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Whale Sharks
The largest living species of shark, these gentle giants feed on plankton and can be found all over the world.
279 Questions
Why don't whale sharks live in the Mediterranean sea?
Whale sharks prefer warm, tropical waters, typically found in open oceans where food sources like plankton are abundant. The Mediterranean Sea, being a semi-enclosed body of water, has a different temperature and salinity profile that is less conducive to their survival. Additionally, the Mediterranean lacks the sufficient nutrient upwellings that attract these filter-feeding giants. As a result, their natural habitat and feeding conditions are not met in this region.
Why are whale sharks attracted to the Mexican sea?
Whale sharks are attracted to the Mexican sea, particularly the waters off Isla Holbox and the Yucatán Peninsula, due to the seasonal abundance of their primary food source—plankton. The warm, nutrient-rich waters provide ideal conditions for these tiny organisms to thrive, especially during the summer months when upwelling occurs. Additionally, the area's geography and ocean currents create a favorable environment for feeding, drawing these gentle giants to the region.
The whale shark is classified as a fish because it possesses key characteristics typical of the fish family, including a backbone, gills for breathing underwater, and a body structure made of cartilage and bone. Unlike mammals, whale sharks do not breathe air but extract oxygen from water through their gills. Additionally, they reproduce by laying eggs, consistent with many other fish species. Their large size and filter-feeding behavior do not alter their classification as a fish.
How long and how much does the whale shark weight?
Whale sharks are the largest fish species, typically measuring between 40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 meters) in length, though some individuals can grow even larger, up to about 65 feet (20 meters). They can weigh between 15 to 30 tons (approximately 13,600 to 27,200 kilograms). Their massive size and gentle nature make them a fascinating subject of study in marine biology.
Is a whale shark a vertabrate?
Yes, a whale shark is a vertebrate. As a member of the class Chondrichthyes, specifically the subclass Elasmobranchii, whale sharks possess a backbone made of cartilage rather than bone. This makes them part of the larger group of animals that includes all fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, all of which are classified as vertebrates.
What are some interesting fact about whale sharks?
Whale sharks are the largest fish species, capable of reaching lengths of up to 40 feet (12 meters) or more. Despite their size, they are gentle giants, primarily feeding on plankton and small fish through a filter-feeding system. These sharks are known for their unique pattern of spots and stripes, which are as individual as human fingerprints. Interestingly, whale sharks are migratory and often travel long distances to find food-rich waters and breeding grounds.
Where do you find killer whales an whale sharks in jaws unleashed for ps2?
In "Jaws Unleashed" for PS2, killer whales can typically be found in the open ocean areas, often near the coast or in deeper waters. Whale sharks, on the other hand, are usually located in more specific zones, such as around coral reefs or areas with abundant fish. Players can explore these environments to encounter both species while navigating the game's missions and objectives.
HOW tall is a Whale Shark now?
Oh, dude, a Whale Shark can reach up to about 40 feet in length, making it the largest fish in the sea. So, like, imagine a school bus swimming around in the ocean... that's basically the size of these gentle giants. Hope that helps!
Why are whale sharks dangerous to people?
Whale sharks are not generally dangerous to human beings; in fact, they are friendly and occasionally even give rides to divers.
But whale Sharks are still big and strong animals. Like any big and strong animal they could do some damage if they decided to.
Whales are mammals and have never had scales, so no. Killer whale, dolphin, porpoise, and sperm whale teeth are modified bones in their skull and jaw, just like ours. Baleen whales, like humpback and blue whales, have large carotene plates growing out of their jaws instead of regular teeth.
What is the classification of the whale shark?
The Sperm Whale is a marine mammal, of the order Cetacea, and family: Physeteridae.
What ocean do whale sharks live?
There a five known species
Sixgill, lives in deeper water of south east Africa
Longnose, off most of Australia in deep water, bays and estuaries
Japanese, off the coast of China out past japan and down about as far as northern Phillipines
Shortnose, off southern Australia deep water at about 300 metres
American, off the warmer US east coast and around the Bahamas in deep water
Then there are sawfish which live in southern hemisphere tropics with two freshwater species found in northern Australian rivers
How long are whale shark tteeth?
whale sharks have very small teeth and sharp. Whale sharks only eat tiny fish.
