Physical description, lifespan, and life cycle
The Rhincodon Typus, typically referred to as the whale shark, is the largest fish in the ocean, reaching up to 15 meters long. The whale shark is part of the Chondrichthyes class, meaning that it is a fish that has a cartilaginous skeleton instead of bone. However, unlike many other sharks, the whale shark consumes only plankton by filter feeding through its massive 1 meter wide mouth. Hence the name whale shark. The whale shark has ten filter pads, which assist in filtering plankton out of the water, and between three hundred and five hundred rows of tiny teeth (which is considered to be a vestigial structure). In addition, like many other species of sharks and fish, the whale shark is white on bottom and grey on the top.
Although not too much is known about the life cycle of the whale shark, scientists think that they reach sexual maturity when they are around 30 years old and 8 to 9 meters in length. Whale sharks have a very long life span and can even exceed 70 years of age. They grow very quickly until they are about two or three years old, because of this they take a long time to reach sexual maturity. Around three hundred whale sharks are given born from a single female at the same time, however, scientists have no idea how long the gestation period is.
Although not too much is known about the life cycle of the whale shark, scientists think that they reach sexual maturity when they are around 30 years old and 8 to 9 meters in length. Whale sharks have a very long life span and can even exceed 70 years of age. They grow very quickly until they are about two or three years old, because of this they take a long time to reach sexual maturity. Around three hundred whale sharks are given born from a single female at the same time, however, scientists have no idea how long the gestation period is.
Description of Habitat
The whale sharks inhabits tropical and warm temperate waters that are generally between 40° North and 30° South, and have a large population of plankton to sustain the whale shark population. In addition, the preferred temperature for the whale shark is between 21° and 30° Celsius. It is typically a pelagic fish (meaning it lives in the open ocean) but during certain times of the year it feeds in shallow waters. Many Whale Sharks are found in and around the Gulf of Mexico and the south china sea coastline during the summer months for feeding. The whale shark is a migratory species that moves to the habitat that has the most plankton or other species that it can eat.
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The whale shark is one of only three species of sharks that filter feeds, the others being the mega mouth and the basking shark. As the shark is swimming it opens its mouth and sucks in large quantities of water (over 1500 gallons per hour). Gill rakers then separate the prey from the water, and the water is expelled from through the gill slits. The whale shark can either swim and pull water into its mouth or it can float stationary in the water and pull it in.
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Predator/Prey Relationship and niche
The whale sharks prey includes: plankton, krill, macro algae and small nektonic organisms. The whale sharks niche in the environment is essentially population control. The whale shark spends all day eating and without it the populations of krill and plankton would increase by a large amount.