest living fish. Its scientific name is Rhincodon typus. “Whale” in its common name does not place it in the mammal family.
Australian Museum · Whale shark ↗What does a whale shark eat?
Small crustaceans, squid and fish can become meals. Filtering structures associated with the gills separate food from water. This is a very different feeding strategy from chasing and biting large prey.
Australian Museum · Whale shark ↗How does it feed?
A whale shark can swim with its mouth open, but can also hang almost vertically and draw water into its mouth. Its tiny teeth are not the main tool for collecting these meals.
Australian Museum · Whale shark ↗Where do whale sharks live?
They occur in tropical and warm temperate waters. Their movements can follow food availability. A sighting at a reef tells us where one animal was recorded; it does not define the species’ entire range.
Australian Museum · Whale shark ↗