Yes it does. Just like any other animal the Whale Shark depends on mating for the species to continue to exist.
Which is bigger a whale shark or Greenland Shark?
No the biggest a Greenland shark grows 5 meters where as a great white can grow 6 meters in length
Why are whale sharks considered to be sharks and not whale?
Dolphins are warm blooded mammals that give birth to live young. The shark is a cartilaginous (no spinal bones) fish that either lay eggs or hatch eggs internally. The egg cases of sharks are known as a 'mermaids purse'.
What is the difference between male and female whale sharks?
Male and Female blue whales are both very similar in color and apperance, however the average size of a male blue whale is 70-90 ft lenthwise, while on the other hand, the female blue whale has an average length of 80-100 ft.
Why are whale shark called whale shark?
they are called sand sharks specifically because they are camouflaged with sand and hunt on the seafloor and hide by digging slightly in the sand and not moving at all.
How big can whale shark open it's mouth?
I have seen this erroneously answered at a few inches which is false. The whale shark has the ability is constrict the esophagus to keep water out and hold food in the stomach. Water is pushed into the huge mouth at great force and then forced through tubes out of the gill flaps allowing the massive amounts of food to be swallowed. Depending on the size and age of the fish it can vary. The notion that the esophagus is to small to swallow large amounts is false. This article shows that huge volumes of food are swallowed with each mouth full. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/pdfs/Sharkfeedingpaper.pdf this site tells you all you need to know about the whale shark esophagus, mouth size, and how much it can swallow.
Anatomical measurements indicated maximum internal mouth
width was 12.0% (N = 8), and mouth height 6.3% (N = 10) of TL, and
the open mouth width to height ratio was 1.9 (N = 10). Internasal
width was 10.0% of TL (N = 11), and vertical mouth height/internasal
width was 0.61 (N = 11). Based on open mouth internal heights, the
estimated total open mouth area was 2035 cm2
for shark A (622 cm
TL), 1841 cm2
for shark B (593 cm TL), and 1079 cm2
for shark C (443 cm TL) (N = 4 frontal pictures of feeding sharks).whale shark swimming at 1.1 m/s.
The biomass ingested was estimated by calculating the volume
of water passing through the partially submerged mouth per unit time multiplied by the mean biomass of plankton per unit volume. With an average of 84.7% of the open mouth underwater during
surface ram filter feeding, a 443 cm TL shark would present an open
mouth area of ∼914 cm2
(84.7% of 1079) and a 622 cm TL shark
an open mouth area of ∼1724 cm2
(84.7% of 2035) to the water.
With a flow velocity at the mouth of 0.99 m/s (90.4% of 1.1 m/s) the
smaller shark would filter 0.0914 m2
× 0.99 m/s or 0.0905 m3
/s of
water = 326 m3
/h, and the larger shark would filter 614 m3
/h. With
an average plankton biomass of 4.5 g/m3
at the feeding sites, the
sharks would, on average, ingest 1467 and 2763 g of plankton per
hour, respectively, and for an average feeding time of 7.5 h per day,
a total of 11,003 and 20,723 g of plankton/day, which at 1.357 kJ/g equates to 14,931 and 28,121 kJ per day, respectively.....
They eat small fish in schools and zooplankton so they do depending on the species. Fin whales, humpback whales, Bryde's whales and sei whales all eat small fish.
What is bigger a megalodon shark or a whale shark?
The prehistoric Megalodon shark, extinct over a million years ago, was found to reach over 52 feet in fossil records.
The Whale shark, largest living fish in the ocean today, can reach over 40 feet in length.
No, whale sharks feed mostly on shrimp and krill two of the smallest animals in the ocean they are no threat to humans just to krill and shrimp
Where do whale sharks come from?
bull sharks come from a native plant called the bull shark weed. ussualy the just pop outa the groung and then grow tenticles and crawl to the ocean and swim away. and then breed with bull shark weeds every ten years or so. and the prosses starts over. they mostly eat kids.
