The whale shark is the world's largest fish, reaching up to 20 metres long, yet feeds almost entirely on plankton and small fish eggs. Its body is unmistakable: a broad, flattened head, enormous mouth, and grey-brown skin covered in a distinctive grid of pale stripes and spots. Found in tropical and subtropical oceans between roughly 21°C and 25°C, whale sharks are slow, filter-feeding cruisers that often swim near the surface, making them accessible to divers in key locations. The species is listed as endangered, and sightings remain a privilege rather than a certainty.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Elasmobranchii
- Order
- Orectolobiformes
- Family
- Rhincodontidae
- Genus
- Rhincodon
Most likely to be seen at
Sites where its range and habitat make it likely — not yet confirmed by a logged sighting.